The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-02-14
EDGAR MORETTE

you are not going to leave New York,
hope you will continue to call on
u.s."
Il suppose l shall continue to call
on your reception days, if that is
what you mean," said Sprague. some
what disconsolately
Now that" laughed Agnes, sis 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 a glimpse of you,
much less to speak with you"
Eve 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 l call on you
sometimes when the crowd is not
there?"
eve shall be happy to have you
call at any time, Mr.. Sprague."
Sprague thought he detected
slight emphasis on the pronoun.
But it is not we I 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 a scarcely perceptible nut-
ter beneath the lace which lay upon
her white throat.
The artist sat with intent ewes
fixed upon her.
"Of course 1 shall be pleased to
have you call at any time, Mr..
Sprague," she said, after brief in
slant.
What more could any sane man ex-
pect modest girl to say? 1t is not SO
much the words spoken as the manner
OF their utterance that conveys mean
ing. But it is a truism that lover
is not sane man. Sprngue was not
yet satisfied. He was about to speak
again, when knock sounded upon
the door ,, @5oq #...
1t was the hall-boy with a letter.
ing in the direction Of the young
girl.
"For me" exclaimed Agnes, sur
prised.
Yes, miss; a gentleman left it
for you"
Agnes took the letter. inspected it
curiously for an instant; then, ex-
CHI
velope and unfolded the note which
it contained.
At once a deep flush suffused her
face, and an expression of annoyance
passed over her features She glanced
up hastily at Sprague, who was APP
parently hard at work upon the back
ground of the picture.
The hall-boy was waiting expect
antly.
There is no answer" said Agnes
quietly
And as the stern mandates Of fash
ion either forbid a woman to wear
pocket, or else decree that it shall
be located in some particularly mac
cessble position, the young girl
dropped the letter and its envelope
into her lap and resumed the pose.
Sprague tried to renew the CONVEX
sation where it had been interrupt
ed; but his efforts were in vain. Both
he and Agnes were preoccupied dur
ing the balance Of the sitting.
When at last the time came for
Miss Murdoch to leave. Sprague ac-
companed her to her carriage. After
watching it until it disappeared
around the corner, he returned mood
lily to the studio.
AS he entered the room. his eyes
fixed in a vacant stare upon the floor,
he caught sight of something white
"a sheet of paper-resting there. Me-
cl,anically he pushed it to one side
with his foot.
The sunshine seemed to have gone
with Agnes Murdoch. gloom had
fallen upon the place and it's occu-
pant The artist tried to work; but
he was restless and depressed. At
length he threw down his brushes;
and rising from the easel, he put on
his hat and coat and started out for
a walk, in the hope that exercise
would drive away the blue devils
whose grip he felt Tightening upon
his heartstrings.
Meeting some friends in the course
OF his aimless wanderings, he was
persuaded to spend the rest Of the
day in their company, and returned
to his bachelor quarters late in the
evening, tired enough physically to
obtain that healthful sleep which IL
the boon of strong youth.