The state herald., 1889-08-16

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see his face, but she noticed that Hant
stroked the girls hair gently with one
hand, while he tried 10 lead hor to d
chair. The confusion OF noises In the
strect below prevented Margaret from
hearing what they worc saying, even
II she wanted TO hear, which shc mos,
assuredly did not. She would not play
the eaves-droppcr, no matter how false
her lover might be to her.
She looked again ut the pictured
fuce on the easel. Yes. there could be
no doubt about the mattor--the woman
in the rext room was the original.
Margaret turned away with white,
set face. She ielt us II her heart
were turning TO stone In her bosom,
and that II she stayed in the studio an.
other minute she should begin to hate
Hans Vischer. The smell OF paint
seemed sitting and unbearable. and
the floor heaved beneath her feet.
She wallsc3rapidly up to her sister.
md spoke In low. quick tone. "Oliv-
She said, ''let us 20 home ut
once. Ii am not WE'LL"
Olivia throw down the etchings with
an exclamation of alarm. "Why,
Marg rot, what has happened? You
look wretchcdly. that's fnct."
Nothing has happened" said Mur-
garct impatlcntly, feeling that NIL her
powers OF endurance were slipping
awny from her. 'Ouly let us 90 home
ut once do you hear?n
She hastcned toward the door. und
Olivia followed her with look OF
a,pazement on her face. .'Well, Mnr-
,.h'et. must say she began, but
her sister was already out OF hearing.
and Olivia followed her with u very
bad grace. She assumed II portentous
air of injury when she caught up with
Margaret at tho bottom OF the last
flight OF 81 Hrs.
"What did the boy say was the mat
ter with the elcvator?n she said.
apropos of nothing in particular
merely to show that she meant to pass
Margarets behavior in silent dspleas-
ure.
That he had stuck somewhere in
the shaft" was Margarets mechanical
and listless reply. '.Isn't that our car?
Signal to it, will you dear?"
Olivia performed this duty with i'm
prcssive dignity. then seated herself
opposite her sister. and stared ut hcr
all the way home. But Margaret's $
face, though pale, expressed nothing o!
the tumultous emotions which were
seething within her, and Olivia got oil
the car in u dudgcOn. IfMlurgaret had
u secret. or II something unusual had
happened to her it was clearly her
business to tell her younger sister all
about it. Then why in the world did
she close her mouth as tight Us u clam?
Olivia had never been treated 60 before
she wasn't going to stand 1t so
iere!
Hans Vischer s...sss-lne back TO his stu
10 rather late that I. ..vening. There
nd been animated discussion IN inc
Club rooms on the worn
NJ theme of ''the ideal ! nd the real
art" and the arguments had waXed
ing and wirm-so much so. In fact,
,at II was past ~ o'clock when Hans
I the gus ana turned over the small
cap OF unopened letters which had
ccumulated during the day. There
as one in II creamy white envelope
hich he pounced upon Mt once with
pleased smi'c OF anticipation.
"From Margaret" he said. post
oning his enjoyment Of the note, ns
c arc all so fond Of doing, long
nough TO roll and light II cigarette.
his duty done, he broke tho seal and
ljustcd his eyeglasses Hans was u
.iiic ncar-sighted. be II said. Dear
irlr' he murmurcd tenderly. 'Of
purse she's going To explain why she
idn't come up this morning. Tint
icious old aunt OF hers wouldn't lot
er. l suppose, because OF some fun.
led impropriety In the thing. What
bore maiden ;lunts must be! Heigh-
o! precious glad am that l haven't
ny to worry tho life out Of me. II
inrgaret only knew how checrfully !
hall take hcr excuses! But 1t would
ever In the world have done 10 have
nd them here when Marie was storm.
~ about In that reckless fashion. Poor
irl! I'm awfully sorry for her. But
can't help wishing she wouldn't
hrow herself into fellows arms
IS rather embarrassing. on the whole.
md don'tbclieve Margaret would like
. certainly don't myself"
Hans jaw began to drop, and his
eyes stared into vacancy
nth commercial mir OF nmazement
".Mr. Hans Vischer'-why this
amt be from Margarctm he cxclaim-
d-'and yet 1t is. by .Iove! 4 return
on your engagement ring and nll the
sttcrs you have written me. II you
esirc an explanation. nsk your own
onscicnce for ii. ! shall give you
one Short-but sweet; damnably
wcet, by Jove' Why. ! must bo
Is some hideous night
my own conscience for
ip' Whnt In tho name of-Bu,
shaw! this must bc some practical
,kc-aud in very poor taste 1t is. too.
wonder that Margaret could be
utility of such thing. ] shall give
on piece of my mind tomorrow.
But the longer Hans stared ai the
innocent looking envelope, the more
i'd tho consolation OF Joke fndc from
Is mind. He turned II over In his
aud. and gnawcd his blonde mus
ache with much energy, but the mys-
cry became moro impcnetrablo than
ver At Inst he threw II down with n
Of impnticncc.
"Wcll, ] can't make II out hc NUT
cred. Margaret must have taken
eavc OF her senses. I'm sure I've
one nothing TO deserve this. So let
bc, then. there arc plenty OF other
ne women. suppose. I'm going 10
urn In md forget all about II; | can't
mt two thoughts together tonight.
nyway."
but no sleep visited his eyes that
light. and hc tossed about with I'M
vcr increasing sense OF bniiicd lmpn-
icnco. llc was very much In love
Nth Margaret, mud her no,o. inoxpli.
able though Il was. had cut Into his
cnrt like n dagger.
lIc dressed himself ut dnybrcnk with
dismal conviction that after NIL life
'as hardly worth the living. Between
is love affairs and his encounters
sith strongly obtuse art committees. n
oor devil OF nm nrtlst might ns well be