The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-12-25

1 ooAu' SoAAu6 up A0OSuSI POSlISSS
YES" said, again.
And your brother?" I went on as
l took up a photograph of a handsome
and well-set-up young man.
She was silent, and, as l turned to
look at her, a deep flush rose to her
face, but she said. without embar-
rassment: 81 have no brother. That
is a man l used to know" Then she
added, with unnecessary haste: He
does not care for art or artists and
to myself | said, as l put the photo
graph back upon thrjnantel place:
Il wonder if he is The other thing
that has added one more to the ranks
Of the Bachelor Maids. p"
II wish you would not write any.
thing about me-" the girl said, pres
emily. Il am not good enough. Wait
until l become famous, if I ever do"
she added, wistfully.
Just as you like" l replied. But
l was told that you wanted to be in.
%terviewed."
mo, indeed. But l am glad to meet
you. Did l not see you at the lecture
on 'Individualism' the other night?'
oh! were you there? What did
you think of it?'
81 suppose it was very clever" she
replied. but ! am afraid that I do not
appreciate the Joy Of being myself as
much as l ought. I was very keen
upon it once, but 1t is lonely, dreary
work sometimes. l am not a genius,
as you can see for yourself. l have no
dash-no originality. Some one told
me that once. but I did not believe"
Him or herr" put in with a feeble
attempt at archness.
81 am going to send that" pointing
to the figure of the kneeling child. ITO
the academy next spring." she went
on. ignoring my question. But 1t will
not get in. 1t is too conventional and
commonplace."
But they like pretty exhibits at the
very sweet"
"f that is all you can say, the best
thing I can do is to hide 1t out Of
sight, and she flung a cover over the
figure as she spoke, and before she
seated herself again, l noticed that
she had turned the portrait of the
good-looking man with its face to the
wall.
poor fellow" I said to myself.
What has he done?" Then, after a
little more chat. I rose to say good-by.
Il do not feel very bright today"
she said. But please come and see
me again. l should like to lear what
you thought of the lecture"
Il suppose you know Miss Frides-
wied?" I asked.
by name only. I am a member Of
the 'Experimentalists,' but do not go
often to the meetings. In fact, | am
a recluse. | am going to dine with
some very old friends tomorrow" she
continued. And I feel quite fright
ened at the bare idea. Isn't it silly?
But, somehow, think you understand.
Good-by."
A few days later I heard, unex-
p~ectedly, a few particulars about the
young artist. She had been engaged
to a man who was devoted to her, but
although she was fond of him she
was much fonder. apparently. Of her
art, and it offended her deeply when
he told her that she would never do
anything great, and also that when
she was his wife ne would not allow
her to have a studio or a latchkey.
Gle might have. left her the key"
my informant added, "but Isobel de-
1y~..J ~L-< - r~- Io-11 L.,o <ha
power to say that she must not do
this Or that; 80 the engagement was
broken of-she keeps on her studio
and she wears her Yale latchkey
hanging to a bracelet upon her wrist,
and tries very hard to pose as an
emancipated woman. The pair never
meet. He says that all women are
vain and tickle, and spends his time
travelling. Even the charming fiat that
he furnished for her is shut up, and
he refuses to let it."
met Isobel once or twice during the
next II months, but, although we re-
manned YER friendly, she did not con-
fide in me. l was surprised, therefore,
to get a note from her one morning
by a messenger, to say that the studio
was let, hat she was going abroad i'm.
mediately, and would l come over to
tea the same afternoon.
I sent back the message with pleas
ure,' but this time no sweet voice re-
sponded to my knock; so, without
knocking again, l went in. but when
l got round the screen which shut
off the door, could not suppress a gasp
of surprise, for, standing in the middle
of the room, in an attitude which re-
called Leighton's beautiful picture,
"Wedded," were Isobel and the orig
inal of the portrait which had been
turned face to the wall.
They did not see me, or they ig-
nored my interruption, and l remained
in silent admiration Of the charming
Living Picture
sweetheart" l heard him murmur.
tenderly, as he kissed her hair. Then
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