Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-24

sure of the merit of his picture"
He would be-" McWhinnie said
grimiy.
You know that he is clever-that was
| harsh, Guardy." She rebuked him freely
on many occasions, conscious of her
power and, womanlike, eager to exercise
He shall have fair play" McWhinnie
| said soberly. He spoke with more So
emnlty than his words seemed to demand
1t was possible that he thought of some
thing beyond the Judgment of art.
/ Going home to his studio-it was
] large one now, in quite a fashionable
! quarter OF kensington-he unused some
what bitterly on the selfishness of youth.
| God knows | want no thanks" ran
| his thoughts. but if she only did not
take everything for granted-if her smile
OF thanks were less perfunctory! / work
! for her-a sincere pleasure-but-. Her
glance has no warmth Tor me as it has
for Paul. Youth to youth-it is a nat.
ural law, and | am too old to rebel
| II"
! Paul Warden came to Estelle with the
news that his picture was accepted. He
was excited, full of anticipatory triumph
suggesting much, adopting proprietary
airs which half thrilled her. but which
also awoke some slight feeling of resent.
ment. He had not spoken, she had con.
sented to nothing, he was too sure of her
He might be right, but her womanliness
| demanded some concession of distrust on
his part.
1T may not be hung" he suggested
suddenly. The idea had not crossed him
before. 1t came now as a cold douche
She saw with a pang that his fears were
quick enough over his picture
1T will be hung" she said quietly.
You don't understand, Estelle,' he an
swered. More pictures are accepted
than can be hung. Some must come back,
mine may. 1t is large canvas II
am almost afraid to hope. 1t means
shall | say that think You know what
it means to me?" She held her head
lower. ut means freedom to me to
choose my own way. 1t means life and
ease, and-I dare not say-not yet If it
should come back! The hanging com
mittee-" He stopped, and stared at her
with frightened eyes. Il forgot-Mc
Winnie is on the hanging committee!
1t will not be hung"
You We're his pupil-he is kind" she
protested.
1t will not be hung" he repeated. dire
conviction in his voice. He is kind-to
you"
You are wronging him. Paul"
Don't you know" He looked at her
wonderingly. ''Estelle, you are not so
blind that you do not see that he loves
you"
He? Guardy? Paul, you-you have
no right to say"
"Oh, there is no question of right now.
We are beyond conventionalities | have
been fool. ! forgot that he was ON that
committee He is in love with you. Do
you see the position? If l am hung and
make a success shall if | get fair play
lit means Oh, Estelle, what does il
not mean to me-to us? He is to Judge
my work-and he loves yOu!"
1T is preposterous! she said, holding
up shamed face. Even as she spoke
she knew it was not preposterous. She
had been unconscious before now she was
in possession of the secret which ex-
planned his awkwardness. his care of her.
his tongue tied tenderness
1T is not" he said. Il have known it
for a long time"
Il have no fear of him. You will have
fair play. Hugh is an honest man
there is no room in his soul for any
meanness."
Paul Warden's picture. @The Choice"
was hung on the line, to the astonish
ment of many. 1t is not often that a
young artist is so often distinguished
Estelle stood before the picture at the
private view. Paul would not go with
her.
Il want you to see it alone. Why? A
whim-you will understand when you see
it. l shall 60 away now-I must walk.
Pm in fever. And this afternoon l will
come to the little black and silver room
and have tea with you. This afternoon,
Estelle! 1t is my day-it must be
crowned"
your day."
Eyes. yes. There are days when every
thing goes right. Today is my day. |
am invulnerable to fate today The sec
rotary tells me of tentative offer from
Lord Ferroll. 1t is my day-and l want
you to crown it. l may Gomez" There
was no eagerness in mis- question, he
spoke assured of his answer.
You may come" she said, in a level
voice, and left him, to search for THE
Choice"
1t was a large canvas. \ young girl
with d-gold halr stood looking out OF
the frame. Before her knclt two men
holding up gifts to her upon velvet
cushions. One was young man, the
other was middle-aged. On the white
cushion of the young man lay single
rose. blood-red. The elder man offered
easket of jewels and his cushion was inn
perially purple.
But that which held her as in a trance
was the personal meaning informing it.
The girl although no portrait. subtly
suggested her own self: the two men, for
all their medieval costuming, were Paul
and Hugh. So deity was the work done
that the likenesses We're faint enough to
escape general remark. The elder man
was the nearest to portraiture-- it was
not impossible that McWhinnie's friends
mioht eNen nntice flint the nthers rerl