Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-04-09

bile FRENCH ScuUOls VI tHC SAat.AStoI
sold to artists who paint from the
nude, but he found most of these I'M
interesting and passed them by with
merely glance. There was, how
ever, something about the face OF
one--a delicate, gracefully -euryed
girlish figure, poised somewhat after
the fashion adoped by the women
who have played la in the" Clemen-
ceau Case that attracted Van Ell
ten, and lie garfield it oyer to the
lamp light to get better view of it.
The features had seemed to him Ia
miliar, and yet for the moment he
had been unable to recall where and
under what circumstances he had
seen them.
AS the full radiance of the lamp
fell upon the picture. revealing beau
ties that in the semi gloom of the
shaded room were only suggested,
and emphasizing personality that
had before elcded him, the young
man, who was not given to exhibit
tions OF emotion, gave utterancs to
aninvoluntary exclamation ofamaze-
ment, and the photograph slipped
from his gloved fingers to the floor.
At that moment there was a sound
ola key in the latch of the outer
door, and as Van Elten stopped to
regain the picture, Ulverson, tall,
fair-haired and beardless, came hur-
riedly in. He stopped suddenly at
sight of Van Elten, and the latter
deity dropped the photograph upon
the table face down.
"Wers you waiting to see me I"
UIverson asked. Ii was evident that
he did not recognize his old class
mate; and for moment Van Elten
was half inclined to make himself
known. The discovery of the last
moment had sent torrent OF con-
lectures of far from pleasant char
actsr surging through his brain. He
was. however, at a loss to invent, at
such short notice, any plausible ex-
cuse for his presence there.
EYES," he said, 81 was waiting
for you. Ulverson."
He did not put out his hand. He
was uncertain whether he could
bring himself to shake Ulverson's
when it was presented.
"You must pardon me-" the other
remarked, "but for the life of me |
can't place you. Stop moment
let us have some more light" and
he struck match and touched it to
two of the burners of the chandelier
in the middle of the room. Then he
looked at his visitor again.
"By CAD! Van Elten!" he exclaim-
ed, Pm dev'lish glad to see you,'
and before Van Elten realized it Ill
version had his hand in his and was
shaking it most cordially.
f" When did you get back from the
other side?" he was saying. No
wonder l didn't recognize you.
You've got the cosmopolitan air
about you, sure enough. / don't
know whether you look more like an
Englisnman, a Frenchman or an
Italian. Why, it's been four years
since you went away, hasn't it,"
"Three years." responded Van
Elten, laconically.
And are you back now to stay,
or are you only on a visit? Come,
tell me about yourself"
Van Elten's hand sought the pho
tograph which had so suddenly risen
like a granite wall between himself
and his friend. He clutched it ner-
vously in his fingers and then thrust
it towards Ulvsrson.
damn it ALL" he said, 81 can't
talk to you while this thing is be
tween us. Tell me what it means
Explain it, Or"
He did not finish the sentence. All
sight of the picture, Ulverson's face
which had been flushed, turned white
as marble. He tried to laugh, but
the effort was CHASTITY, miserable
failure. He tried to speak, but he
stammsrsd so that his words were
unintelligibls.
"Stopw Van Elten commanded
Don't stand there mumbling lies.
want a full, clear, complete ano
truthful statement of how this pic
ture came into your hands. If yot
can't compose yourself sufficiently t
tell ne now, name time when vol
| will be able aud will be here to heal
it. l demand it as my right" HI
stepped to the couch on which hi!
overcoat lay and stopped to pick i
up.
"W-w-wait minute" Ulyer
son suffered, catching him by the
arm. +" Wait a minute, will you
Pm willing to tell you everything
now. God knows it was a foolisf
thing for me to do, and I swear, yaI
Elten, I'm sorry for it."
"Tear the thing up, them"
Ulverson hesitated.
"Tear it up, I say, and then II
listen to your story" Van Eltenl
eyes were blazing. His voice wa
stern and commanding. UlversoI
took the card and tore il in half.