The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-04-11
lNpEK THE SPELL.

UNDER THE SPELL.
Clarence Thurstou sat III his studio,
busIly ru. aged al ms easel, a few mornings
after the arrival "t Buriuls. Deep medI-
tatlou had convinced hts mind OF the fu-
tile insanity ot hls passion f'r the Coun-
tess Iurri aui hr hti resolved tu withdraw
As thoroughly 70, possible, from ;he presence
and attractions ~ the ttr cuguette. He
telt vague pam at ht> heart Nhenever az
fusion va, made ta hrr. set wisely re-
framed from .ir opera aud the promenade
places where hr would he likely 90 meet
her fine unfinished portrait mad been
covered aud removed ~ corner uf the
room. and he WAS busIly engaged upon a
new picture When rhe door opened, and
the old porter of the building announced /.
lady ala gentleman lu 4 carriage below.
Thurstuu became painfully agltated at
hrst, the VIld thoughts " CIaubel and
Colonel Markham dttIng through his
brain. Realizing, however, the nconsis-
teucy VT the Idya ut their arrival, he com
posed himself aud told the porter 70 show
them up, uyemug them some ut his mum
erous acquaIutaucrs bound Oh An early
visit % the studio.
He paled, flushed trembled, and almost
Easped for breath as he held the door open
for the entrance 81 his visitors. Imagine
a victor Who. doubtful of his own strength,
has honorably Withdrawn from conflict
only to by faced at the next turn by the
same enemy reinforced ana vItn strength
augmented. As would a victor so placed
have felt, sn felt Clarence Thurstou. In
one moment more the deadly influence
was over him. fpr he was face tD face with
Bernard Burduls vino was g1ing through
the tOrmalty ut an introduction ~ the
artist tu the Countess Blanca Tuttl.
Ii the beautiful milady had studied
perseveuuEly Ju cuehaut the artist at this
first joining ut hands. she could not have
succeeded more tIily than did she now ap-
parenty 10y the SIMPLE exercise II her
grac and power ~ fascination. ThurstOn
politely spoke and answered the brief eI-
changes Of courtesy, but his eyes were on
her face, his heart hNed on her hghtest
word, her taIutest smile
''Oh here 1t Is, spoke Burdois, going
to a remote corner of the room, and draw
ing to the hight the picture Of the Coun-
tess. 81 promised the Countess peep at
this, Thurston.
The young artist flushed hotly.
1T Is perfect munnured the Countess.
Perfect, mean, in execution. You
have missed your station in life, Mr.
ThurstOu. have seen many Of your pic
tures-in fact have one IN my boudoir, and
they evInce much more skill and faultless-
ness Of conception than the very best
efforts of some Of our older artists
Clarence Thurston's 5 eyes shone brightly.
~ h. hf,rb.ut t~iI, ..f
Jus. made him qulvcr with delight, and
the thought that she had picture of his
own in her room All a telling shot for
you, milady, that, for at that moment.
every thought Of allegiance to his lady
love hed the artists mind. He had fallen
under the spell, he vas madly, terribly in
fatuated and stronger influence than
memories OF the woman he had not seen
for over year was necessary to break the
chain which bound hIm.
Burdois skiltuliy allowed the artist and
the Countess To engage III conversation
to the exclusion Of himself, and soon, with
hurried apology left the room to speak
to friend he dlscerned from the window
in the street below Gradually the beauti-
full women drew Thurston into conyersa-
ton, she praised his pictures, his genius,
his studio, and, as he sat beside her ex-
hihiting portfolio of engravings and I'M
finished pencil sketches, and her perfumed
breath swep- his cheek, she smiled tri-
umphantly as she witnessed her com
panlon emotion the deepening flush, the
unsteady breath, the quick, adOrlng sparkle
of his eye.
81 shall be a frequent visitor to your
studio, Mr.. Thurston, she said, liking her
magnetic eyes upon his face, for the
pleasure | have derived from your COM
pany and view Of your pictures will not
lessen with many, many such visits. In
the meantime ] viii give you commission
to execute. Paint me a small view Of the
ruins OF Thebes, which see, you have in
pencllng IN your folio. / am quite con-
versant with the place, having visited it
more than once, and no one could help
recognizing the place it represented.
Goodbye, she added, gally, arising to go
and extending her hand, ''you shall hear
from me again soon, for l must witness
your progress upon picture which / know
Will receive universal admiration.
With an Impulsive motion the young
artist raised the proffered hand to his lips,
his face ahame with emotion, his whole be-
AA6 "h'A Nhi'potiik WIN hdoSlOh
which 1t inspired he was only man. God
help him she was other than a woman
for DIVINITY never created woman to
tribe with the purest impulse and thoughts
man has ever known, or break the heart
that love has entered.
He sank into a seat as she left the room.
smiling and beautiful, without single in
dication of displeasure at Thurston's pre-
sumption. He was overwhelmed, abso
lutely stunned with the emotions which
shrouded his being. AT that moment
single memory of the woman he had loved
crossed his mind. As yet he was not too
thoroughly infatuated to realize how much
better were the slightest approval of Clari-
bel Markham than this heartless woman's
sincerest devotion. He cursed himself in
a sudden agony Of remorse, he pressed
his lips to the folio she had held the next
moment. 1t was the madness of passion.
Like every other madness, it could not
last 1t was dispelled by the entrance of
Paul Rivers.
why, Thurston q he cried, starting