The Indianapolis journal., 1885-09-13

~ think not Indeed, my belief is he win do
little more have inquired about him. He
does not live the life genius must live, in these
days, If he wants to succeed"
Il am sorry to hear it" said Lord -, NOV
ing away
Miss Herbert left the Academy with an echo
OF Gerald's extravagant statement that life or
death hung upon her love sounding in her ears.
The conversation she had overhead distressed
her greatly. The thought that her treachery
had ruined life full Of promise would lot be
dismissed She spent most miserable day,
and its misery was not diminished by the truth,
which she could no longer conceal from herself,
and she still loved Gerald. She loved him more
than ever Too late! Too late! And Eugenia
Herbert wept, many others have wept, that
the past could not be undone.
Sir Ralph Norgate and James Herbert dined
that evening at Mrs. Cathcarts. Their society
was little comfort to Eugenia. She felt now
that she hated her lover-hated his polite, hollow
society ways and expressons-hated that blase
look which so often settled on his face. She had
never cared for him. Their love-making had
been of frigid kind-not, be it said by Sir
Ralph's wish. He was proud of, and perhaps
really fond of the beautiful girl he had bought;
so it was scarcely fair that Eugenia should com
pare his polite wooing with thai of the impas
stoned boys which recked no obstacles needed
no consequences. Oh if Gerald were baronet
and rich
Miss Herbert at that moment hated her
brother. Bitterly as she blamed herself, she
felt that something he had said, done, or de-
signed, had induced her to refrain from answer
ing Geralds letter If only she had to decide
again!
Her bitter thoughts made it impossible for her
to sit out the dinner. Very soon she pleaded
headache, and went to her room to resume her
self revilings. She made no further attempt to
Danish Gerald from her thoughts. She lived
again every moment she had spent in his
company-heard again every word of wild love
felt his hand close on hers-his lips press her
own-and shuddered as the dismal words, Life
or DEATH" seemed echoing through her ears. If
she could but undo the past!
Why not! The thought rushed through her.
What hindered her save the false gods to whom
she had bent2 She still legally free. Gerald
was in the same town. Why should size heed
her friends! Why trouble as to what people
would think or say9 By one bold step she could
right everything. If to-morrow-nay, this verv
hour-she went to Gerald and bade him take
her and hold her against all, she knew he would
do so. He would forgive. To him her action
would not seem bold or unlnaidenly. In his eyes
she would rank as high as ever; and what mat
tered the rest? Tomorrow they might be miles
away. and the bliss of being Gerald's wife might
well compensate for what people would say about
her conduct She herself could forget all, save
that she was now bound forever to the man she
loved!
She would do it, With feverish impatence
she threw off her rich dress and wrapped herself
in plain cloak. She put on the quetest hat
she could find, stole down stairs, and was out of
the house before second thoughts had time to
bring irresolution. Her heart beat wildly. She
hailed cab, and was driven to Nelson Studios.
On the way she remembered it was an unlikely
hour to find artist in his studio, but, never
theless now she had set out resolved to COM
plete her journey.
She walked quickly to Gerald's door She
knocked softly, but met with response. She
dared not wait longer outside. The pictured
consequences of her rash act were assuming
tremendous proportions In her brain. Another
minutes delay and she must leave the spot never
to return. She turned the handle of the door
and entered the room.
Now, Miss Herbert's half-formed plan of ac
ton, when she found herself face to face with
her ill-treated lover, had been something like
this-she would walk up to him and simply say
Gerald, | am come" The rest must be left to
him. but she believed, in spite of her weakness
and treachery, he would freely forgive her all
Gerald was not in the studio. The gas was
half down, and the clay casts on the wall
looked grim and spectral But, if Gerald was
not in the room, it was still inhabited, On
low cOuch-a couch covered by rich Oriental
rug-lay woman, fast asleep.
In after years. Eugenia, speaking to herself of
that moment. could only describe her feelings by
the old image of sword passing through the
heart. She turned to fly the place, but as she
turned she seized by an overwhelming i'm
pulse At all risk she must see the sleeper. The
truth IS, she was now prey to second passion,
She crept across the room and gazed on the
sleeper. Even by the dim gaslight she knew
that she gazed on beauty before which her own
must pale. The woman might have been some
five years older than herself, and those wonder
fui charms were at their zenith. The rich, clear,
warm color on the cheek, the long black lashes,
the arched and perfect eyebrows, told of south
ern lands The full voluptuous figure, the
shapely, rounded arms. the red lips, the soft
creamy neck-before these the heart of man
would n hpf0ra a irn EnCnDia Snak
ing her lover, found this in his stead!
A bitter, scornful smile played Miss Her
berts lips as she gazed at the sleeper, Somehow
that oval, sunny face seemed familiar to her.
Well might 1t be. In London, Paris every
where, she had it in the shop windows.
There were few people in France or England
who had not heard the name of Mdlle. Carlotta,
singer, dancer, darling of opera bouffe, whose
adventures and amours were notorious, who had
ruined more men than she could count on the
fingers of her fair hands
Eugenia recognized her, and her smile of scorn
deepeneG. The sight of ha,f-emptied cham
pagne bottle close to the sleeper-a halfsmoked
cigarette lying on the floor just as it had fallen
from her fingers, added nothing to the contempt
Miss Herberts smile expressed. Gathering her
skirts together to avoid any chance of contami
nation by touch she was preparing TO leave the
studio as noiselessly as she had entered it, when,
suddenly, the sleeper aWoke.
Awoke without any warning Simply opened
her splendid dark eyes, stared for half second
then, with wonderful lightness and agility,
sprang to her feet
Que faites vous la? Why are you here2" she
cried.
Without word, Eugenia moved towards the
door. Mdlle. Carlotta was before her. She
turned the key and placed her back against the
door,
"Doucement! doucement! ma BELLE" she said
Permit me to know who honors me with a
visit"
II wished to see Mr. Leigh. l suppose he is
out Be good enough to let me pass"
Are you model, thenl But no; models look
not as you look"
II am not.a model"
'Notl done! You are. perhaps, one of those
young misses who write Geraldo letters of love-
A la bonne heure! | wish to of them
moi"
With saucy smile. Carlotta pocketed the key,
turned up the gas and commenced a. cool scru-
tiny of her prisoner Eugenia blushed crimson.
"Oni. Xous etes belle. ma chere-heile mais