The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-22


fly into terrible rage, and sometimes
Ban was jealous. Whenever the blinking
of sword was heard outside on thu
pavement Ida would rush to the win
dow, gaze down admirinsly at the figure
Of the soldier and say teasingly, II love
soldiers-nearly as much as love YOU"
One day rich collector visited Bans
studio. They were eating lunch. The
painter got up hurricdly and put on his
coat In haste. Ida, as was her won't
sat on the table and was just then peel.
Ing an apple for herself. Unabashed by
the presence of the stranger, she pro-
cceied calmly to throw the peelings in
Bans face. The artist was confused.
He fumbled among his sketches and fur.
lively whispered to the girl: ''Be nice and
do behave. He is an important man,"
Ida knew how to be nice and how to
behave. She cut off piece from her
apple, put it on n rag and presented it
with her most deferential how TO the
great man. The old gentleman left the
studio in undigntied haste. On another
day an old lady stepped into the studio
white haired old lady who wore wild
owls weeds and whose face had Il severe
tNLt bH'Iie'i tttS Ni'C III
management when she behcld the topsy
turvy appearance of the place. Then,
Noticing Ida, she turned to her haughti.
Is:
at seems that have made a mistake
and come to the wrong place. | am look.
ing for Mr.. Ban, the painter, the artist
Ban is not in. He may come home in
the evening"
"Then Mr.. Ban does live, here? And
you, what are you doing he.e?
Instinctively Ida recognized an enemy
in the lady, whose eyes had assumed
look OF anger and rcproach. Dcliantly
she raised her head and proudly answer
ed. 81 am at home here"
DO you live hcrc?" asked the lady
with Indignation. Are you the wife of
Mr. BAN
Ida felt deeply hurt at the tone in
which these words were spoken. Il am
more than his wife. | am his model. his
servant, his chum. and no one can drive
me away from here
The lady clutched her umbrella The
veins Of her forehead began to swell. She
moved her lips as IL to speak, then she
turned slowly around and walked away
Il "oiu. BllI
herself upon the large bear skin on thu
floor and waited impatiently for Bans re-
turn. She suddenly felt lonesome. Some
thing frightened her. She was afraid in
the large room.
Ban came in late at night. He did net
greet Ida. He threw his hat upon the
table and sat down in big armchair.
He was i'll at ease. Finally he spoke. ~
was my mother who was here today"
And now you want to drive me
away!" exclaimed the girl, jumping to
her feet.
For awhile the painter was silent.
"iou must not talk in that way" he re.
marked. Il do not send you away, for
We were very good friends. We will al
ways be good friends. But. you know,
my mother is very strickland then-she
is right. must avoid even the appear
ancc Of irrcg,llarity.'
"Oh, it is unnecessary to dtiyo me
away. can go by myself
lie paced the room in Quanlary.
'Not thus Ida. We will not talk about
it any more tonight Let us wait and see
what the morrow will bring"
Lida's face flushed, her blood rushed to
itl ltat 40, Slie NtHIu liDl Sluy over
night-not another hour. She would
gather up her belongings. and then she
would leave him. Her possessions were
fcw~-a little Satchel held them all.
"Anl now | am ready to go"
Ban rose from his chair. 'Sny. Ida.
You have done so much for me; you have
shaved for me. should like to do some
thing for yon. viii you accept nothing
from mc?' He empticd all his pockets,
gathered up a number Of bills, made a
roll of them and put it into her hand
"Be sensible, Ida. shall be angry II
you refuse to take this
Ida did not anger him. She bowed
her head, took the money in her hand
and walked out. Ban wanted to recall
her, but he reflected and concluded that
since they must part from each other the
sooner and the quicker it was done the
better. Hc went to bed. His was a
restless night. In the morning he thought
of his mother. He rose, dressed and
started to go to her hotel As he opened
the door of his studio he stopped short In
amazement.
"Lida" he exclaimed. The girl was
sitting on the porch, her face buried in
her hands, picture Of dull despair She
was cold and shivering; her face was
yellow. drawn and haggard "Lida. Ida.
you did not spend the night sitting herc2"
Il thought you would call me back,
and | waited" She spoke slowly: her
voice sounded faint; tears ran down her
checks. Ban picked her up and carried
her into the room. Her face had under
gone a change during the night. He saw
something strange in it.
any things are lying on the porch.
Please bring them in lest somebody
should carry them Off"
Ban piled blanket upon blanket over
her shiveriug body. Still she was appar-
emily shivering.
"The night was so long did not |
know that night is SO very long" she |
murmured necessarily.
At noon she tried to rise. She sank |
back upon her couch. When the evening |
came, she was in fever heat, her face was |
burning her throat was parchrd. Ban
remained at her bedside day and night.
asking her over and over again, "You are
not angry with me. Ida. are yon?"
"No; i am not angry. but please do not
send me to the hospital" She was afraid
VI thc Aai6e, gray lHlO WHICH
they carry people alive and from which
they carry them away dead.
II will not let you leave me any more
Ida, never
Ida looked happy. The fever heat in
creased. She became dclirious. She had
visions Of an old, severe and angry lady
who wanted to drive her out into tho
street. In her lucid moments she turned
to Ban and asked him. "Thcse are only
dreams, are they not"
One night she told Ban that she felt
well again. She no longer felt pain. She
was only weak. Ban was delighted, and
for the first time since her illness he went