Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-12-04

grace of a Gainsborough. 1t viii
make you famous on two continents.
/ congratulate your
But Ainsworth's burning eyes were
looking beyond the picture-beyond
him. They saw only the high black
chair'that would hold her warm, pull
sating, beautiful young body but once
again.
The two weeks that followed saw
merry times in the studio Beath
often dropped in.-IIarbetson came,
too. Then men smoked unless when
Janet and a few of her girl friends
were there. Then the fire was lighted
under the battered old brass samovar
that the painter had picked mp in
Rome, and tea was brewed, and gay
talk scintillated. The Englishman
and Janet seemed to have much in
common. Only the host was strange
| ly silent
It was the day Of the last sitting.
Tom was out of town. There was
some trouble at his copper mine in
Wyoming which made his presence
there desirable. Patricia's chair stood
waiting--an empty throne She
came to it, pale, little languid-"an
hours defect Of the rose" Was this
the radiant creature his genius had
evoked on canvas. He stood before
his easel, palette on thumb, brush
suspended. suddenly he flung both
aside.
"There is nothing more to do he
said. His voice was harsh "The por-
= trait is finished" Then he was beside
her, his hand clutching the back Of
her chair until the knuckles showed
, white, his eyes blazing down into hers.
$ "Do you understand" he cried, his
e words half a sob, half a groan, what
that means to me, 'fnishedY"
She rose and faced him. She was
e white, but self-controlled and fear
. less.
4 81 understand" she said. All at
once she shrank from the lightning
of his glance. Il understand
0 God help mer'
|, He did not speak nor touch her,
but over his face came a great awe
: an infinite JOY. That admission
a that confession! Now-now-let
T fate do its worst!
7 "Look at mey' he commanded.
n She lifted her eyes.
i 1t has been said one lives ages of
) agony in an instant. In this moment,
when "their spirits rushed together" "
E these two lived through an eternity of
bliss.
What broke the spell? A stir-a
footstep?
81 must GO" she said. 81 shall al
= ways be happier for knowing that you
You cared. But must go"
Then he lost himself Then, like
ROssetti's lover, "his passion did but
rave" Then he forgot all things save
that he and she were there together
together for the first-fOr the last
time! But she was not a woman to be
: won by violence-to be carried by
g storm She spoke and he listened
b When she had done he did not lift his
head
81 am to be another mans wife, ."
she told him. "This is good-by."
Forgive me" he said. Goods love
go with your
He stood aside to let her pass
"Patricia-Ainsworthr'
There was a step, a voice, a pres
ence between them. Smiling little
sadly, Lord Harbetson stood between
them.
81 did not mean to be an eavesdrop-
{ per. had come in early. | had fallen
: asleep behind that screen. | am sorry;
| am glad-sorry to lose you out of my
life, Patricia; glad not to buy my hap
piness at the cost Of yours We can be
discreet. twill be less than nine
days wonder if we are cautious. And
your father-his will is yours, Pa
tricia," He looked into her eyes, that
shone through happy tears. He kissed
the hand she gave him, and Aims
worth's hands he wrung hard.
Then he was gone.
On the stairs-for he would not
wait for the elevator-he met Janet
4 ...-...---..Ll Ii =. 1