Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-23
"A DAUGHTER OF THE GODS"

A young lady and young girl stood
in the dusky passageway of the fourth
floor in an old studio building in New
York. They had traversed crooked
passages and steep stairways innumer-
able, and were now breathless and
puzzled, not knowing which way to
turn.
We'll, if this isn't delightful hole
to drag one up tor the girl exclaimed,
CHANGING dlsdainfully into the dingy
distances on every hand. Margaret t,
we must have gotten into the wrong
building. Hans never in the world
could have stood this sort OF thing.
Why, s--its-detestab
She was hardly more than child,
and her serious, charming face was
gathered into frown OF much dis
pleasure and disgust
But I'm afraid he has stood IL, - said
Margaret. with look OF hopeless con-
viction. ARTISTS don't seem ID mind
-er-that sort of thing, you know"
rather doubtfully.
What nonsense you are talkingw
retorted the uncompromising Olivia.
"A man may live in "A garnet alone.
and all that, but | don't believe he
likes it one bit. I'm very sure Hans
Vischer doesn't, Bohemian though he
calls himself. No wonder he's in q
hurry to marry you, Margaret; you've
got money enough TO keep you both
from starvation, at all events.
But Margaret Rogers was studying
the numbers over the doors, and she
discreetly 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.
Margret drew her shawl about her with
little shiver. She felt as if chill
had fallen on her And where In the
world was Hans? He certainly knew
that they were coming, for he had
asked her particularly TO come and in
spect his most ambitious work. a figure
piece called "A Daughter of the
Gods, before sending it off to the fall
exhibition Of the academy. She had
never visited his studio before. and had
expected warmer welcome than this
certainly.
What queer place an artist )
studio isl" said Olivia, in an awed
tone, walking about gingerly and in
specting everything that came in her
way. Sit down aud wait for Hans.
Margaret, while | take some impress
sions-if that's what you call it.
Thus instructed, Margaret sank list
lessly into n curiously carved chair,
and began to gaze abstractedly out Of
the window at the blank wall opposite.
You would have called her u very
handsome woman, | think, as she sat
there tapping the floor nervously with
the tip of her parasol. She had unu-
sually fine eyes, and her well-clad
figure expressed both grace and dign-
ity.
''Do you know. Margaret, | think
should like TO be an artist?' Olivia rat
tied on, making q 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? j don't think
1 should mind the stairs-much. Why,
if that stupid Hans Vischer hasn't
stuck his Sunset in New Jersey, which
| thought the prcttiest landscape in
the spring exhibition, away up in that
dusty corner, where it's half hidden
by piece of nasty yellow drapery. II
that's all he thinks OF it, he might give
it TO me.
Heres new picture OF road and
some gees. Ever so much atmosphere
and feeling, and all that sort of thing,
Margaret. The sky is perfectly love-
lyi And here's the Death Of Laertes.
which the critics called n screaming
absurdity. You remember how fUri-
Gus Hans was when we showed him the
paper. and how he called critic a
'howlino idiotg / don't remember
ever seeing Hans angry before. Poor
fellow He doesn't seem TO sell many
pictures, does he? They are all here
yet. even TO that charcoal sketch OF an
old woman smoking n 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. l didn't put much faith in his
statement. Artists do say such ridicu-
lous thingsr'
''Oh! Margaret, do come and look at
this lovely. lovely face! That must be
a Daughter of the God sand isn't
she charming! It'll take the prize,
know, and Hans will wake 10 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 de-
served bat she rose at once on mem
ton of the new picture, little eager
flush rising TO her face.
"Charming, indeed!" she murmured
with proud and pleased smile, as she
Cazed, and gazed at her lovers last
picture, which was certainly, 1.-THE best
he had ever done" THE pose is per-
feet, and the face-Heavens! how
beautiful IL is!''