Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-29

II was indeed a beautiful face-rioh,
Southern, with red. curving lips, and
eyes that glowed and burned, and yet
it was soft and tender, too, like an
innocent child's.
As Margaret stood before the pic
ture, and gazed in those luminous
eyes, delightful vista of fame and
honor for Hans opened before her. If
she thought of herself as humble
sharer of these honors, who can blame
herP She had always believed simplic-
lily in Hans talent, nd had responded
warmly TO his most enthusiastic hopes
and dreams; but she had never imagin-
ed that fame was so near. Indeed, she
had often thought how good a thing it
was that she had money to help him
out with, since Hans had none. His
life after their marriage would he
made lighter by the loss Of many q
sordid care, she knew, and she rejoiced
in the thought.
Olivia in the meantime, had plunged
her inquisitive head into IA portfolio OF
etchings, and Margaret was left to
dream on in happy abstraction.
Suddenly, us she loitered near one
end of the long dim studio, she was
startled by the sound of passionate
little cutlery which came from q door
slightly ajar, and CHANGING through
was astounded to see a strange woman
throw herself into Hans Vischer's
arms, with gesture OF utter despair
Margaret chung to the heavy por-
tierre for support IL horrible sick feel
ing stealing over her. She could not
see his face, but she noticed that Hans
stroked the girls hair gently with one
hand, while he tried to lead her to a
chair. The confusion OF noises in the
street below prevented Margaret from
hearing what they were saying, even
il she wanted to hear, which she most
assuredly did not. She would not play
the eaves-dropper, no matter how false
her lover might be to her.
She looked again at the pictured
face on the easel. Yes, there could be
no doubt about the matter-the woman
in the rext room was the original.
Margaret turned away with white,
set face. She ielt as If her heart
were turning TO stone in her bosom,
and that if she stayed in the studio an
other minute she should begin to hate
Hans Nischer. The smell of paint
seemed sitting and unbearable, and
the floor heaved beneath her feet.
She walked rapidly up to her sister,
and spoke in low, quick tone. "Oliv-
ia" she said, ''let us 60 home at
once. II am not we'll"
Olivia threw down the etchings with
an exclamation OF alarm. "Why,
Marg ret, what has happened? You
lpnlr trt.afala1lv fhuf'G a fant -
Nothing has happened" said Mar
garet impatiently, feeling that all her
powers of endurance were slipping
away from her. "Only let US go home
at once do you hear?n
She FASTENED toward the door, and
Olivia followed her with look of
amazement on her face. well, Mar
garet, | must say she began, but
her sister was already out OF hearing,
and Olivia followed her with u very
bad grace. She assumed portentOus
air of injury when she caught up with
Margaret at the bottom of the last
flight of stairs.
What did the boy say was the mat
ter with the elevator?n she said.
apropos Of nothing in particular
merely TO show that she meant to pass
Margaret's behavior in silent displeas-
ure.
That he had stuck somewhere in
the shaft" was Margaret's mechanical
and listless reply. Isn't that our car?
Signal to it, will you dear?"
Olivia performed this duty with i'm
pressive dignity, then seated herself
opposite her sister, and stared at her
all the way home. But Margaret's
face, though pale, expressed nothing of
the tumultous emotions which were
seething within her, and Olivia got off
the car in dudgeon. II Margaret had
a secret, or if 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 as clam?
Olivia had never been treated so before
and she wasn't going TO stand it-so
there!
Hans Vischer came back TO his stu
do rather late that evening. There
had been animated discussion in the
Rembrandt Club rooms on the worn
out theme OF "the ideal and the real
in art" and the arguments had waxed
long and warm-so much so, in fact,
that it was past II o'clock when Hans
lit the gas ana turned over the small
heap of unopened letters which had
accumulated during the day. There
was one in creamy white envelope
which he pounced upon at once with
pleased smile OF anticipation.
''From Margaret, he said. post
poning his enjoyment of the note, as
we are all so fond of doing, long
enough to roll and light cigarette.
This duty done, he broke the seal and
adjusted his Eyeglasses Hans was a
tritle near-sighted, be it said. Dear
girl!' he murmured tenderly. "Of
course she's going to explain why she
didn't come up this morning. That
vicious old aunt of hers wouldn't let
her. | suppose, because of some fan
cied inproprietv in the thing. What
bore maiden aunts must be! Heigh-
no! precious glad am that haven't
any to worry the life out OF me. If
Margaret only knew how cheerfully l
shall take her excuses! But it would
never in the world have done to have
had them here when Marie was storm
ing about in that reckless fashion. Poor
girl! I'm awfully sorry for her. But
\ oonff ha1n xuicbipor ba vro,,1J,st