The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-09-14

wonder that Antony sacrlnced tame and
honor and all for her.
1t had been difficult work to get the
prim old sisters of the convent to let him
paint her there, in the center of their old ,
gray cloistcr. but no other place had
made such an ideal background. and the
promise of a large donation to their
school had at length persuaded them.
And, besides, was it not Nella-their
little NelIa, who had sung in their choir
since she was child, and whom they
knew to be good and true?
Nella thought it all over in dull me-
chanical sort of way as she sat AMI
gazed at the man she loved this last
afternoon. What would the sisters say
when they heard the end? And she felt
the end was close upon her. That subtle.
heavy presentiment that sometimes comes
over us human creatures that a crisis.
the crisis of our lives, is fast approach
ing came over Nella that afternoon as
she sat in her regal trappings and put a
wistful, prophetic look into the soft eyes
and took away her voice. and she sat ST.
lent in all her glory.
How quiet you are today, Nellaw he
, said gently. "Are you sorry it's our last
sitting?"
Eyes. MILFORD" she answered simply.
"Are your
He looked at her! What was that in
her tone, that new softness, that tremu-
lous little break? And as he looked at
her he saw a difference. even from yes
terday-the difference between the bud
and the blossom, the sign Of that southern
temperament, that in one supreme mo-
ment changes the girl into the perfect
woman. And she was a perfect woman
as she sat there in half barbaric splendor.
her scarlet lips slightly parted, as though
she would speak, but could not; nothing
but the glitter of the jewels on her arms
and the flashes Of her deep eyes showing
she was no statue.
And as Gerald Vavasour looked into
those eyes he understood what had
changed her, He saw her secret, and a
great thrill swept over him-she loved
him, this superb woman, this queen who
looked at him as a slave looks at its mas
tcr-she loved him! But his love was
buried in a grave thousands Of miles
away, and nm intense wave Of pity over
came him, for the look in those eyes was
the look he felt come into his own when
he thought Of that grave.
"Nella," he said, going up to her and
taking her hands half unconsciously.
don't look like that. am heartbroken.
never thought
II will not see you again. MILFORD. No,
am not ashamed that you know love
you" she said. Twill you kiss me once
before go?'
Her fingers strayed lightly over his
hair. and the touch of her soft, warm
arms around his neck held him for mo-
ment. and he laid his lips upon her face
and kissed her again and again. Then
suddenly, as rush of remembrance
passed over him. he put her back almost
roughly and. going to his easel, said.
without looking ut her again:
'"The sitting is over. have fnished"'
Nella stopped on the bridge as she was
going home half an hour later. In tho
dim evening lights she could just see the
white water lilies at the edge Of the
stream lower down. ct would be good
to lie there" she said. below her breath.
$50 quiet and peaceful"
A little girl touched her arm. "Come
quickly home. Nella," she said, her breath
gone with running, Lott is come"
Lott" said Nella. passing her hand
over her eyes. Lott come ALREADY? %
Then she drew herself up suddenly.
"Thanl: you. Comma. for coming to tell
me. Go back and say I'm coming. Here's
my bracelet it you run quickly" and she
took the beads off her arm and gave them
to her. and the child. with cry of de-
light, was gone in a moment.
Nella walked down to the waters edge
and pushed the great rushes aside. mo
one shall touch me again." she murmur-
ed. covering her eyes, "since he kissed
me-he kissed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..