The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-02-21
her magnificent southern beauty to its

her magnificent southern beauty to Its
very greatest advantage.
"IIe mnst love me-he must love me to-
day" She whispered to the brilliant black
eyes that looked back ut her from the
tiny glass. And 50 she passed into the
clostcr.
Gerald Navasour had elected to paint
her. and to paint her as Cleopatra. with
great tiger skin ut her feet. leaning
against the massive stone carving of the
gray old cloister pillars. And she GER
tainy made vision Of rare beauty as
she sat as he had placed her looking
straight ut him. her chin buried in one
shapely hand the other loosely holding
huge fan of peacock feathers. And he, as
he looked into those eyes. which. bright
with love or triumph looked into the
depths of his own, began To think that if
Cleopatra had really looked So, then no
wonder that Antony sacrificed fame and
honor and all for her.
1t had been difficult work TO get the
prim old sisters of the convent to let him
paint her there, in the center of their old
gray cloister, but no other place had
made such an ideal background. aud the
promise of large donation to their
oNhbpl uah 1T tHEtu ptISudutu lHcUl.
And, besides, was il not Nella-their
little Ncla, who had sung in their choir
since she was child. and whom they
knew to be good and true:
Nella thought it all over in dull, me-
chanical sort of way rs she sat and
gazed nj the man She loved this last
afternoon. What would the sisters say
when they heard the end? And she felt
the end was close upon her. That subtle.
heavy prescntimcnt that sometimes comes
over MS human creatures that Il crisis.
the crisis of our lives. is fast approach
ing came over Nclla that afternoon as
she sal in her regal trappngS and put
wiStful prophetic look into the soft eyes
and took away her voice. and She sat ST.
lent in all her glory
How quiet YOU are today, Nclla" he
said gently. Are you sorry it's our last
sittin.?"
Yes. Milford" she answered simply.
Are you:"
He looked At her. What was that in
her tone. that new softncss. that trcmu-
lous little break? And as he looked at
her he saw Il difference, even from yes
terday-the difference between the bud
and the blossom, the sign of that southern
temperament, that in one supreme mo
ment changes the girl into the perfect
woman, And she was n perfect woman
as she sat there in half barharic Splcndor.
her scarlet lips slightly parted. as though
she would speak, but could not: nothing
but the glitter of the jewels on her arms
and the flashes of her deep eyes showing
she was no statue.
And rs Gerald Navasour looked into
those eyes he understood what had
changed her. He saw her secret. and
great thrill swept over hm-shc loved
him. this superb woman. this queen who
looked at him as a slave looks ut its mas
tcr-shc loved him! But his love was
buried in a grave thousands of miles
away. and an intense wave of pity over
came him. for the look in those eyes was
the look he felt come into his own when
he thought of that grave
"Nella." he said, going up t. her and
taking her hands half unconscously.
don't look like that. am heartbroken.
| never thought
II will not see you again. Milford. No.
| am not ashamed that you know love
you. she said. will you kiss me once
before | go?"
Her fingers strayed lightly over his
hair. and The touch of her soft. warm
arms around his neck held him for mo
mcnt, and he laid his lips upon her face
and kissed her again and again Then
suddenly, as rush of remembrance
passed over him. he put her back almost
roughly and. going to his easel, said,
without looking at her again:
1.-The sitting is over. have finished"
Nella stopped on the bridge as she was
going home half an hour later In the
dim evening lights she could just see the
white water lilies at the edge of the
stream lower down. 1T would be good
to lie there" she said, below her breath.
$50 quiet and peaceful"
little girl touched her arm. Come
quickly home. Nella." she said. her breath
gone with running. Lott is come"
Lott said Nela. passing her hand
over her eyes, Lott come already? 2"
Then she drew herself up suddenly.
"Than Won. Comma. for coming to tell
me. Go back and say I'm coming. Here's
my bracelet if you run quickly" and she
took the beads off her arm and gave them
to her. and the child. with cry of de-
light was gone in moment.
Nella walked down to the waters edge
and pushed the great rushes aside. NO
one shall touch me again" she murmur-
ed covering her eyes. "sincc he kissed
me-he kissed me."-Anglo- American.