The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-01-31
EDGAR MORETTE
BY

out Of bed at this unseemly hour?
Wait minute, till put on my court
costume. that may receive you with
the honors and ceremonies due to
your rank and station"
A couple of minutes later the artist,
pituresqnely attired in loose ORR
entail dressing gown and fez. opened
the door TO his friend. Ralph Sturgis.
Come in, old man." he said, cordial
ly extending his hand to the reporters;
You are welcome at any hour of the
day or night. What is it now? This is.
not your digestion call, presume"
NO. replied Sturgis, II merely
dropped in to say that should he I'M
! able to take our projected bicycle trip
this afternoon. | shall probably be
busy with the Knickerbocker bank
case all day. By the way, if you would
like to come to the bunk with me, I
shall be glad of your company. am
on my way there now"
Il should like nothing better" said
Sprague, 'but l have made an ap-
! pointment for this morning with "a
er-er-with a sitter"
What, on New Years day, you
heathen!"
Sturgis observed the artist closely,
| and then added, quizzicalIy:
Accept my congratulations. old
man."
Your congratulations" inquired
Sl,Tague. coloring slightly.
Yes; my congratulations and my
coincidence. My congrat ulations on
the fact that she is young and beauti-'
full. and possessed of those qualities Of
mind and heart which-and so on and
SO forth. My coincidence because I
fear you are hit at last"
What do you mean?" stammered
the artist, sheepishly; do you know
her? What do you know about her?"
Nothing whatever" replied Sturgis,
j laughing, except what you are tell
ing me by your hesitations, your reti-
cence and your confusion"
The artist spoke after a moment Of
T.! thoughtful silence.
"iour inductions in this case are
| premature, to say the least. My sitter
is young lady, SO much is undeniably
! true. And there is no doubt in my
mind az to her possession of all the
qualities you jocularly attribute to
/ her; but my interest in her is only
/; that Of an artist in beautiful and
charming woman.
"At any rate" he added. after a mo-.
ment's hesitation. Il hope SO; for I
| have heard that she is as good as be-
trOthed to another man."
The reporters keen ear detected in
his friends tones a touch Of genuine
sadness of which the artist himself was
/! probably unconscious. Laying his
,, hand gently upon Sprague's shoulder.
he said, gravely:
hope SO, too. old man; for you arc
one Of those foolish men whose lives
can be ruined by an unhappy love af-
fair. l suppose it's useless to preach
to you-more's the pity-but. in my
humble opinion, no woman's love is
worth the sacrifice of a good mans
life
eyes, l know your opinion on that
subject. you old cynic," replied
Spragne, but you need not worry on
my account; not yet. at all events.
; am still safe; the portrait is almost
finished; and should be fool 20 walk
into such scrape with my eyes wide
open"
"Humph!" CALCULATED Sturgis, skrp-
tically, when man makes a fool OF
himself for woman, it matters little
whether his eyes be open or shut; the
result is the same"
Sprague laughed somewhat uneasily;
and then, as il to change the subject:
Come and see the picture" he said.
II should like your opinion of it."
The reporter consulted his watch.
II shall have to come back some
other time for that" he replied; Il
must hurry of now to keep my APP
pointme with Mr.. Dunlap"
He started toward the door; but
suddenly facing Sprague again. he
held out his hand to the artist, who
pressed it cordially.
Goodbye, old man." he said, at
fectionately. ''be as sensible as you
can, and don't wantonly play with the
fire."
And before Sprague could frame an
answer, the reporter was gone.
The artist remained thoughtfully
standing until his friends footsteps
had died away in the distance. Then
he turned and walked slowly into the
studio. Here. in the middle of the
room, stood an easel. upon which was
the portrait of beautiful young
girl.
Sprague gazed Mt it long and earn
estly. Then he heaved an almost in
audible sigh.
''Sturgis is right" he said to him
self. turning away at last, "and-and
I am n confOunf1ed iIiOfi"