Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-05

bonnet and left the room, merely bid
ding me good afternoon, and saying to
Vincent that she would return at the
sams hour tomorrow. He left of
work Immediately, and his eyes never
| left her face as long as she remained In
the room. That night hs never turned
to nv portrait, which stood on show
easel by the window; but he Jay on
the sofa in q halEdozing state all the
evening.
WThe next day his work grew very
slowly under his hands, and whenever
| happened to look toward him his eyes
were fixed in fascinated regard upon the
face of the model. Strange to say,
felt no jealousy. l knew that the spell
which bound him was never the love Of
a mortal woman; but something more
awesome and mystical-some force with
out name, which had equally held him
to the worship of q square ofpsinted can
vas. dreaded far more the influence
which link had gained over him. Often
when lying awake at night, | used to
wonder whether the man might not
have solved some of these secrets Of
nature and probed the depths Of those
dim abysses which still mock the search
ipgs OF our men Of science. OF one
thing / was wellnigh certain-that his
hand worked the charm which had mas
tered my husbands senses and made
him the slave Of that witch. like smile.
On the day of the second sitting link
never appeared. That night | went
to bed physically and mentally ex-
hausted, so that / fell at once into
a heavy sleep in spite OF the trou-
BILE which molested me. Suddenly !
started up, shaken in second out Of
the profoundest slumber into the keen
est state Of utter wakefulness. The
silence and darkness were both intense,
but my senses Of hearing and sight
strained their utmost to make the black
stiffness give up its secret, and some
wild vision swept before nv eyes, and
my ears drank in some faint sounds,
which in the darkness were terrific
enough as I rose from my bed and
lighted candle.
"' Vincent was not in the room, and
the door stood ajsr. l could no longer
endure the solitude, so | hastily put on
some clothes, with the intention Of de-
scendipg to the studio. Our bedroom
was at the top Of the house, and as |
neared the studio door saw that it was
open. There was light inside, and
could hear the sound of voices speaking
in low tone.
"'In q moment quenched my light
and stole noiselessly into the room.
Just inside the door stood a large
screen and passing behind this | was
able to hear all that was said, and, by
peeripg through crevice, to see my
husband and link seated in front of the
two portraits, my own and that Of the
model. The one dim candle on the
table made only faint circle of light,
and in this were framed the visages OF
the two men; Vincent's pale and bag
gard, every muscle strained as il in
obedience to some intense passion
whether of fear or longing and links
calm and Indifferent, with look Of
cunning malice in his sunken eye.
"'" lie cannot let you have it. He
will rot let you have it except on these
TERMS" he said, "and, to tell you the
truth, scarcely dare ask him."
CO." But he let me have it once, and
l will give him any price he likes to ask
except"
60" Bah !" said link, with a threat
eniDg frown, shut you know your own
business best. Try how you can get
on without it. Look at your wife's
portrait, and see how you gave rem
deriDg Of pretty, simple face in O way
that proclaims you genius, but then
you had the essence to help you. Now
look at the attempt you have made
without it, to catch the expression on
your models face. Can. anything be
more pitiful? And yet that woman's
face is all sglow with that marvellous
spirit-fire which you kindled in your
wife's eyes without seeing it. My poor
Vincent, you are genius when you
paint with the essence, but only then"
"'" Never mind, will try sgain
and again. 1t is impossible that |
should see that face before my eyes
every moment, waking or sleeping,
without being able to catch the spirit of
il sooner or later
60" You forget your model can only
give you TIVE more sittings. He wants
her elsewhere
"'" What, is she, too, under his
orders ?"
So" Yes, but his rule is very light,
very light, indeed, as you will find,
my dear fellow, when you have signed
this agreement" And as he spoke link
pushed paper toward my husband and
handed him apen.
Vincent sat for some time silent.
"'" No." he said at last; land yet
have got two days. l cannot believe
my hand is paralyzed. Come back on
Friday night; but, link, do help me
in this. Help me to get the essence
without paying such terrible price,"
GO link did not answer. | heard
him move toward the door as | stole
out of the room and regained my bed
chamber. Vincent did not come back,
and I found him when | went down to
breakfast with another canvas all
ready to start his picture afresh. The
model came, and he worked all day
long at her face with despairing indus
try. Twas in the room when she left,
and she said, in her low and gentle
voice, that after tomorrow she would
be engaged elsewhere.
Gel went out soon after, as my head
was throbbing with fevered excitement,
and / felt as if my brain would burst
unless I got into the air, leaving Vim
cent sitting before his canvas in the
deepest detection. When Icame back,
after about an hour, the studio was
empty, the easel overturned, the canvas
torn and trampled upon, and the painted
face blurred out Of all recognition.
Then 1 knew that despair had con-
quered, and that the tempter, when he
should return, would find an easy prey.
Tonight he will come, and the last
a