Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-11-01
Y INET'rE'S eyes bespoke an
approaching storm. "A fair

IN
| N approaching storm. "A fail
| woman again!" she muttered
half audibly rs she gathered
| up the cards impatiently, to throw fol
| the last time which should decide il
she were right to doubt Cccils loyalty
Fearing to learn the worst, yet deter
mined to know the truth ut any cost
Ninette, the dark-eyed artists model
spread out the fortune-telling cards OIL
| the pedestal before her, while she
awaited the coming of Cecil -Thorne
master of the studio and Of her heart.
"Ah! This Is better"-with a smile
of satisfaction-"why. here Is good
luck again! Perhaps, after all, Cecil
is true. II l could only understand
their language But he never speaks
to her in French. Courage, Ninette
the last card tells your story. Is it Il
fair lady or dark girl who is loved
by Cecil? Dieu"
The fair lady's card' had turned
again, and Ninette burst into a fresh
deluse Of tears just as the false Cecil
swung open the studio door, and, with
out observing the crouching figure of
Ninette began to whistle merry air.
"How can you whistle when l am
so miserable" said NiHette between
her sobs.
"Why, bless my soul, Nnette, never
saw you."
"You have no eyes for me. You
would have seen another il she had
been here"
another would not have kept so
silent, perhaps-and tears, too! Now
this is very tiresOme, when have had
such a turn of good luck. Listen,
Ninette, and dry your tears. My pic
ture-"
"Of me?'
"No, hottie great one, The Dawn
will be exhibited. Then If luck comes
our way, as is sure to happen, We can
be-you know what"'
Cecil drew Ninette to him in afrec-
tomato embrace. too elated with his
own hope of prosperity to question
further the cause of tears. Nnette's
doubts vanished somewhat as the ten
der avowals Of love fell from the lips
of her lover She could not believe
him quite false, and yct-why did he
not exhibit her portrait in the Salon?
Could not Dawn" have black hair rs
we'll as golden? and surely the fair
lady was not otherwise more beautiful
than she.
Cecil interrupted the unpleasant rev.
erie with, "Ninette, do you know I
believe my love for you has made me
n better painter! Monsieur de Thales
was here this morning and said the
warmth and soul Of The Dawn were
extraordinary"
The announcement that love for her
had aided him in putting warmth and
soul into the eyes Of another woman
was not very comforting to- Ninette,
and she dashed out of the studio and
shut herself in her own little chamber,
which was on the ground floor.
"The little vixcn." laughed Cecil. ~
suppose old Gretha gave her bad
breakfast this morning She did not
seem properly pleased with the posi-
bility of our being soon-Ah, Julia!
am glad you have come. The picture
is nearly finished-and such good news
Dc Thales was here this morning, and
was delighted. Why do you look at
the doOr-are you afraid Of ghosts fol-
lowing you in?"
mo, Cecil, but do you know l have
strange feeling of fear sometimes
when I see Ninettc! She peered at me
today as l came up the stairs, and her
black eyes looked like those of
tigress. Cecil that girl is dangerous!
l hope she isn't too fond Of you; you
know that is easily possible with these
French creatures Of impulse"
ooh, that is just like you women"
replied lightly that excellent judge of
feminine emotion-"always suspicious
of another woman's love. Well, can
tell you one thing, Julia, Ninette's love
Is less dangerous than her hate, al
though l should not like to trifle with
either. But I, who so thoroughly I'M
derstand Ninette, shall take care that
no danger attends her love for me-"
Ninette had crept from her chamber
anu W ao iSteHlhS ul tuc hcy HUE Vi TIE
studio with hot breath and angry eyes.
How tender his voice! Almost the
only English word that Ninette knew
was dear" and she heard him apply
it to Julia-the fair-hared. She felt |
she could burst with jealous passion,
but at this moment she heard familiar |
voices on the steps and several COM
rades stood before her.
Good morning. Ninaw exclaimed |
the foremost on beholding the model, |
whom all knew to be favorite with |
Cecil, and locking his arm Familiarity |
in hers they entered the studio, fol-
lowed by the others.
Hello, Thorne--just heard Of your
luck, my boy! Give us shake of the
hand, old chap, before you get too high
up in the world to recognize old
friends. Let's have holiday now in
celebration. Come out of the studio
after tomorrow you will be too grand
for frivolities."
Julia rose and smiled assent.
do, Cecil, you work much too hard.
1t will do you good. Good morning,
a H.