Part 63 (2/2)
They were catalogued as ”Unrest” and ”Peace.”
She knew, even before she discovered the initials--”G. G.”--in one corner, that Gerald G.o.ddard had painted these pictures, and that he had taken for his subject their meeting in the park the previous year.
They took the first prize, and the artist immediately received numerous and flattering offers for them, but his agent replied to all such that the pictures were not for sale.
A month later a sealed package was delivered at Edith's door, and it was addressed to her.
Upon opening it she found a doc.u.ment bequeathing to her two paintings, lately exhibited at the Academy, which would be delivered to her upon application to a certain art dealer in the city, whose address was inclosed. The communication stated that she was free to make whatever disposition of them she saw fit.
Upon a heavy card accompanying them there was written the following words:
”The blessing of Aaron has been fulfilled. May the same peace rest upon thee and thine forever. G. G.”
Upon inquiring about the pictures of the dealer referred to, Edith was informed that Gerald G.o.ddard had died only the week previous of quick consumption, and his body had been quietly interred in Greenwood, according to his own instructions.
His two paintings, ”Unrest” and ”Peace,” were left in the care of his friend, to be delivered to Mrs. Royal Bryant, whenever she should call for them.
Edith was deeply touched by this act, and by the fact that the man had devoted the remnant of his life to picturing that scene which seemed to have made such a deep impression upon his mind, while a feeling of thankfulness swelled in her heart with the thought that perhaps she had spoken the ”word in season” that had helped to lead into the ”paths of peace” the weary worlding, who, even then, was treading so swiftly toward the verge of the ”Great Unknown.”
Not many weeks later the New York _Herald_ contained the following announcement:
”MARRIED.--On Wednesday, the 18th, the Honorable Willard Livermore to Mrs. Isabel Stewart, both of New York.”
THE END.
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