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

t vi IItIuldu IlOllIlduu Wueu
lE7z1fSl she met Karl first A preco-
Sy cious boy artist. talented. but
untaught, he attracted the attention of
the wealthy family. and they gave him
employment to further his ambition.
Soon he came and went among them
like one of the family, ~patronized by
Herman, who was his senior, and ador-
ed by Olga. whose playfellow he was.
He was a handsome. sturdy youth.
with hair that fell In rich, black clus-
ters over his white forehead and eyes
that sparkled with buoyant life and
purpose.
There was never a word of love be-
tween this boy and girl. 1t was the
true spirit Of comradeship. But they
loved each other without knowing that
1t was love. because life was fresh
and sweet to them and the days were
long for playtime and dreaming. Their
happiness was unclouded until the
that Karl should go away to Paris to
study and that Olga should be given
the finishing touches of her education
that she might take her place In SO
clety.
Then the comrades became sweet
hearts. When they were to be sent
away from each other they knew that
1t was love.
"Ah. Kari. | shall be so unhappy
without you." Olga said.
But | will come back. Olga. a great
artist perhaps, and you will be prouder
Of me than ever"
you will forget me away In Paris"
And will you not forget me. OlgaT"
"Ah, never. my Karlv"
Karl took her In his arms then and
kissed her.
Il love you, Olga. | will not forget"
The years went swiftly for Karl 10
his studies. and the love of a youth
goes readily to sleep. AS for Olga, she
mourned her sweetheart sincerely for
many months, but there was much in
the world that she was learning about,
and the few relatives she had were
busy with her future. Young Herman
Hoffman,. grown stout aud serious
and taking part In the business affairs
of the family, loved her for her rare
beauty. and they were married. Kari
came back, famous, painted portraits
and lived the life OF a young artist.
Hoffman, had become a banker and
a man of Importance. He was slow
and somewhat pompous In speech, but
! he was loyal in his friendship for Kari
and devoted to his beautiful young
wife. Kari came and went In their
house almost as he had In the old
days. Never once did he or Olga
speak Of their old love to each other.
Each believed 1t dead. For Olga this
was not strange. as she had her hus-
band. whom she believed she loved.
her home and her social life. Her
time was taken up, and Kari was only
a daily incident
The young artist came back to a
consciousness of Olga's beauty and
sweetness. She had adopted a ma
ternal air toward him which he found
vastly diverting- Sometimes there
throbbed In his pulses a beat OF the
old fervor, but he had himself well In
control. His emotions were not way.
ward. He told himself daily almost
that he thought OF Olga as a sister. But
1t was significant. although he never
admitted that, that be had to tell him
self this same thing very often.
Thus sped the six years Of Olga's
contented. unrufied life. Karl lived
In his studio. where notables came tC
be painted aud models posed and fiirt
ed, and an old manservant looked
after his clothes and his comfort. II
was a spacious apartment. richly fur
nIshed in the trappings which artists
love. There he lounged and worked
but In all the six years Olga and bel
husband had never been there. Kar
desired most Of all things In the world
to paint her portrait, but he did MOI
dare to ask. Olga never spoke Of 1t
and it was not until Herman himself
brought up the subject that 1t was evei
discussed.
One evening at Herman's house
when Karl had been making some
sketches. Herman said:
"Karl, why have you neve painted
a portrait Of Olga? She Ia more beau
tiful than any OF your models or you
patrons"