Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1897-04-07

three paintings, life-sized and mag
nifcently framed, started. Then |
drew nearer and began to study in
tently, in its turn, each picture.
The first picture in line had the
word Purity" in raised ivory letters
beneath. The slender form of a
young girl, in loose robes Of spotless
white, outlined against mass of deli
cate pale pink bloom and an azure
cloudless sky. Her gold-colored hair,
falling loose to her waist, was bound
with white roses. The girls hands
clasped to her breast single white
lily, while at her feet lay spray OF
lilies. Her beautiful, innocent eyes
we're lifted heavenward,
Beneat the next picture, in let
tiers Of gold, was the word 'Love."
1t was somewhat similar to the fore
going picture, and yet as unlike it
as the star-hghted darkness of the
night is to the voluptuous warmth
of a summer noon. The pale pink of
the background was changed to mass
of rich crimson roses; the sky reflected
all the gorgeous tints Of an exquisite
sunset.
The form of the woman outlined
against the rich hue of the roses of
love had ripened and matured. She
wore a gown of rich, shimmering
silk, and her white cleaning shout
ders and tapering arms were bare. In
her hands, pressed close against her
half-bared bosom, was a cluster of
crimson roses. The spray of lilies lay
at her feet, but one dainty, satin-shod
foot was pressed upon them, crushing
and breaking their delicate snowy
leaves. The face was no longer that
of an angel, saint, but the face of a
woman, with a woman's awakened
soul looking forth from the beautiful
eyes, which were not lifted to heaven,
but rested caressingly upon the red
roses against her breast. A deeper,
richer color lay upon cheeks and lips
lips that smiled dreamily. The en-
tire picture breathed a subtle volup-
tuousness.
Raised ebony letters gave the name
of the last picture, Despair" AS in
the two other pictures, the figure of
a woman, but clad in dark, unlovely
garments and outlined against a lurid
gray sky. The same face, but with
cheeks and lips drained Of all color,
and wide-open eyes full Of an i'm
measurable agony, hopeless, despair
ing. The delicate immaturity Of
Purity and the voluptuous develop
ment of Glove" were both absent.
The somber robes outlined a figure
thin almost to emaciation Her hair
had lost its gloss and was pale and
lustreless, her hands were empty, and
her arms hung straight at her sides.
At her feet lay spray of dead and
withered lilies.
! do not know how long I stood
there, with sickening feeling Of
pain and an unreasonable pity grow
ing IN my heart. At length / turned
away and passed OFT into the street.
l bent my steps in the direction Of
Diners studio.
[ found him stretched upon couch
with a cigarette between his lips and
a bottle of champaign at his elbow.
He sprang up at the sight of me and
came forward with outstretched hand.
s'Why, Radcliffe, old felloww he
exclaimed, "this is indeed an unex-
pected pleasure did not know that
you had returned"
I stood, looking him full in the face
-"the beautiful face that women
loved'-I did not touch his extended
hand.
Conner, | cannot take your hand, .
[ said, SSuntil | hear from your lips
that you are not the abnormally sell
fish, uniquely cruel monster that those
pictures OF yours suggest you are.
His hand dropped and he looked
at me with a cold smile and a slight
uplifting Of his brows.
"You are pleased to be enigmati-
cal, unpleasantly So" he said, quietly.
''Omer," I cried, almost passionate
ly, ''this young girl, your model for
those three pictures, whom you and
| first looked upon innocent, lovely
and happy-what of herr"
For the first time / saw upon that
perfect face the culver, the swift pal
lorof strong emotion. The eyes which
looked into mine had something like
fear in them.
''She is dead" he said; "dead-of
broken heart. Emma Howard
Wright, in Golfers Weekly.
An Active Sanitarian.
Sir Rnnianin Word Piobordco,