Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-09-17


NM way she hesitated before
II prOnouncing his name.
SM-E ES! He met her in the Art In
'sutute, where he had gone to study
choice collection of the works of
foreign master. Mrs. Kerr brought
them together. He merely glanced at
her when acknowledging the introduce
tion and noted, mechanically, that she
was little body dressed in black and
that her face was pale and her bow
stiff, and then he unceremoniously
transferred his attention to the pic
lures. 1t is doubtful If he would ever
have thought of her again had she not
taken it upon herself to address him.
Are you an artist, Mr.-Brown?" 2"
she asked from her place at his elbow,
which was thrust out at right angles
to his body, rs he stood there lost in
admiration Of the painting before him.
He turned then and looked at her
with suddenly awakening interest 1t
was the way she brought out his sur
name that made him do it. He Won
deed why she had said it so, and
even while assuring himself with the
rapid, accurate glances of the artist
that she was pretty in spite of her
paleness. that her hair was soft and
blonde, her eyes fine and her clothes
perfectly fitted, he was swiftly -calcu-
latinS the possibility of her having con-
founded him With the regiments of the
Smiths. the Joneses and the Greens,
and at1tIle4 thought he was conscious,
for the first time in his life, of feel
ing OF repugnance rising in his breast
against his useful, irreproachable
name, and he muttered an imprecation
against the fates that had decreed that
10y it his identity should forever be es-
tablished. It took him an unconscion.
ably long time to find an answer to her
simple question,
No" lie said at length, mot much
of a one. daub little, that's all.
Are Sou?"
She cast down her eyes with an air
OF self-deprecation,
NO; oh, no." she said. 'That Is,
daub little, too / do heads mostly"
Re looked GROUND the studio to see
If there was any relief in sight. Mrs
Kerr was at the other end Of the room
engaged in earnest conversation with &
party Of ladies, and it dawned upor
him that his passing acquaintance
whose name he could not remember
he was sure 1t wasn't Brovn-was
thrown upon his hands for an indefi
mite length of time.
do you do heads, Mr.-Brown: =
she asked, reverting to the subjec
his prolonged inspection Of the studio
There it was again-that same mex
plicable hesitancy which reflected
more strongly than before upon tha
combination Of consonants and diph
thong to which he had hitherto cheer
fully responded. He smothered :
groan of rebellion.
NO" said he, II prefer landscapes.
ooh, do you:' she uttered out in
tone Of surprise that could not hav
been excelled had he told her he wa
to be executed Oh the gibbet within
an hour for the murder Of his mother
How strange. Now I dote on head:
The last piece I completed was New
ton as I conceive his facial eXpressio
to have been when he saw the appl
fall. 1 am now at work on head G
Diosenes as he looked when exper
menting with the tubs. My studio
in Unity terrace. If you care to com
around with Mrs. Kerr to see me
shall be glad to show you what hay
done. 1 am thinking Of entering
piece at the next exhibition and sha
thank you for any suggestions yo
may offer. Oh, Mrs. Kerr is callir
me. Good-by, Mr.-Brown.'
Brown had no intention of acceptir
her invitation to call at the studio
Unity terrace at the time it was give
but at the end Of two weeks, duri1
which period he had been daily. torme
ted by disturbing memories Of a peti
blonde woman in a stylish black &C
tune and the vexatious manner
which she seemed to catch her brea
before venturing to speak the dete'
able name of Brown, he went over
see Mrs. Kerr and asked her to ia
him to call on the pretty artist.
Il don't know the name Of the la
want to see," he said. throwin.; hi
self on Mrs. Kerr's widespread mere
But you introduced me to her over
the institute about a fortnight a:
Don't you remember? She is blon
and runs to heads. She hangs out