The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-08
Our Daily $bcrt Story

fing," he continued, filling his glass a, friend Thayer, an incaiculable injury How did know 1t? By instinct. SUD- pose Men have their munitions as well as women. Cleveland's passionate na- turc was aroused, and Undine's newly awakened soul was troubling her. For months the work went on. | looked in from time to time at the growing statue. It seemed living | breathing thing under Cleveland's plas-
 tic fingers. Neither sculptor nor model ! needed time. They loved. and the black duenna who sat knitting in the back ground might have been a piece of ! bronze for all they regarded her The very air was surcharged with feeling
 knew tragedy was brewing. At last 1t came. The duenna was taken sud denly i'll, and Cleveland escorted her to the waiting carriage while Con- stance left the studio to put on her street gown. Returning for some for gctten trifie, she met Cleveland The two were alone for the first time They loved. Each knew the other loved, and n brief mad moment of passion fol- lowed.
 T never knew, nor poor Cleveland either, what happened that night be- tween l mayer Hnu COnStaHCe COulu only guess by the awful sequel.
 T happened to be In the studio the next morning, when husband and wife entered together The duenna was i'll, Thayer explained, with an air of elab- crate politeness; he himself would un- dertake the task of chaperone today. Cleveland murmured something in re- ply. while Constance, colorless as the image statue of herself. passed into the dressing room adjoining. Thayer and I chatted while Cleveland fingered the wet clay. At last Mrs. Thayer re- entered the room. wearing, as she al- ways did. long white cloak which completely hid her form. Advancing with steady steps to the raised dias-- God. how brave these women are!- she quickly fell into the pose of the Arlesian Venus. With a touch she un- clasped the cloak and 1t slipped to the floor. We three men sat speeches.. l shall never forget the sight that met my eyes, nor the sound that smote my ears. The woman stood revealed in all her beauty, but across the gleaming, perfect shoulders were three long, red cruel stripes-stripes such as had seen once long ago on the back of a recall citrant slave on my fathers plantation With hoarse. inarticulate cry or rage
 
 forward, only to be pressed back by a hand of iron.
 That hurts you-yes, as 1t hurts her. It is your work-yours only. You alone are responsible for those stripes What now?" and Thayer struck the sculptor across the face with his glove There was a moment of deathlike si- | fence. Then the voice of Constance cleft the air like knife: Kill him, Ernest--kili him" White, furious, trembling like a ! woman at the sight of her whom he loved lacerated, beaten, Clevela Id turned swiftly and opened a case of re. volvers.
 Choose" he said. offering them to Thayer.
 Calmly. deliberately. as if selecting a cigar. Thayer lifted the pistol from It's velvet case. The two men stepped apart. Both were noted shots It was an even chance.
 One, two, three-a loud report, a cloud of smoke, and Cleveland fell for. ward. shot through the heart. The marble statue shuddered, took one step forward and uttered a stifled shriek:
 Ernest! Ernestr
 | "Thayer, the. revolver still smokinp in his hand, seized her arm and in a perfectly passionless tone. bade her go and dress. Five minutes afterward he led the woman to her carriage, leaving me alone with the dead sculptor and the half-finished image of clay. The half-flnished statute in marble now stands in Thayer's gallery, not in the least of its priceless treasures. And the woman? An. well, you saw her to- night. There Is no scar on her shou1- darq Ta thpra \. heart for my lost friend and her dead lover?"