Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-28

OuSy tnat prompted IL.
"pid YOU understand my husbandT
Olga asked.
Eyes, think did"
He said L trust YOU Why should
he say that? Why should it not be
matter of course?"
''You don't think he is really jeal-
ous?"
Olga shook her head.
81 don't know" she said. During |
the six years we have been together
and you have been our friend he has |
often pretended to be jealous. This
time there was something in his voice |
that made me believe it was more than |
pretense 1t is the first time he has
ever left us alone"
They were standing, Karl near the}
door, where he had hidden Herman
farewell Olga was on the opposite
side of the apartment. In the alcove In 4
one corner an open fire burned brightly.
casting a red glow over the big, COM
Portable armchair drawn up before
it. with it's high, pulpit shaped back
toward them Karl walked over to
Olga and said with quiet earnestness:
I'VE have tried to avoid it. Olga,
tried for six years. Now that the sit
uation is forced upon us, why not be
honest? Let US talk about 1t frankly"
81 think it was sweet not to- discuss
1t for six long years." Olga said, smil-
ing at him. "a clean conscience is
like a warm cloak, Karl. 1t infolds
us and makes us feel so comfortable"
She tried to make her mood seem
light, but Karl would not fall in with
it.
Last night when 1t was suggested
that I should paint your portrait you
gave me look l had never seen be-
fore" he persisted. II wonder why"
81 don't know" Olga answered, her
fear returning. Don't let us talk
about 1t. / don't want to-
you must not be afraid of me,
Olga If were any one else you might
be frightened. 1 am fond Of you, yes,
but respectfully. 1 do not see what
| harm can be done by talking every
thing over quietly. 1t seems so long
ago-seven years-since they told me
| that Herman was to be your husband.
1t was on the anniversary of the
| day
sOh, Karl"' she protested, holding
out her hands to silence him.
1.-The day we kissed each other" he
| went on, speaking SO quietly that it
| seemed almost a whisper. "We were
| almost children then. I was a poor
little chap, who gave drawing lessons
| to Herman and his sisters. You were
| little waif, fed cake and tea at the
| millionaire's table. There we met, a
,beggar boy and beggar girl, thrown
together in a palace. We looked at
each other, and 1 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 never mentioned it,"
Karl seemed not to hear her Interrupt
| non. he went on:
'You became Herman's wife and
went to live In a palace. 1 found you
there when 1 came back from Paris,
still fond of you, but determined never
to tell you SO, and when 1 met you
again /, too. was somewhat changed
Still, when our eyes met, Olga, it 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 1 are the best
Of friends" Karl said. Though We
!, have met hundreds of times; you anG
/, we have not mentioned it."
Olga turned to him gratefully and
held out her hand to clasp his.
you are good, true friend, Karl"
"Are you satisfied now?" Karl asked
her, smiling You are not afraid OF
me, are your
, mo, but there was something in my
husbands voice that frightened me-
Al Olga answered. HE knows what We
were to each other, and when he wa.
leaving us here alone think it made
him feel uncomfortable. We aren't
in love any more, are we, Karl?
mo, of course not"
and it is sweet to think that W,
have not entirely forgotten old times
!, isn't it,"
YES" he answered absently.
'And of course if we loved each 9th
9 er still you would not marry, would
you, Karl?''
!, "Of course not" he said shortly.
Now you will get married and 70,
! will be very, very happy. And /, too
J shall be happy, because I want you t,
marry, and l myself have chosen
sweet. clever girl for you"
Exactly" Karl acquiesced dryly
and now let us think no more O
q It," Olga cried, her mood changing t
one of gayety.
She ran over to the door and turne
and faced Karl, knocking loudly on th
panel.
g "Now for work. We have don,
:, nothing" Size said. Monsieur, / hav
t. come to have my portrait painted"