Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-02-25
bowling TO Miss Strong. The little man
who had introduced them disappeared.

c0Olly. 1T interested me Dccauss IL
has an idea and is well painted. No enc
would think it great
''In that you are mistaken. | am the
artist. and | think it great
There was dead pause.
After dozen years experience as an
heiress Katharine had formed the habit
OF speaking but occasionally, and of
never talking. Young men generally
talked to her. Howard was puzzled He
prided himself upon reading character,
upon having no illusions. no enthusiasts,
upon never losing his temper-in fact,
upor innumerabe qualities. He was
woman hater, and cared nothing for
money. If the choice had rested with
| him he never would have met Miss
| Strong. If the conversation had opened
differently he would have closed it.
as soon as possible. Now it
seemed as if Katherine had closed it.
She stood looking at him, no signs of
| life in her face 1t was the coolest face
he had ever seen. Even the eyes, deep
set and small, had not the redeeming
quality of color. They were light
| gray; the lashes amounted to moth
|
ever were dark This scrutiny Kathe-
rine bore with complete indifference.
Howard might gaze at her as long as he
chose--or at least until her carriage were
called. And Howard did gaze at her.
Something lay behind that extraordina-
rily inexpensive face.
Miss Strong" he said, abruptly, ''you
have given me an idea. We artists can
not afford to throw away such gift,
Will you sit for me2'
Katherine moved slowly toward the
door,
"Do you carry your realism to that
extreme, Mr. HowardW she asked. He
had thought her cold; now she was icy.
II am considered blunt, Miss Strong
my enemies even call me rude. A great
deal OF time is wasted in conventionali
ties | don't believe in them. Why
should | wait until have known you
year before | ask you to sit for mes My
idea would be lost. May | 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 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 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 a conventional por-
trait, Miss Strong" he explained. II
shall want you to take a tiresome posi-
ton, and 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
likenessN
The photograph was of a sphinx-the
ordinary sphinx every child sees in its
geography. But line for line, feature
for feature. the face was Katherine
Strong's.
After that morning, Howard trans
ferred his interest from Miss Strong to
| l. l. hot h. Il
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 model; she's a perfect lay
figure She holds a position without
moving muscle, and | don't have to
talk string of nonsense to keep her
; good -humored. Now that think of it.,
don't believe she ever was good-hum-
oredn
He laughed amusedly. Good -humor
did seem a 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 studies!
You don't know human nature. A plain
woman is vainer than a beauty
swell. 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. II was absurd that thinking about
katherine should make it impossible 70
2 paint. BY aboishing her individuality
from his mind, he had made great strides
with his picture. Now that lac hal be-
gun to notice her again, he could do
nothing.
"Pshawl' he exclaimed, throwing
aside his brush. "Miss Strong, it's no
use, my mind is occupied with some.
thing else aud perhaps you'll be glad Of
a rest to-day"
Katherine rose compOscdly