Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-11-07
CHAPTER III.
Continued.

Snd asked himself questions. ttSilh- i
the mystery OF the situation almost to I
the point OF oppression Who was this 4
young girl7 Who was Andrea Mon /
tcihr Who was even this oil cT0ac. /
What was the disease which had taken /
thc lie or this beautiful creature with |
out leaving trace OF its devastating
power upon cheek or brow. or even on
the dimplcd hands that just vaguely
showed themselves amid the folds of
tho drapcry that covered hers Had
she persisted naturally The thought
would come. Was her portrait wished
ly father and friends2 Or was II re-
qUirc1 only Ivy disintctcsted officials
aNd FOR purposes her beauty made him
shrink from contemplating The pres
encc Of this old woman seemed 20 point
10 ,he former supposition as the true
one. AID yet might II not be the best
proof IN the world that il was simply
hard. stern justice which demanded
the reproduction OF these features.
since It was an easy matter 10 under
stand how such person might he in
tho pay OF the police. hut no. nearly
90 easy 20 be cOmprehcEdcd how she
could either be in pay o. the confidence
81 any friends OF 50 dainty and hcauti-
ful \ creature as she who lay before
him.
The contrast between the two was
vivid. as were all the accessories Of the
pic.Ure he was expected TO draw. 90
tho remaining appointments in the
room. Near her ami surrounding her
Were fabrics of sOftest wool and purcsj
silk. edged with the richest cmbro'dcr-
ieS and covered with costlics, bios
sons. Beyond her AMI outside OF thc
charmed circle created by the urodicai
wax tapcrs were worn and diugy stuhs
and dilapidatcd furniture
Not an article from wirdow 60 door.
saving those which Were associated
with TIC dead Sigl. expressed nu@h. hrt
discomfort and poverty. while with
De-. ana about hc- were luXury. yscaiti
aud beauty.
J., vas strange. aud. as lc considered
thn matter further. hc hccanc moro
and more convinced that the police had
nothing 90 do with this display OF
spicndor No; IL they had wished her
picture they would have sent for tho
photographer. and there would have
been no drapcvics nov candles nor
aowers. Some relative. some friend
or. stcy--could 10 be some mere art
lovor had wished TO preserve ON im-
pcrishable canvas thc extraordinary
loneliness which he saw about 20 van
i-h FOREVER. ana SO lac had been called
in With pencil and paper. and paid for
l.s work beforehand that hc Nigh, not
retreat from the task when he found
tia; "a involved mystery:
;l. why should 81 involve mystgryf
Why should there De no one "a lho
house from whom he could obtain i'm
toi.i-ible replies 10 his queries? WAS
this merely accident or was II design :
The one person ne had encountered
whose face bespoke intelligence and n
desire FOR communication had sur
pr.sed him so much by the coincidence
between her presence and the picture
% had painted that he had been made
fcr the moment pCwcrlcSs. and 50 lost
the one opportunity offered him TO
make himself acquainted with the true
meaning OF the adventure which had
hcfaIlen him. Was this fortunate OF
was it not. Was this wealthy lady OF
high position ana incompatible taste
the friend or art-iover who had
drawn him thercy What could be
more probable: And yet how greatly
was the mystery ENLARGED IL this Were
ahc case.
he was gazing steadily at the I'm.
movable cOuntenance before him when
This idea came. and. fascinated rs HI
was by wha- he saw. there seemed {,
rise film between him and il. out OF
which there slowly grew on his gaze
The face OF the unknown visitor. No,
the face he had put upon canvas snC
which was at this moment Hluminat
ing the dim receSses OF his studio. bu'
az herself as She stood there looking a
him with most human expression o,
pleasure and appeal. startlingly in con
traSt with the sumptuousncss OF he,
apparel and the dignity OF her bearing
\ true face. a good face. with feat
us perfect enough for art. and 1
smile tender enough TO satisfy TN,
most eSacting nature. Why did he no
thril before it? Why did not the feel
Ing OF contentmeat which swept Owe
him at its remembrance fill up the vo.e
in his heart and make this second rec
oSnition OF her charms one OF prOniis.
and unalloyed delight: Because h,
had seen something more winsome; be
cause she wss the Dream. while bofor,
him lay the Reality; because his tast
and judgment alone awarded 10 her tn
palm or beauty. while his hear
tnrobDed to what was expressed il
this other face. this other form. which
II dead. had touched chord in his na
furQ never Gouu1ah lorcv, &.