Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-06-20
the door OF the studio, ne spFanF to his

ohOShs
Perhaps he had; for it was followed
by rapid current of delicious thrills
tingling through every nerve and eff.
fccting in his whole being sudden
and marvellous transformation. AT
once the furrowed brow was smooth;
the dropping lips were wreathed in
smiles; the troubled look gave way to
one of glad welcome.
For she had come at last. There she
stood, with laughing brown eyes and
glowing cheeks, when Sprague threw
open the door. Alas, as usual, she was
accompaniedby her maid. Never mind j;
was it not enough to have her there at
oil. to bask in the sunshine of her
smile, to look into the dangerous
depths of those soul-stirring eyes, to
listen to the ripping of her silvery
voice?
"Ifear am little late, Mr.. Sprague;
am sorry to have kept you waiting.
But you see this is how it vas
What mattered it to him now how it
was? Was she not there? An eternity
of suspense and misery would have
been wiped out by that single entran-
cling fact. Her words beat upon his ear
like rapturous melody; he drank them
in, hardly conscious of their meaning.
Agnes Murdoch, followed by her
maid, proceeded at once to the dress
lng-room set apart for the use of the
artists models. When she returned,
dressed for the sitting, she assumed I'M
der Sprague's directions the pose of the
portrait, while the artist critically ar
ranged her draperies and adjusted the
shades and screens.
The maid had remained in the dress
ing-room.
"And so these are positively the last
final touches, are they, Mr.. Sprague?"
asked the young girl mischievously,
after n few minutes. You artistsseem
to be quite as uncertain about your
farewell appearances as any famous ac-
tress or singer"
The artist looked up quickly as the
girl spoke. An expression of pain
rossed his features.
Eyes, Miss Murdoch" he answered,
gravely. II shall not have to trouble
you to pose again."
Miss Murdock's attention was at
tracted by the melancholy note in his
voice. She observed him from the cor
ner of her eyes in kindly curiosity.
The artist fell into moody silence.
For awhile he worked with feverish ac-
tivity at the portrait; and then, grad
ually falling into fit of melancholy
abstraction, he sat, with poised brush,
gazing intently at the beautifu& girl
before him. His task forgotten, he
was apparently unconscious that he
was taking advantage of his privileged
position to stare at his fair subject. Ag-
mes felt his burning glance and was en-
barrassed by it; but, womanlike, she
retained control a herself, outwardly,
at all events, US she uttered some COM
monplace remark, which broke the
spell and brought the artist to his
senses with u sharp consciousness of
his rudeness. He replied to the young
girls question in low, changed voice,
and then relapsed into q gloomy silence.
After an awkward interval he asked,
suddenly:
care you so very glad, Miss Murdoch,
that our sittings are almost over?"
why. no, Mr.. Sprague," replied Ag-
mes; II did not mean that. OF course
I shall be glad when the portrait is
finished, because wish to have it home
and to let my friends see it. But I
should be indeed ungrateful If 1 be-
grudged my poor little time and trou-
BILE, when yours have been SO lavishly
and SO ungruagingly spent"
"These sittings have been source
of so much pleasure to me-" continued
Sprague, thoughtfully, that I hava
seltishly overlooked the fact that they
could only be an annoyance and a bore
to you. l fear have needlessly pro-
longed them"
But, indeed, Mr.. Sprague, assure
you 1t has been anything but bore to
me to pose. am sure shall miss the
pleasant morning hours IShave spent
here"
"They have been the happiest hours
of my life" said Sprague, earnestly. in
a low voice, "and now they are nearly
gone-forever."
Agnes started slightly, blushed and
riveted her gaze upon the dainty white
hands which lay clasped together in
her lap. Her bosom rose and fell in
quickened undulations.
why forever, Mr.. sprague" she
asked, softly; do you think Of leav-
ing New York;"
No." he replied quickly; at is you
who are about 10 desert this studio,
which for short time has been
frightened by your presence"
Well" interrupted Agnes, "since
you are not going to leave New York,
I hope you will continue to call on
u.s."
II suppose I shall continue to call
on your reception days, if that is
what you mean," said Sprague, some.
what disconselately.
Nov that" laughed Agnes, as not
in line with the polite things you have
been saying"
II did not mean to say anything
rude, Miss Murdoch, but call on
your reception day Is call on your
guests. Surrounded as you are on
such occasions, one has barely a
chance to catch glimpse of you,
much less to speak with YOU"
1--WE are always glad to see our
friends at other times than on our
reception days"
do you really mean it?" asked the
artist eagerly. "May call on you
sometimes when the crowd 10 not
thers?"
I'VE shall be happy TO have you
call at any time, Nj. sprague."
sprague thought he detected .
slight emphasis on the pronoun.
But it is not we wish to call on
1t is you, Miss Murdoch"
Once more the young girls express.
i've eyes fixed their gaze upon the del
icate hands in her lap, and once more
there was scarcely perceptible fut-
ter beneath the lace which lay upon
her white thrnat