Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-06

there glowed the tender, beautiful face of the
Christ.
"Oh Austin it is wonderful! 1t is divine! How
could you do it?" Threnodora cried. your devil
seems to be shrinking back from that wonderful
presence; crouching in establishment and fear,
and"
She stepped past the easel in order to get the
light from the other side.
"Look AUSTIN Look what you have done!" she
cried in astonishment.
Through the form and face of the Son of Glory
there shone, in subtle yet distinct outlines, the
figure of the grnning priest, still making his
compromise with the devil.
"Now at last you have depicted the eternal
struggle between good and evil, she said solemnly.
at is the incarnate God, striving to overshadow
and obliterate human baseness and hypocrisy,
and the devil has very insignificant place in the
game. 1t to me- Austin that you have
gloriously portrayed Christ's mission. Your padre
may represent the Church of the old dispensation,
the corrupt Church of to-day, what you will.
Your Magdalene shows forth a sincursed humani-
ty, still beautiful in spite of its scarlet robes But
how abject and tame your Mephisto looks! had
never noticed it before My quarrel was always
with the priest. Well, leave it as it is. There is
a whole in that DEVILS face"
Austin looked blankly into her eyes as she
spoke the last words. Then he put out his hands
appealingly
"I am so tired" he murmured.
Tenderly she assisted him from his chair and
half led, half carried him to his bed.
"Now you fix yourself comfortably while make
you a good strong toddy," she said as she turned
to re-enter the studio.
81 hope this hasn't done him any serious harm"
she reflected while he slipping the stimu-
liant Before the glass was empty, the studio door
opened and Christine and DR.. Arno entered
"Why, Threny, when did you Gomez" Miss Strand
exclaimed.
"I have been here almost an hour How did it
happen that Austin left so long alone?"
A guilty flush stole over Chrstine's face as she
drew Threnodora into the studio.
81 wasn't away from him after you left,
until went down to dinner" she said uneasily
"Then found that the poStman had left let
ter some time during the afternoon. 1t was from
Ronald. The most egotistical, self-rghteous, self
satisfied letter you ever saw. He is willing to
take me back and forgive everything II | VIII
promise not to do it any Threny, you know
I love Ronald We women are such fools. At
first I was ready to promise anything, for these
two weeks have been torture to me. I wrote him
the most abiect, loving letter! Then I read it
over and tore it up. I wrote a second In which
assumed the role of injured innocence: but when
I came to reread that one found that had said
some things that were not exactly true so | tore
it up and wrote third. That the worst of
all Then took fresh sheet of paper, and here
is what I wrote If you approve, it shall go"
Threnodora drew the letter from its dainty
velope and read
"Dear Mr. Kent-We may weep over our dead
past: may even scatter flowers on its grave; but,
for heavens sake, let not dig up the old corpse
and pretend enjoy it's society.
"CHRrsT1NE STRAND"
"Christine that is masterful" Threnedora ex-
claimed "If that doesn't bring his highness to-
his senses, don't know what will 1t is the way
to deal with men. Fawn at their feet and they
will abuse you. Treat them with independence,
almost with contempt and they will go to the ends
of the earth for you. After while want to tell
YOU and DR.. Ben what happened at Judge Hetzers
this evening. | rescued poor Kitty; but l sup
pose I shall have to settle with her father later
on He is an unreasonable, inconsistent man; but
he is only an exaggerated type of his sex. made
him exactly reverse his position with regard to
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