Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-02-04

support her, and she would worry you.
AS it is, you possess her and she need
not eat. Be thankful"
II am. But, Pybus, what glorious
conceit to command life to the eyes,
call the blood from heart to lips''-
"You did not paint the heart.'
"None the less possible to will it into
existence. To will-do you understand?
For, If the emanations of a divine will
can effuse themselves into created ma
terial substance, why should not hui
man will by the potency of its divine
germ evolve into u sentient, an already
visible, conceptions"
"Goodby, McCuller. 1 came here to
recreate, not to speculate upon divine
emanations. There is nothing divine
about me. Goodby."
Eyes; it is speculation, Pybus. Every
thing is speculation. You and / are
speculations. Do not Imagine But
Pybus slammed the door, and McCul-
Ter finished his speech alone.
"Pybus."
"Well?"
''Will we succeed in getting this In
sane idea out of McCuller's headY
"Don't know"
Zones says he's getting morbid on
the subject"
"Who is-JonesW
mo; McCuller."
Hes about right.'
"Who-McCuller?
"No; Jones'"
There was knock at the door, and
Stedd blew away cloud Of smoke as
lie said, "Come IMP
The door not opening Immediately,
he rose. swearing beneath his breath
at the trouble. He got half way across
the room before a slight figure crossed
the threshold and tremulous voice
began:
II was told to come in
EYES," Stedd executed a bow, Miss
"Peyton."
"Ah! Mr.. Jones sent your"
'Yes."
"Has he told you what you are to
do!"
Eyes, sir. He said l was to stand In
a frame and personate 'Zuleika' for q
joke. The told me 1t was being done
to ridicule q friend of his out Of some
morbid idea"
YES: it is all right. Mr.. Jones hap.
pened to see you at your window and
was struck with your resemblance to
the picture. You are almost an exact
reproduction. We concocted this plan
in order to have laugh over our
friend"
$50 Mr.. Jones said. And-you will
pay me as soon as 1t is over?"
ooh, yes! You said-Mr. Jones said
your father was Ill, unconsciousT
yes" Her lip quivered suddenly.
ut was solely on his account that I
consented to come. We are very poor.
l can't get anything for him, and am
afraid he will"-
She broke off abruptly. Stedd thought
she was going to cry.
''Mr. Jones offered me so much" she
ended brokenly, II could not refuse"
NO" The affair seemed gradually
to be assuming tragic proportions. The
Two men exchanged looks.
I'VE shall wait outside the studio to
hear the particulars of the joke" said
Stedd half heartedly. 1t struck him as
incongruous that this girl was to per-
petrate it. Her face was too white,
and the strained expression in her eyes
smote him.
ut is tonlght?" she asked in re-
signed tone, and he nodded seriously.
Yes. Can you go with us now?"
Yes" She drew down her veil. ad-
justing her wraps. and they went down
the stairs.
Say, Pybus, call cab" Stedd whis.
pered it shamefacedly, pushing his
friend forward, and Pybus led the way
up. Miss Peyton followed.
DO you mind" he asked deferential-
ly after he had explained matters
Twill you stand here?
Miss Peyton posed obediently against
the canvas, from which the Portrait
of Zuleika" had Disappeared. Her gray
draperles threw out the soft tints Of
eyes and hair, and Pybuf, lowering the
lamp on the mantel, left the room with
a lugubrious perfect" n his lips. Soon
ptter. as he and stedd ftazsa reflective
J s51i.l