Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-11-01
Cecil Thorne's Masterpiece.

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| W MN, ne DTohe lIllo u MERRY WHISKY
and mounted light heartcdly to his OWE
door. His burst of merriment was tire
last straw.
"To-morrow," she thought, 81 will
not forget that I have helped you tC
put warmth and soul into her eyes
You think you shall find fame to-mor
row, and that the fair-hared, cold
hearted English girl will help you to
rejoice; but you do not know Ninette!'
Springng from her couch she felt for
matches, but could find none. mo
matter" she said. II know the easel
well. Have l not watched him bend,
ing over 1t as though he loved the
canvas itself? Dieu! you should have
exhibited Ninette." Noiselessly, vim.
dictively, she CROPPED her way along tho
dark passage into the studio. Not even
a moonbeam to assist her feet over
the cold stone floor. "Ha--the easel"'
she gave q little cry Of pain as her
tender foot came in contact with the
| sharp edge. Then, Selling wet brush,
with deliri0us joy she drew it again
anu dSuih uIAoSS tHc plSttlS,
Ing beyond recognition every corner OF
| the canvas. There" she said as she
threw down the brush and started to
leave the studio. "There! Mademois.
ellie Yellow Hair-I hate golden hair
at least, 1 should hate it if Cecil had
not golden hair"
| The thought of Ceci's fair hair,
which she had so often covered with
ardent kisses, recalled her to moment
of sudden reproach. What had she
done? She who pretended to love
Cecil had destroyed the result of Il
whole half years toll and his hope of
fortune, and perhaps-yes, that selfish
perhaps" swept over her with over
whelming force, and the little criminal
crept back to her chamber threw her
self upon her couch, and there re-
manned till her restless slumber was
disturbed by the sound Of CeciIs foot
steps entering the studio.
She awOke with start. He was
walking toward the easel. She dared
not go to him; she would wait till the
first outburst of his passion had passed.
For a long time there was absolute
silence in the studio. At last, unable
longer to bear the suspense, she tim.
idly opened the studio door and looked
in. All trace of the defiant insolence
which made her SO bewitching had
vanished, and she paused submissively,
awaiting the volley of reproof which
she felt she so richly deserved. In
stead of this, Cecil smiled at beholding
her and advanced to meet her, and she
felt half afraid.
"Ah, there you are, ma cherie. Come
and see what some villainous hand has
done"
"No, no." answered Ninette. still
questioning his sanity. II cannot look
upon it. oh, Cecil, you have driven
me mad with jealousyw
Jealousy, ma cherie? What OH
earth are you talking about? Do you
not believe that / love you fondly--
devOtedly-"
'Stop! You called her dear Cecil,
answer me this-dO you love the fair
Julia who sits for The DAWN"
Love her-of course I debut not
as l love you"
There, you confess! I will not
share your love with her. was sorry
1 did it, but now l am glad-glad!
You would be famous with her por-
trait and she would be glad with you.
Is it not so?-you dare not deny itv'
SNVhv Nipntf1 ho1 tpo a11y
talk! Would she not be an unnatural
woman not to be glad of her brothers
SUGGEST"
"Brotherv' almost shrieked Ninette--
Brother? She is your sister, Cecil"
"My dear child, do you mean to tell
me you have not known that"
"Why have you never told me that
before?"
"Why, Ninette, I never dreamed that
you did not know 1t. Every one else
knows it, and you have never spoken
of this before"
mo, l could not bear to speak of
her, and heard nothing Of your talk
do not understand your English talk.
And now-oh, Cecil! Cecil! the picture
the villainous hand"
"Oh, yes! to be sure; nearly forgot
the picture with your wild talk. say,
Ninette, what good thing The Dawn
had been removed from the easel!'
Ninette burst into loud laugh.
Removed? Say it again, Cecil! 1t
was removed, and it was not her pic
ture that / Oh, what would you
have dOne?"
Then the painter realized for the first
time what she had intended to do.
"You little viXen!" he said seriously:
"did you do it, and did you mean to
spoil THE Dawn" All, black indeed
would have been the dawn for me, my
little madcap! 1 came in late last
night and packed up The Dawn to
send away, and set this head OH the
easel the last thing before leaving the
studio. All, Ninette, you are really too
badw
But she was not listening. She knew
how tO mako hnr nnona with him