The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-06-12

word. 'mtne.' and II the luck is with me
wire. yours I shall understand It"
He wrung his friends hand.
Good luc to you, Jack, although that
means the reverse to me. doesn't it7"
b door slammed behind him and
Ste2dman heard him bound down the
steep stairs. two steps at a time. He
gave q low whistle, heaved a sigh. and
then, thrusting his hands into his pockets.
he fell into profound thought.
The two artists had long loved the same
girl and sha could not choose between
fhem. The state Of affairs between the
trio grew from bad to worse, until there
came a day when the two friends said
that It was uncomfortable. that she was
running their careers, and they imp1ored
her to consent to a plan which they pro-
posed. Their proposal was that they
should each paint her portrait from MEM
DRY. No names were to be affixed to the
pictures, and when they were finished
she was to choose between them. The
artist whose painting she chose was to be
her husband. The girl demurred for a
while, but in the end she gave her con-
sent.
~steadman. tits awtully hard waiting
here alone
He rose, and paced the length Of the
studio several times, coming at last to a
standstill before b two pictures.
From the anv a girls lovely face
looked out. In the actual painting there
was little, II anything, to choose between
them; yet, in looking at the one you In
voluntarily Wanted for the girl to speak;
In the other, you expected nc such thing.
"How on earth did Dick get the soul
into htsl" exclaimed Steadman savagely.
Tt Ia splendid" he muttered. 'splendid!''
He turned abruptly and fell to pacing
thu studio again The gtrl's eyes seemed
to follow him with = halt nisohievous ex-
pression. while the lips. half tender. half
scornful, seemed to smile at his discom-
future. He throw himself into q chair
with his back to tho pictures. But soon.
as II against his viii, he had moved the
chair 10 AZ to face them again
WHY Doesn't she conner hs cried
fercely, starting to his feet.
Then 8 demon rose up within him and
whispered:
what IL she chooses his7 You know ii
Il tha best. Look at that rose she holds
80 carelessly IN her fingers; can you not
fancy that you smell its fragrance7 Don't
you expect her to step out of the can
vas and speak to your
Steadman drew his land across his
brow.
mo one would be the wiser the voios
went on. ''Diok would go abroad at once.
Il - ~ k1S " ~ - \" 2 49, S0AAs IH. AA~A<
something could happen to the painting
q frs-they would be destroyed. Better
pluck the flower that he has run away
FRONT He was not man enough to sec tbs
game out Treaohery7-Nonsensel They
would never suit each other. but-you
could. you would make her happy. You
fssl that with her at your side you could
do great things"
He rushed across tho studio to The
paintings standing sido by side.
~ must lave you. he cried "Ethsl!"
And the loysay eyes looked back at him,
mischdavousay. alauringly.
There came q ring from below. FOLLOWED
by the light tread OF dainty fest. ASCEND
Ing taa stslrs.
Jack StaAAnan pulled himself together
with q guilty start. and hnrrtedly drew &
curtain bstocA The two pictures Than
haven't to ws5ooms the a~nxtousiy Awaltsd
visitors.
"0h. Dick has bolted." he sAtd. with q
somewhat fenced laugh. In answer &c
ERhei.s glance ~ tnosIry round tbs studio
"Beltsdy
her WeA suspcise. singer mad conseer.
nation IN ths Etr4.s voice.
~Ehere Wa1 scarcely necessity for hat =
yte remaxAeds c01diy.
"Xoa misnaAnsstand me. tnterruptsd
stsadman. Dick hAa only run down q