Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-10-17

out her hands to silence him.
The day we kissed each other" he
went ON, speaking so quietly that 1t
seemed almost a whisper. I'VE were
almost children then. I was a poor
little chap, who gave drawing lessons
to Herman and his sisters. You were
a little waif, fed cake and tea at the
millionaire's fasle. There we met, q
beggar boy and a beggar girl. thrown
together In a palace. We looked at
each other, and / think we under
stood"
Olga covered her burning face with
her hands. and Karl went on:
I'VE kissed each other quite inno-
cently-just one kiss. the memory Of
which has almost faded"
Yes, Karl, faded" Olga cried eager
ly. 1--WE have grown up sensibly, and
we eve mentioned It."
Karl seemed not to hear her Interrupt
ton. He went on:
you became Herman's wife and
went to live In a palace. found you
there when / came back from Paris,
still fond Of you, but determined never
to tell you SO, and when | met you
again /, too, was somewhat changed.
Still, when our eyes met, Olga. 1t was
with the same look of the two poor,
longing little beggars OF the years ago.
But we did not kiss again."
"Why not?' olga breathed.
"Your husband and ! are the best
of friends" Karl said. Though we
have met hundreds of times, you and
/, we have not mentioned it."
Olga turned to him gratefully and
held out her hand to clasp his.
"You are q good, true friend, Karl"
"Are you satisfied now?" Karl asked
her, smiling. You are not afraid of
are your"
mo, but there was something in my
husbands voice that frightened me-"
Olga answered. "He knows what we
were to each other, and when he was
leaving US here alone / think it made
him feel uncomfortable. We aren't
In love any more, are we, KarlT"
"No, of curse not"
III IL . oNNCh w tbAhh thdt VIC
have not entirely forgotten old times,
isn't it,"
YES" he answered absently.
"And of course If we loved each 9TH
err still you would not marry, would
you, Karl?"
"Of course not" he said shortly.
"Now you will get married and you
will be very, very happy. And l, too,
shall be happy, because 1 want you to
marry, and | myself have chosen a
sweet, clever girl for you"
Exactly" Karl acquiesced dryly.
"And now let US think no more of
IT," Olga cried, her mood changing to
one of gayety.
She ran oyer to the door and turned
and faced Karl, knocking loudly on the
panel.
''Now for work. We have done
nothing" she said. Monsieur, l have
come &c have my portrait painted"
'Come in, madame" Karl said, bow
ing gravely and entering into. her play.
"Good morning"
Il have come TO have my portrait
painted" Olga said again.
Karl forgot the playing and exclaim-
ed seriously:
a"Ah, last night / made a memory
sketch of you after / got home. /
have made many, very many, but now
/ see you differently"
''Why?" Olga asked. startled again
by his ~vehemence.
yesterday l saw the lines of your
figure; today / see your SOUL" he said.
Yesterday you were a model; today
you are an Inspiration"
please, Karl; please, don't. We
agreed to end everything" she pleaded.
1T is hard to end everything so sud
denly"
Karl, my good friend, / did wrong
in coming here" Olga said. Now
that | did come, let us work. Take
your colors and brush. We must get
through with 1t as soon as possible"
"You are right, Olga; as soon as pos
sible."
what shall l do irstT' she asked.
"Take off your hat and coat, please"
Karl stepped toward her with out
stretched hands as IL to help her. She
drew back, with a little gesture Of ap-
prehension.
"You mustn't touch me-" she said.
AS she brushed him Karl caught a
Whit of fragrance from her hair that
was intoxicating.
do you use perfume on your hairY'
he asked, quite innocently.
Certainly not" she laughed.
"Oh, then, it is the natural perfume
Of your hair! Pardon me; l stood
too close TO you"
Olga removed her hat and cloak. She
looked up and saw that Karl was re-
garding her %intently.
"You seem to be studying my fea-
lures" she said.
Il know them by heart, each one"
he answered. II am thinking of a
pose. You know your husband wished
a half length in evening gown"
Eyes, | should have preferred a full
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