Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-09

a duh rose Japanese screen embroid-
cred in black and gold as a background
for her lustreless gown Of lighter
shade, and a rope of pearls around her
milk white throat, just added this last
week and suspected by Butler Of being
the lovers first betrothal gift. There
ives hint of languor in the pose, as
well as in the droop Of the hand, hold
ing q dark red leather fan, inlald with
scarabee beetles and mock Jewels and
edged with fringe Of peacocks feath-
ers.
The hunchbsck gazed at the portrait
wistfully, despairingly, as Abraham
might have done upon Isaac bound to
the altar. once he went to the table
with their paint tools and selecting his
palette knife with brutal energy re-
turned to the easel. The picture fas-
cinated and held him captive. He felt
powerless before such beauty. He no
longer saw 1t as his own creation, he
was awed by a spiritual presence that
seemed outside of and apart from him
self
The clock struck 2.
1t was not safe for him to wait, and
yet he could not bring himself to the
deed for which he had come. Covering
his face with his left hand he struck
out biindly with mis- right. The taut
canvas answered with a faint rip. He
opened his eyes and followed this blow
with long, cruel cuts that slashed the
picture into shreds, as one would make
murder sure beyond remedy With
out staying a moment to realize his
work, the ruthless artist, like trem-
bling infanticide, turned off the light
and crept back to his room, bringing
away the palette knife dripping with
gore to his feverish fancy.
The storm was quieter and a weep
ing moon struggled through the wrack
of clouds.
The hunchback raised his window
softly and looked out. BY the aid of
a chair he climbed to the sill, thence to
the roof. On all fours he crawled eau
tiously over the slippery shingles, car
rying the palette knife in his mouth.
His hideous body looked like some wild
beast gone out for rapine and blood
thirst. Once he nearly lost his footing,
but saved himself by desperate
clutch on the rain pipe.
When he reached Roses rooms he
found the blinds open, left so probably
to watch the storm. 1t was his lucky
chance. By the uncertain moon he
could see into the room where she lay
asleep, her face turned toward the win
dow. Strengthening up, he peered
through the pane. She would be sleep
ing a deeper sleep in a little while-and
Richard would be free and they two
would go back and live together as al
ways
| He softly raised the sash and ran his
finger along the knife. 1t was sharp
enough for the work. He had seen to
that when the scissors grinder passed
through the country last week. With
powerful swing of his long arms he
pulled himself to the ledge and squatted
a moment, breathless; he did not feel
as strong as usual.
| When he recovered the moon came
out full, bright, resplendent, shot across
Roses bed and cast his shadow against
the cover like an Internal monster
taxed to do evil. He stared at the
sleeping girl, very clear now in the
moonlight On the small hand above
the counterpane cleaned diamond.
and her magnificent hair was tossed
in two long plaits across the pillow.
She was very beautiful and helpless in
sleep.
Something tugged at the dwarf's
vitals. This was the girl that Rich
ard loved, the heart of his heart. Rich
ard, his friend, his more than brother,
his spirits mate.
His chin sank to the degrading
hump, and out of his dark struggled a
cry for light, for help from the infinite
power that had marred him. After that
brief pause he raised his face and slid
once more to the roof. In sort of in
ert anguish he huddled against the side
of the house and waited.
| 1t was long before he could steady
his trembling fingers to choose from
the papers in his notebook Roses little
Halloween token, which he had worn
next his heart ever since that night.
First tearing it into bits he scattered
them over the shingles, taking the
further precaution to toss his palette
knife over the roof into the vines be-
low This was the last link in his dou-
BILE tragedy and he sat calmly looking
at the world.
The storm had passed. The lake
shimmered in it's mountain cup like
wine shot with silver, and the spruces
and hemlocks dripping with raindrops
shone like Christmas trees. A holiness
was In the air. Butler could almost
fancy he heard the invisible choir
chanting peace on earth, good will
toward men!"
| His spirit made ready.
Clasping his arms about his breast
he stretched himself on the sloping
roof, and, giving strong impulse 10
his body by a thrust of his foot against