Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-17
CHAPTER ii-CoSrINuEp.

He drew back at last. Yes, that's
it," he said. ITS right, right His
face shall come in later. But the heart
Of the thing is there"
The last sentence was spoken in u
louder tone. 80 that some one behind
him heard. II was Mrs. Detlor. She
had. with the young girl who had sat
at her feet the evening before. been
shown into the outer room, had play.
fully parted the curtains between the
rooms and entered. She stood for mo.
ment looking at the sketch, fascinated,
thrilled. Her eyes filled with tears. then
went dry and hot. as she said in u loud
whisper. "yes. the heart Of the thing is
there
liagar turned on her quickly, aston.
ishcd, eager. his face shining with a
look supcraddcd to his artistic excite.
ment.
She put her finger to her lip. and
nodded backward to the other room. He
understood. Yes. ! know" he said.
'the light comedy manner" He waved
his hand toward the drawing. But is
1t not in the right vein:"
1T is painfully, horribly true" she
said She looked from him to the can.
vas. from the canvas to him, and then
made u little pathetic gesture with her
hands. What II jest life is!''
"A game--a wonderful game" he
replied, land u wicked one. when there
IS gambling with human hearts
Then he turned with her toward the
other room. As he passed her to draw
aside the curtain she touched his arm
with the tips Of her fingers so lightly
Us she intcnded-that he did not feel it.
Thcre was mute. confiding tenderness
in the action more telling than any
speech. The woman had had q brilliant,
varied. but lonely life. Ii must still bc
lonely. though now the pleasant vista Of
u new career kept opening and closing
before her. rendering her days fascinat.
ing yet troubled, her nights fall Of joy.
full but uneasy hours. The game thus
far had gone against her. Yet she was
popular, merry and amiable!
She passed cumposcdly into the other
room. lIagar greeted the young girl.
gave her books and papers, opened the
piano. called for some refreshments and
presented both with u rose from bunch
upon the table. The young girl was
perfectly happy to be allowed to sit III
the courts withoat and amusc herself
while the artist and his model should
have their hour with pencil and canvas.
The two then went tn the studio
again, and, leaving the curtain drawn
back. Iiagar arranged Mrs. Dctlor in
position and began his task. He stood
looking at the canvas for a time, rs
Enough To enter into the spirit Of il
again then turned to- his model. she
was no longer Mrs. Dctlor, hut his sub
ject. near to him rs his canvas and the
creatures Of his imagination, but Us q
mere woman in whom he was profoundly
interested (that at lcast) an immeasur-
able distance from him. He was the
artist only now.
II was strange. There grew upon the
canvas Mrs. Detlor's face, all the woman
of 1t, just breaking through sweet. awe
somely beautiful. girlish features; and
though the work was but begun there
was already that luminous tone which
artists labor So hard to get, giving Ia
the face u weird, yet charming expires.
sion.
For an hour he worked, then he
paused. Would you like to see it," he
said.
She rose eagerly, and little pale.
He had now sketchcd in more distinctly
the figure Of the man. changed it pur.
posely to look more like Telford. She
saw her own face first. II shone out OF
the canvas. She gave a gasp Of pain and
admiration. Then she caught sight @,
Telford's figure. with the face blurred
and indistinct.
"Ohv' she said with shudder "Tha
that is like him How could yor
know"
''If that IL the man, he said, II saw
him this morning. Is his name Mari
Telfordg"
eyes" she said. and sank into
chair. Presently she sprang 10 her feet
caught up brush and put IL into HI
hand. Paint In his face. Quick, Pain
in his face. Put all his wickcdnes
there
Hagar came close to her. 'You hat
him?" he said. and took the brush
She did not answer by word. but shool
her head YEARLY, ~ to some one IA
Oh. expressing neither yes nor no
why he said quietly-all thei
words had been in low tones. thar the.
might not be heard-''why. do 20,
wear that ring. them"
She looked ct her hand with u bitter