Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-02-25


but I do cifer you my respect and ask
you to be my wife. There is no reason
why our lives should not be much more
useful together than apart. Don't you
agree with me!'
Katherine's face was impenetrable.
"Yes, Mr.. Howard, it would be most
sensible arrangement. value truth, and
believe you to be above marrying for
money. Those two qualities | have not
vet seen combined in one man. should
like to lead useful life As you say
we may accomplish that together Twill
undertake it with you
Her manner surpassed his in business
like GOODNESS. There was no fear of be
ing bored by an emotional wife in such a
woman. Howard was satisfied.
katherine" said he, with some hest.
tation--he was not shy man. but it
took courge to address Miss Strong by
her Christian name Katherinc, you are
as independent as |: suppose, for the
sake of the picture, we hurry our we'd
ding | have an order must fill before
the end of the month; after that shall
want you to pose necessarily, and our
being married will save much time and
trouble"
"For the sake of the picture" repeat
ed Katherine, slowly; Eyes, for the sake
OF the picture it would be best. l will
marry you by the end of the month.
The next few days passed more quickly
than Mr.. Howard had expected Be
fore he knew it came the wedding, the
crowded church, the conventional recep-
tion, and all was over He and Kathe-
| rine were man and wife.
1t was their second week of marriage.
Howard had been painting steadily that
morning, and now, fitting back his chair,
he surveyed his work, weary but wholly
satisfied.
81 want to know when this IS to end. y
1t was Katherine who spoke; but that
voice, broken and passionate, could it
have come from Katherine's lips2
"Katherine! What do you meant"
She had risen and had come over to
| him.
The suppressed passion of years, swol-
len into mighty flood, had broke down
the barriers between her and humanity.
Nature had made this woman on the
heroic scale. For years Katherine had
fought against Nature, sti1ed impulse,
stunned friendship, dstrusted every one
Now Nature had won the right of way
the floods had risen; the barriers were
shattered forever
'Manton, look at your picture; it is
finished. You say it is great; but have
you thought why it is great! You have
painted more than you know. You have
gone higher than you dreamed. There
is a soul in that picture You asked me
to marry you after few weeks ac-
quaintance, You were abrupt, business
like; you came to the point instantly.
was good lay figure, you thought h
do not interrupt me in society there are
many kind friends to report little speeches
such as that. Youtold me plainly that you
despise love- You think it an ideal to be
destroyed, and you are realist, lover
of truth. | tell you you are not a realist ;
no realist could have painted that pic
ture. You do not know your powers
You are incrusted with vanity. A curious
vanity it is to want to be less than you
lNdllN ulC. Jul DlNlulb at VIZ 4lNhhCilf
pleased me because, tho coarse, it had
something besides its brutal realism. l
agreed to sit for you, and during those
sittings, | studied you better than you
studied me. Thep you asked me to
marry you. Manton, you never have
asked me why | married you. Let me
tell you; listen to me; look at me!
married you because loved you. Stop!
She laid her hand on her husband S
shoulder 81 must go on. Do not
move. Do not interrupt me, Manton. |
have been as cold as ice all my life. |
have not known what was in me. | have
distrustcd every one. | was born into q
society that worshiped money. | had
admirers because had money, all my
life have loathed money. Do you know,
Manton, that nobody has ever loved
me ("
She shivered. The break in her voice
was more pathetic than a sob from an
other woman. Once having barred her
soul, Katherine would not spare it tor
ture.
II have longed for some one, some
creature, to love me; and then | have re-
PEELED them ALL You did not pretend to
love me; you admired the face others
thought hideous. Do not think deceive
myself | know you admire it because
YOU prefer hideousncss to beauty; but
was weak enough to be gratified that YOU
saw something in my ugliness Now
look again at your picture. There is
more in me than uginess; the picture
testiies to it. So much for myself
Manton. what of you!
"You have lived on the surface of
your nature rs an ignorant man lives on
the carth's crust, knowing nothing OF the
fires, the forces, the wonderful secrets
that lie hidden beneath him. You have
made a garden of your life. You have
arranged your likes, your dislikes, your
pleasures, as you pleased. You have dug
into your nature only deep enough for
your trivial daily wants. Had you dug
deeper you would have struck gold. Oh
my husband, believe it, for | love
you
The blood rushed to Towards face
he breathed quickly, unevenly. lie did
not stir or speak.
Katherine faltered, aud then faced him
with simple dignity.