The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-15

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Hrs. Thorne faltered. painting. There
was barely enough light for her to
make out the boldly lettered name
upon Cartons door. She tapped 1t
s~oftly--the futtering OF a birds wing
pould have made hardly less noise.
Come in"
Before she realized 1t, the door was
swung open, letting q food Of light
iato the hall, and framing the figure
tf Richard Carton, %painter--a tail,
broad-chested man, built big and 1.-the
", who stood upon his feet s%quarely.
With the bearing Of self-contidence.
"Well?" Carton asked, looking
town at her coolly, %curiously.
MIR. Carton?" she responded with a
question, to which he bowed ailirma-
tion. IL am Mrs, Thorne."
The name of course meant nothing
10 him; Carton saw only the slight,
almost willowy figure, clothed in shah
by black, and the soft pallor Of her
face. framed largely in the mass OF
her hair, very dark and shot with
Metallic tresses, bronze-colored--such
\ browning glory as Is most delightful
10 paint. But perhaps he saw only
the big, dark eyes, and read in them
their pleading message, At any rate,
his manner became more kindly.
ooh. yes. Mrs. Thorne. Yoa want
b pose? Won't you come in?" He
invited her to enter, c~ourteously. II
rave been looking for a good model
for some time. ] think you will do
splendidly."
She got into the Dor somehow.
lumbly, In a tumult of emotlons--of
relief, strangely allied with some
rhagrin, that he had not recognized
her; OF modification because of pow
erty's Haunting signals in her attire.
Well, it was bread for The Boy, at
least.
Upon the model-stand--a low wood.
en- affair some FIVE or six feet in dia.
meter--she was aware of an assured
Isolation. Had Mrs. Thorne been b
chair or a table she felt that Cartons
interest in her would have been of
the same nature, Of no less and no
| greater intensity.
1t Is the artists attitude to his
model; but at times she found herself
resenting It duly. She had come reg.
nlarly now every afternoon for over
a week.
As for Carton, she felt that she
would have known him anywhere,
just as she had been startled by the
unchanged quality Of his voice, by the
timbre of his football, after sc long a
time. How long? Could 1t be only
eight years since he left their native
village to study his art; but seven
since her marriage, only four since
her husbands death, which had left
her, with The Boy, dependent upon.
her W exertions, penniless and
without friends?
Once Carton asked her advice about
some small detail of a tea he pro-
posed giving.
I'm afraid" she told him, that
have been out Of the social life for
so long a time that | would hardly
know"
"Oh, well, It's a slight matter, after
all. Only ] wanted everything to be
Just 80. Women are particular, you
know"
And his transformations invitation to
tea she was careful to decline, al
though on the afternoon following the
function she could not refrain from
asking, archly, did she like it?"
"She?" Carton echoed the word In
alarm. Mrs. Thorne saw the color
rise to his forehead; she thought his
manner confused, boyish, ardent.
"She? I didn't know / mentioned"
you didn't" she FASTENED to reas.
sure him; "but women--old married
women like myself-feel privileged to
Fave intuitions, you know" She I'm
i,hed with a little laugh, that even to
Ter ears rang hollow.
Yes" he %assented, 81 suppose 60"
lat least he might have c~ontradlcted
tiat phrase, "old married women!")
sYou-you're right" he stammered;
and then his face fell, as did her
bopes, which she had based on his ex.
ected denial, But she didn't come
l-for some reason"
But she will"
"Oh, yes, I'm sure she Will" He
vas quite too enthusiastic,
He seized his brush. and began to
lap paint upon the canvas furiously.
Indeed
"A fellow likes to confide In some
ne. you know, Mrs. Thorne." He
dgeted, very III at ease. We've
re to be married next week"
Married? You? Next week." She
at bolt upright.
why, yes; I've Just arranged IT,"
At the end OF the days sitting he
aid down the tools of his trade with
sigh OF relief. "There!" he added.
A couple OF days more, and then"
lie paused.
Carton rose and walked to the win
low, where he stood looking out.
Now. there's the matter OF a gown
hat stumps me-" he said, slowly.
I've been to every costumer In town,
nd can't get what I want. Maybe
gu could help me out-Mrs. Thorne."
It seemed as though he had placed
he slightest emphasis on her name.
In what way" she asked.
why. the time Of this story Is ten
ears back. Now, what manner Of
ress would a young girl have been
pit to wear at a simple evening party