The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-02-13

model. dismiss Corinne. and search for .
new idea.
The house was dark. except for tho
night light in the hall. With a sullen
memory III the quarrel OF the afternoon
he went around to the studio. separate
building in the rear. intending to sleep
there, as he did often. He unlocked tho
door which had spring lock. and clos
ed with catch. The room was in per-
feet darkness, the fire was long out. and
a deadly chill numbei the air. The
sculptor struck match and lit two gas
Jets, shiveriug at the prospect before
him, but resolved not to enter the
house. He did not at first perceive n
figure. heavily shroudrd in some dark
drapery, seated with it's back toward
him before the ashes on the hearth.
When he did perceive it his first thought
was that his nerves had played him an
uncanny trick; his second, that his wife
had waited here for the opportunity OK
batting him on his return. His impulse
was to turn on mis- heel and leave the
studio in her undisputed possession; he
hated scenes and nagging. and he was
not far at that moment from hating the
woman who had become identified with
these things in his mind.
: He did turn toward the door, and then
paused, withheld by the strange Stiffness
Of the room, the motionlessnesJ OF the
dark figure. He thought she must be
asleep, and felt no desire to awaken her;
but he knew that he could not rest.
leaving her as she was. He approached
her, therefore, reluctantly, dragging
himself slowly over the floor. The mo-
ment he looked upon her face he knew
she was dead. The cold white face in
the shadow Of the blanket showed only
as pale glimmer; but the man felt
death.
He recoiled and dropped upon the
chest at the side OF the fireplace, star
ing. IL did not occur to him to call out.
nor to see II the woman's heart still
beat. She was dead, that was the
whole OF the matter. After a while he
reached up above his head, and shrink
ing horribly the while. lit another gas
Jet. But there was nothing horrible tn
see. The figure, straight and stiff, out
lined by the dark blanket which swept
in heavy folds from the shoulders; the
face, rigid and composed. calm with an
ineffab'e quiet which nothing could
touch or ruffle more; the dignity Of alb
solute passionless repose; the look Of ore
who had done with earth and the thiI %
Of earth forever-these were the i'm
pressions to which the startled sens g OF
the man responded. There was no
doubt in him OF the tremendous fact OF
death; yet he rose. and, half timidly. "a
though it were a conscious Dissertation,
touched the cold flesh OF the woman's
cheek, and held his fingers for a moment
before the quiet mouth. The clamor OF
his nerves subsidized; personal emotions
sank away. but half reused. At some
future time he might be glad or sorry.
Now, :he genesis Of an idea occupied
usurped all his mind. Half consciously
he stared at tine face whose sh ,pely cut
features, Swallowed and sottened by the
simple strong line Of the drspery, took
on nobility so piercingly impressive.
T lis-tbis. This was what he sought
this majesty, tbs austerity. Did one
seek oblivion, foryetfulness Of things
earthly? This woman had found it.
This was the secret OF her locked lips,