Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-07-10
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
a DAUGHTER OF THE GODS
BY ANTHONY E. ANDERSON.


floor in an old studio building in New
York. They had traversed crooked
passages and steep stairways innumer-
able, and were now breathless and puz-
zled, not knowing which way to turn.
"Well, if this isn't delightful hole to
drag one up to! - the CIR! exclaimed,
glancing disdainfully into the dinsy dis
tances on every hand. "Margaret, We
must have gotten into the wrong build
ing. hans never in the world could
have stood this sort of thing. Why, it's
charlottesville ~
She was hardly more than a child.
and her serious, charming face was
gathered into irown of much displeas-
ure and disgust.
"But I'm afraid he has stood it, said
Margaret, with look of hopeless con-
viction. ARTISTS don't seem to mind
er-that sort of thing, you know rath-
er doubtiully.
What nonsense you are talking - re-
torted the uncompromising Olivia. GA
man may live in garnet Alone and all
that, but I don't believe he likes it one
bit I'm very sure Hans Vischer
doesn't, Bohemian though he calls him.
self. No wonder he's in a hurry TO
enough to keep YOU both from starya-
ton, at all events"
But Margaret Rogers was studying the
numbers over the doors, and she dis
creetly let her sisters last remark pass
unheeded.
"Why, this is number ten" she said,
land here's Hans name on brass pal
cite. Since the door is half open, let's
step in and surprise him at his work"
But Hans CHEEKY presence was
missing from the room. and the
studio offered them but sombre and
silent welcome. Margaret drew her
shaw about her with Little shiver She
felt as if chill had lallen on her. And
where in the world was Hans? He GER
tainly knew that they were coming, for
he had asked her particularly to come
and inspect his most ambitious work, a
figure piece called ga Daughter of the
Gods" before sending it off to the tail
exhibition of the academy. She had
never visited his studio before, and had
expected warmer welcome than this,
certainly.
What queer place an artists studio
is ~ said Olivia, in an awed tone, walk
ing about gingerly and inspecting every
thing that came in her way. "Slt down
and wait for Hans, Margaret, while |
take some lmpressions-it that's what
you cali it,
Thus instructed, Margaret sank list
lessly into curiously carved chair, and
began to gaze abstractedly out Of the
window at the blank wall opposite.
You would have called her a very hand
some woman, L think as she Sat there
tapping the floor nervously with the tip
of her parasOl. She had unusually fine
eyes, and her well-clad figure expressed
both grace and dignity.
"Do you know, Margaret, l think I
should like to be an artist ?" Olivia rat
tied on, making telescope out of her
hands in order to properly see a "skied"
picture. 'They are always planning
and making such charming things, don't
you know? I don't think 1 should
mind tie stairs-much. Why, it that
stupid Hans Vischer hasn't stuck his
the prettiest landscape in the spring ex-
hibition, away up in that dusty corner,
where it's half hidden by a piece or
nasty yellow drapery. If that's all he
thinks of 1t, he might give 1t to me-"
Here's new picture of a road and
some geese. Ever SO much atmosphere
and feeling, and all that sort of thing,
Margaret. The sky is perfectly lovely !
And here's The Death of Laertes,'
which the critics called screaming alb
surdity. You remember how furious
Hans was when we showed him the pa
per, and how he called the critic a
'howling idiot?' I don't remember
ever seeing Hans angry before. Poor
pictures, does he? They are all here
yet, even to that charcoal sketch of an
old woman smoking horrid black pipe,
which Hans declared was the best thing
he had ever done. But as he's always
saying that of the last thing, [ didn't
put much faith in his statement. Artists
do say such ridiculous thingsp
"Oh Margaret, do come and look at
this lovely, lovely face That must be
"A Daughter Of the Gods'-and isn't she
charming! It'll take The prize, I
know. and Hans will wake to find him.
self rich and famous yet"
Margaret, to tell the truth, had not
been giving her sisters remarks on art
the attention they undoubtedly deserv-
ed, but she rose at once on mention of
the new picture, little eager flush ris-
ing to her lace.
Charming, indeed" she murmured
with proud and pleased smile, as she
gazed, and gazed at her lovers last pict-
ure, which was certainly 'the best
thing he had ever DONE" 1.-The pose
is perfect, and the face Heavens how
beautiful it is -
1t was indeed beautiful face-rich,
Southern, with red, curvlng lirs, and
eyes that glowed and burned, and yet
it was soft and tender, too, like an in
nocent child's.
AS Margaret stood before the picture,
and gazed into those luminous eyes, a
delightful vista of fame and honor for
Hans opened before her. If she thought
of herself as humble sharer Of these
honors, who can blaine her? She had
always believed implicitly in Hans tai
ent, and had responded warmly to his
most enthusiastic hopes and dreams;
but she had never imagined that fame
was SO near. Indeed, she had often
thought how good thing it was that
she had money to help him out with,
since Hans bad none. His life after
their marriage would be made lighter
by the loss OF many a sordid care, she
knew. and she rejoiced in the thought.