The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-27
CHAPTER XIV.
Dare Not Waits Upon / Would.


The staircase was dark and narrow as
most of the staircases of the gaunt,
squeezed up, middle class houses of the
early Victorian period are, and the orig
inal gloom was made deeper by the win
dows being obscured by some imitation
stained glass material.
I'VE look out upon sum-" said Frank.
ST don't mind it-indeed, sometimes
there's algood deal that is picturesque, of
the squalid type, you know; but my moth
er hates to see a tribe of dirty children,
slatternly mothers, and drunken, quarrel
some fathers
Frank said this in feverish kind of
way as tho to conceal the embarrassment
OF conducting the visitor over house
which must seem mean, poor and thread
bare in contrast with the stateliness OF
Tremaine Court.
Eleanors quick womans eye took in ev-
erything, but no thought of her own home
crossed her mind. She saw evident signs
everywhere if not of absolute poverty, at
least of a struggle to make the best OF
very limited means, and she asked herself
was there any way by which she could
help them? She dared not offer money to
Frank. He would be sure to regard the
suggestion almost as an insult and If not,
would she care to have him accept such a
gift from her hands? No, the thing was
impossible.
There was his mother But even here
she saw difficulty. She believed Mrs.
Holt to be as proud and sensitive as
her son. Still, there might be road.
Well. she would think over it.
They entered the studio. The smell of
the oil, the general disorder rather than
untidiness, the canvaSSseS in all stages,
from the rough sketch to the finished pic
ture gave her a strange thrill of delight
She went from one picture to another
with an enthusiasm which did much to
fI,.,Y, oil hn1I haf
her.
IT was pleasant. too, to listen to Franks
explanations and comments-hoW he haC
passed hours on a barge waiting in the
bitter east wind for some particular effect
he wanted-how another time he was in a
police galley from midnight to dawn to
catch the feeling of the break Of day on
the river. Nearly every picture had its
history which the young painter told in a
matter offact way as tho he had done
nothing extraordinary, whereas the
amount of original work and thought the
pictures showed was altogether out of the
common.
"You have one with it's face turned to
the wallis that because it Is in dis
grace?' said she. lightly
mot exactly" said he, and his voice
trembled little. II am not quite pleased
with it. I have not been as successful as
/ wanted to be-
You have stimulated my curiosity, Mr..
Holt and woman's curiosity is a thing
not to be resisted. Please let me look.
She had her hand on the canvas as she
spoke, and before he could prevent her
had turned it half round.
why, 1t is figure subject-a portrait, -
she cried. II thought you only painted
landscapes. May 1 not see what it is
like?"
mo, no, it Is wretched failure" he
crjed in, Ia 1oi6
hand on the edge Of the canvas as tho he
would have prevented her by force from
seeing 1t. Her eyes met his half ques-
tioningly, half entreatingly.
would you rather did not look?" said
she, withdrawing her fingers.
He hesitated. .... ......
Perhaps it would not be fair" she said
directly IT might be penetrating some
secret"
She had drawn herself up proudly and
was walking away. He read what was
passing In her mind, for she must have
seen sufficient of the picture to know that
1t represented a woman. His decision
must be given instantly unless he wished
her to go away with a false impression
No, he would risk offending her rather
than this. Without another word he
twisted the picture around and placed it
on an easel.
She looked at it with startled with be-
wildered eyes. One does not always rec.
ognize In picture the reflection we are
accustomed to see in glass. This refec-
ton, philosophic scientists say, is false.
as when we look at ourselves in a mirror
we put on the expression we wish to see
In other words, in the mirror image there
is always an amount of self -deception
However this may be- the UNEXPECTED
presentment Of ones face as 1t appea rs
TO others has sometimes a strange un-
canny effect, and 1t was so now.
Eleanor stared bankly at the painting,
ana 1or some time was absorbed In a puz
lied kind Of way. Then she recognized
little characteristics one by one.
Meanwhile, Frank had walked to the
other end Of the room. He had his
pack towards her. She had spoken about
penetrating his secret, and he felt if she
saw his face 1t would betray him.
The silence became oppressive and
summonlng all his self-possession he ap-
preached her softly. Maybe she did not
hear his step, for she never moved He
could see her face in profile but it's ex.
preston gave him no key to her Thoughts
snail turn it again to the WALTZ" he
hsked. quietly ~
He had struck the right note The light
ness OF the remark relaxed the tension Of
the moment which threatened to becon,e
painful.
What, In dsgrace?", she answered.
NO.. not In disgrace, but to punish th+
painter for his presumption, and his mis-
cradle attempt at the impossible"
why impossible?" said she turnine
quickly upon him.
He stared at the vehemence of her tone
What did it mean? He was powerless t.
interpret 1t.
Il have failed to do you justice, and sue.
cess was the only justification for the at.
tempt" he faltered.
The thought had flashed thru her minc
the sketch was life-like. She felt it to be
SO. But had it been but daub she wouJi
purchase it, for here was the opportunitI
she had been seeking. Nothing could be
more fortunate.