Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-11-28
come no more.

come no more.
And yet when her husband had gone
out leaving her there. the faded laven-
der OF the sweet old days turned lurid.
and for the first time in six years her
soul confessed itself and lay bare and
unshrven. But she fought down the
memory and chung 20 those six years
OF silence. and all the while there was
IN the very air OF the room an unseen
presence that seemed dragging her
backward through time. bridging those
years clear 20 the day when Kari. the
boy. had taken her ia his arms and
kissed her lips and told her that be
loved her
Now, with all OF that IN her heart
she yet tried 20 put it out Of her
thoughts. She forced herself to a light
tone and airy words.
"Come. NJ Mailer; I have come 20
get my portrait painted as my husband
wishes g." she cried. 1--WE must go Go
work"
Karl. torn by emotion as herself,
acquiesced.
Here are shawls from which you
may select one for Your shoulders"
ne said 81 win go aud prepare The
studio while sou remove you: blouse q"
He LEFT beer so fucd With fear chat
she could hardly bring herself 90 tGs
at the hu,ton~ chat held bier waist
"Ah" she exclaimed imraticuIy az
last, dingas The waist from Ler.
AS IL dropped 90 the Goor her per-
fectly rouuCed shoulders and white
;aroat were bare. She arose from her
seat and reached FOR the Glmy sUken
shawl she bad chosen. But the shawl
fell from her nerveless hands. and She
drew back. with a shrek. gazing in
horror at what seemed an appariuon.
A melodious voice, suave, gentle. de-
Hberate. said
Madame. ! beg your pardon. fear
permitted myself TO fall asleep"
From the depths OF great arm
chair. drawn up before an open FIRE
whose red light gave II sinister g.
Illumination. a man arose. stood before
Olga and bowed profoundly. He was
IN the conventional afternoon garb or
a gentleman. His frOck coat was black:
his hair was black: his eyebrows. eye
lashes and eyes were black. His face
was white as colorless as his immac-
ulate linen. as expressionless as the
monocle he wore. One touch Of color
red. came from the scarf.
He looked with undlsguised admira-
ton at the beautiful woman before
him But Il was the cold. critical ad-
miration OF the cynic. emodonless and
without life. olga drew back from
him. catching up the shawl and hiding
her cleaning shoulders AS she looked
at him bis eyes seemed TO hold hers
She was fascinated. yet repealed
II thought I was alone" she faIter-
ed when her voice came TO her.
when / came IN some time ago NJ.
Mailer was out, and must have
fallen asleep In his comfortable chair.
Again ] apologize"
Fear and suspicion dilated Olga's
eyes, and she drew yet farther from
this suave. polished stranger.
There was no one in that chair a
few minutes ago when my husband
was herew she cried.
Without a flicker OF expression OF a
trace Of emotion IN his even. steady
voice, the stranger glanced casually
at the chair from which he had emery
ed like specter and replied:
Il beg your pardon ] must be mis-.
taken"
He seemed like oHs who would Jest
with infinity.
There was nothing ironical in his
tone. and he bowed with grave polite
ness. AS he advanced Olga retreated
toward the door through which Karl
had entered the studio.
Where did you come fromr' she
cried