Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-02-16

"'H1@u~iAatcI. anu NAtrO uUtuIuX tof
moneys II the choice had rested with
him he never would have met Miss
Strong. II the conversation had opened
differently he would have closed il
as soon as possible. Now Il
seemed as IL Katherins had closed it.
She stood looking at him, no signs OF
lifein her face. Ii was the coolest face
he had ever seen. Even the eyes, deep.
get and small, had not the redeeminQ
quality OF color. They were light
gray; the lashes amounted to moth.
ing; the eyebrows and hair, how
ever, were dark. This scrutiny Kathe-
rine bore with complete Indifference.
Howard might gaze ut her as long as he
chose or at least until her carriage were
called. And Howard did gaze ut her.
Something lay behind that extraordina-
rily inexpensive face.
"Aiiss Strong" he said, abruptly, ''you
| have given me an idea. We artists can
not afford to throw away such gift.
Will you sit for iner
Katherine moved slowly toward the
door.
"Do you carry your realism to that
extreme, Mr.. Howard2" she asked. He
had thought her cold; now she was icy.
IL am considered blunt, Miss Strong
my enemies even call me rude. A great
deal of time is wasted in conventional
ties. l don't believe in them. Why
should l wait until have known you a
year before / ask you to sit for me2 My
idea would be lost. May l expect you
at my studio by ten tomorrow morn.
ing?"
mo" answered Katherine; ''this week
is fully occupied. Next Monday you
may call upon me and will appoint the
sittings to suit my convenience. Good
afternoon"
Her carriage had been found. One
cavalier outrunning the others, breath
lessly fastened to offer Miss Strong his
arm. Howard turned away smiling.
''Even a sphinx has vanity. No wo-
man ever refused to sit for her portrait.
If read the riddle before / paint the
sphinx my picture will be a failure. She
will interest me only until fathom her.
She must, therefore. interest me until
the sittings are over"
This calm way of regulating his inter
ests had given Howard years of selfish
ease. He thought little about Miss
Strong until he called upon her on Mon
day to arrange for the sittings. But at
the first one he found that, say or do
what he would, she did interest him in
tensely.
'This is not to be conventional por-
trait, Miss Strong" he explained 81
shall want you to take tiresome posi-
ton, and j warn you that | am slow
worker. To begin with. let me tell you
my idea. Look at this photograph. Now
look into this mirror DO you see the
likenessP'
The photograph was of sphinx-the
ordinary sphinx every child sees in its
geography. But line for line, feature
for feature, the face was Katherine
Strongs.
After that morning, Howard trans
ferred his interest from Miss Strong to
his canvas. He knew that what he had
done was great, and he worked as he had
never worked before.
you're doing portrait for Katherine
Strong, | hear" said friend, meeting
him one day. II didn't know that sort
of thing was in your line. What can
you make of herr"
make of herr" repeated Howard, 81
can do anything with her; never have
had such a model; she's a perfect lay
figure. She holds position without
moving q muscle, and don't have to
talk string of nonsense TO keep her
ood-humored. Now that / think of it,
l don't believe she ever was good hum
ored."
He laughed amusedly. Good humor
did seem ridiculous expression to apply
to Katherine Strong.
You're an extraordinary fellow" said
his friend; "for downright ugliness Miss
Strong has no equal; but do you think
she will like one of your realistic studicsl
You don't know human nature. A plain
woman is vainer than beauty"
"Wel!. whatever she is, the picture is
uppermost in my mind. stake my repu-
tation on it. | didn't know / could get
up so much enthusiasm over anything.
Howard was in predicament when he
next saw Katherine. For some reason
or other he could not settle down to
work. 1t was absurd that thinking about
katherine should make it impossible to
paint BY abolishing her individuality
from his mind, he had made great strides
with his picture. Now that he had be-
gun to notice her again, he could do
nothing.
"Pshaw!n he exclaimed, throwing
aside his brush. '.SIiss Strong, it's no
use, my mind is occupied with some
thing else, and perhaps you'll be glad of
q rest to-day"
Katherine rose composedly.
'Just as you please, MIR. Howard
good morning."
"Oh! l don't mean to hurry you away"
cried Howard. "Your carriage is gone,
and you may as we'll wait for it as usual,
/ want to talk with you. | suppose |
have your permission to send this picture
to the Academy in the spring."
"Of course; If you wish it." Rather.
inc went over to the easel. at is better
than your other work; is it not2 How
many more sittings will you needr
at is not like my other work, said
Howard. "You know my an. bit on is to
pull down ideals Truth is my hobby,
and truth. in art, is realism. But don't
want to bore you with lecture on art.
DO you care for painting, Miss Strong"
Eyes; some painting. / think your
portrait of me good"
1T is good, and it interests me more
than anything have done. You are an
intellectual stimulant to me. Love is
one Of the ideals l consider absurd. l
make no prctense of offering it to YOU
but do offer you my respect and ask
you to be my wife. There is no reason