The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-02
q House Divided against 9tseH
BY CHARLES EUGENE BANKS.

perfect bear. You may as well acknowl-
edge it. Besides, you have painted my
portrait badly. l heard you were a genius
and poor, and so / came for an immortal
picture. Behold the result! An Evange-
line. Nell Gwynn would be nearer the
truth, fancy
''Gcod!' he cried, catching the spirit OF
her humor Let me sketch you as you
are, and you'll have no cause to com
plain, I'm sure
mo. sir; not another stroke today Did
/ not say you were to have rest? ]
thought it all out as l drove through
the park on my way here. The skies
blue and tender, the trees fragrant/W
delicate blossoms, the birds mad with
song! What an atmosphere for an artist
thought l. and straightway [ resolved to
work for che whole day and feed your
soul on the gladness of spring
Glorious" he cried. Her spirit was
infectious, and he was intoxicated by it
His awkwardness was now gone. He was
the natural man. confident in his
strength, carried out of and beyond him
self by contact with the fire of a strange
nature. He brought her wraps aud put
them about her shoulders with the easy
ing to go she caught sight of a painting
standing on an easel facing her own.
Whose portrait is this?" she asked
stopping to examine it.
Again the hot blood mounted to his
cheeks, but he said, with attempted in
difference:
"a friend, a schoolmate. Merely a
study 1 am making in my leisure mo-
ments.''
Does she come to sit for your
"No, that would be impossible. She
doesn't live in the city. l am painting it
from memory"
He was learning fast. Yesterday he
had pored ever a letter her fingers had
penned-a letter warm with simple love
and trust. She rose up before him now
with soft, accusing eyes She rose up be-
fore him, lifting up her young, trusting
face to say the farewell that cost her so
much, but which she bore with uncom-
planning bravery for his sake. How diff
ferent she was from this elegant,
cultured woman at his side with her
keen wit and electric ways. She had
hardly been out of his thought before
since he left the old home to study in the
great city. All his plans for the future
had included her. For her he had worke d
early and late, studied, toiled, saved.
But in the presence of this new being
at his side she had been swept away, for
gotten.
"A pretty face, truly unused the lady.
Like blossom of spring, and probably
as fragile and as nerveless as one of
them Men do not care much for such
women, do they?''
Different men are pleased with diff
ferent types of beauty" he replied with
a sudden show of worldly wisdom.
Don't attempt the blase role, or [
shall hate you," she said a little fret
fully. The man was learning too fast.
She had seen quite enough of cynicism.
at least for the present. Today she had
broken the barrier of ethical society and
escaped to be free in the presence of one
man who had not been spoiled by con-
uEuous contact with the world and she
demanded just return for the sacrifice
Not that his shallow attempts to deceive
her were in the least successful. She
knew the story Of that pretty face as
well as though he had told her ali Of it
in detail. In fact she would have liked
him all the better had he done So Just
now it was not the man she cared for.
but the new experience. STILL there was
a grain of bitterness in the knowledge
that this son of nature had already loved
and she could not let it pass.
"A remarkably good painting" she
continued, scanning the picture zone
must have been very deeply impressed
to draw it from memory Is it a good
likeness? p
you have told me already that your
portrait is failure Is it likely that
| have been more fortunate with this
one?''
There was no mistaking the genuine
ness of the compliment, and the lady
smiled brightly up into the face of her
companion. Come, let us co. she cried.
we shall lose the best of the day in
this den of tobacco and bear skins if we
don't make haste"
But when they came out upon the
street they found the air darkened and
the wind blowing a hurricane People
were scurrying madIy along the streets
IN a wild endeavor to reach their destfn-
atoms before the storm broke. There
We're frequent bursts of thunder and the
lightnings cast livid glare over the
buildings
The gladness of spring is not to be
enjoyed today" she said, with con-
tempt for the threatening elements that
astonished him. But you shall not be
cheated out of your holiday. Home, CIar-
ence. she commanded, addressing the
coachman. You shall come to dinner
with me- she continued, turning again
to the artist. He held the carriage door
door of the building and emptied her
purse in the cup of a blind beggar. IAN
offering to the gods. Now we shall be
safe from everything" She sprang light
ly into the carriage and settled back
among the cushions with sigh of sat
isfaction.
Though the storm at that moment
broke over the city the horses dragged
the rocking carriage, sometimes dashing
madly along before the blast, sometimes
struggling bravely against it, AS thew
neared the lake the roar of angry waters
breaking upon the shore sounded like the
booming of cannon. But the woman bv
Bertrand's side gave no sign of fear.
sitting quiet and serene as ne could see
by almost constant flashes of lightning.
L think / should like to live forever in
the heart of such a Storm she said. as
the carriage came out on the smooth
driveway sl1irting the lake
1T is strange feeling" replied the
man, himself awed by the fury of the
tempest. Such a storm is enough to