Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-09-27
A NOVEL ENGAGEMENT.
BY ARTHUR HALEs.

paintings as he spoke and looked in
quiringly at his friend.
The latter raised his eyebrows and
slightly shrugged his shoulders.
Honestly. l never thought she would
agree to our proposal" went on the first
speaker, nervously.
"a womans love of novelty, Dick"
\ few moments passed in urbroken 81
lence. then Halston spoke again.
Hang it allr' he burst out. Il can't
stand this suspense! 1t is only half-past
,, and she won't be here until after
4. I'll tell you what, Jack, | am going
to run down to Manhattan. This waiting
is making me as nervous as a woman.
| shall make a fool of myself if she
chooses your painting. You don't mind?"
mo"
But the word was reluctantly spoken.
However, HalSton did not notice it. He
caught up his hat.
''Good-by, old chap. And you will let
me know as soon as possible? If she
chooses your painting, just wire the one
word, mime. and if luck is with me
yours | shall understand it."
He wrung his friends hand.
Good luck to you, Jack-although
that means the reverse to me, doesn't
it?"
The door slammed behind him, and
Steadman heard him bound down the
steep stairs two steps at time. He
gave q low whistle, heaved sigh, and
then, thrusting his hands into his pock-
cts, he fell into profound thought.
The two artists had long loved the
same girl and she could not choose be-
tween them. The state of affairs be-
tween the trio grew from bad to worse.
until there came a day when the two
friends said that it was uncomfortable,
that she was running their careers, and
they implored her to consent to n plan
which they proposed. Their proposal
was that they should each paint her
portrait from memory. No names were
to be affixed to the pictures, and when
they were finished she was to choose
| between them. The artist whose paint
| ing she chose was to be her husband.
The girl demurred for a while, but in
the end she gave her consent.
81 wish he had not gone" muttered
| Steadman. Its awfully Bard waiting
here alone"
He rose and paced the length of the
studio several times, coming at last to a
standstill before the two pictures.
From the canvases a girls lovely face
looked out. In the actual painting there
was little, if anything, to choose between
| them: yet, in looking at the one, you in
voluntarily waited for the girl to speak
in the other, you expected no such thing.
How on earth did Dick get the soul
into his?" exclaimed Steadman savagely.
1T is splendid" he muttered, 'Splen-
did,!
He turned abruptly and fell to pacing
the studio again. The girls face seemed
to follow him with a half mischievous
smile at his discontinue. He threw him
self into a chair with his back to the pic
lures. But soon, as If against his will,
he had moved the chair so as to face
them again.
why doesn't she Gomez" he cried
hereby, starting to his feet.
Then a demon rose up within him and
whispered:
What if she chooses his? You know
it is the better Look Mt that rose she
holds SO carelessly in her fingers; can
you not fancy that you smell its fra
GRANGE? Don't you expect her to step
out of the canvas and speak to your
Steadman drew his hand across his
brow.
NO one wonld be the wiser" the voice
went on Dick would so abroad at
once. You know he Swore he would
Then something could happen to the
polntings-a fire-they would be de
= srroyed, Better pluck the flower that he
has run away from. He was not man
enough to see the game out. Treachery
Nonsense! They would never suit each
other, hut you-you could. you would
make her happy. You feel that with her
at Your side you could do great
| things
; He rushed across the studio to the
paintings standing side by side.
Il must have you" he cried. Ethel
And the lovely eyes looked back at him.
miSchievouSly, aliuringly.
There came ring from below. fol
lowed by the light tread of dainty feet
ascending the stairs.
Jack Steadman pulled himself together
with guilty start, and hurriedly drew a
curtain before the two pictures. Then
he went to welcome the anxiously await
cd visitors
oh. Dick has bolted," lie said. with a
| somewhat fOrced laugh. in answer to
i:thelS glance Of inquiry around the stu
"Roltedg"
There was surprise. anger and conster-
nation in the girls voice.
IherewaS scarcely necessity for that"
she remarked coldly.
You misunderstood me-" interrupted
Steadman. Dick has only run down To
Manhattan until after your decision"
self, ' " aga
Indeed, she said aloud, with con-
temptuous little pout.
Her good nature returned and she
chatted Sayly.
Now" said Jack Steadman. going
over to the eaSels and laying his hand on
the curtain. will you choose between
these two pictures? Ethel" he said.
turning 10 her arlt, but looking at the
girl, has promised to marry the man
whose portrait of herself she chooses"
AL AN,1 1
INJURED an inaudihe assent.
Stcadman drew aside the curtain with
la hand that shook, despite his utmost
CndeavOrS.
They are beautiful" cried the elder
lady. Look at that one, Ethel. My dear
enid, II - living likeness of your own
| sweet SELF"
Aud Steadman's face grew gray. for
she pointed 10 HalSton'S picture
Far too beautiful for me. auntic. 9"