The Press., 1904-02-11
THE ETERNAL
FEMININE
BY Helene Wood
Copyright. 1905, BY To. Mcclure

QaAaaSsssesasesasesesg Observation-Disclosures
"Elizabeth. the eternal feminine will
assert ITSELF
Elizabeth put on her long blue paint
ing apron without replying and began
to stretch a canvas She was adorable
so. her gray eyes defiantly averted and
flush of anger on her cheeks.
"There you go again. If | don't
know my own mind at twenty six
when will I?''
'At twenty seven or eight perhaps
hope sooner. Your ideas are all wrong.
you will long for home of your own
and some one nearer than girl friend
or masculine udmirer."
He had the last word, for the ar
rival of the model. thin. shabby look
ing girl. put an end to the discussion.
Tomorrow at 5. then?''
Elizabeth gave a brisk little nod.
She was already sketching in the out
lines of her study. and Phil was for
gotten before he had closed the door,
The young man was quite accustom.
ed to such treatment. Admitted as he
was to her most intimate friendship on
an understanding of strict camarade-
rie. he broke over the traces every year.
was invariably refused and bore his
defeat with easy ahount. Some day
she was bound to change her mind.
and he might be the lucky man.
Elizabeth's own opinion was very
different. She, had no time for thought
until her work was laid aside for the
day. Then she sank into a nest Of
cushions to think luxuriously.
- No. Phil was wrong. She would new
er care to leave her studio-above all,
to marry. Had not the art school girls
who married ceased developing intel
lectually? Shut up in their own four
walls. they became entirely absorbed
in dear Tom or Dick and the children.
Children! Elizabeth shuddered. A
child in book or picture was very
delightful. but the reality, dirty lit
tie creature always crying or being i'll!
She would never leave her work. her
studies, her pleasures. for a deadly
stupid family life. Never!
A cry of warning. The trolley car
stopped with lurch. In an instant
the conductor and motorman were
down in the street. followed by most
of the passengers. Elizabeth. impa
tient at the delay. resolved to walk
the block or two remaining. Her mod
ell would be waiting for her at the
studio
When she left the car she found her.
self the only woman in a large group
collected about a sickening black mass
which had splashed car wheels and
cobblestones with blood. The con-
ductor. good natured looking young
Irishman. stood with tears rolling down
his face. He was holding golden hair
ed baby. toddler of year or two
The motorman, white and frightened,
was telling how the baby had sudden
ly run in front of the car and the moth
er had thrown the little one out of the
way, only to be crushed herself.
The child began to cry and the con-
ductor turned to Elizabeth imploring-
ly. "You take the baby. mum. The
ambulance is comm. The cops will be
after findin' its relatives"
Before she could reply he had put
the baby in her unresisting arms.
Some moments later, hardly know
ing how it had all happened. she found
herself walking into her studio build |
ing carrying little child. In her purse
was bit of paper inscribed 10 Plum
ley alley" 1t was the poor woman's
address, to which she had promised to
take him. A man she knew, who was
passing along the corridor, smiled and
remarked, Rather small model, Miss
Blair" Elizabeth flushed as if she had
committed a crime and was relieved to
close the studio door behind her.
Then she put down her burden and
looked at her watch. Ten o'clock!
The model had come and gone. No
hope now. She herself would have to |
take the child home. A short confer
ence at the phone told her the where
abouts of Plumley alley, eight squares
south and Just off the -th street car
line. s...
When she left the phone she found |
the little one standing close by. Eliza |
beth studied him with half shut eyes.
tello, if the forehead were little high !
er and the curls not SO fine and tight. |
How should like to paint him! Come
here, little one. What's your name?"
"Alan Campbell naughty"
-. "Are you naughty" .s
"'Es. l want my muvver."
His mother! Elizabeth felt a quick |
pang of horror. "Come here. and I
will show you something pretty
She held out her watch The silver |
and gold ornaments on its long chain |
jingled attractively. Alan Campbell
slowly drew near the shining object. |
He seized it just as little stray dog
would have done bit of cake-seized
it and walked away. Then Elizabeth
brought out pictures. 1t was surpris-
ing how quickly they were friends.
sitting on the floor side by side look
ing at ''pussies" and "doggies."
1t was after II when Alan Camp
BELLS face began to look doleful.
81 want cup of millik." he an
nounced.
There were a pitcher of cream, some |
biscuits and glass Of Jelly in her
stock of tea table provisions. With |
this luncheon spread out before him. |
Alan Campbell was soon installed on
the edge of the model stand
When he had drunk all the cream
6eTt that which soaked into her pref.
~ rug. when his face was CORY with |
currant jelly, and biscuits had lost their |
attraction. Elizabet took one sticky
little hand in hers and led him firmly |
to the washstand. After he was clean |
and dry she sank into chair, ex-
hausted.
Il want up on APP" cried little |
voice appeaIingly.
She drew him up. For awhile he |
was amused by her velvet blouse; then |!
his eyes began to close. Alan Camp
BELLS head was on Elizabeth's shout |
der. His right hand clasped hers tight |