The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-05-20

away. That she idealized him into
something other; than he was may be
admitted; that she found in him a
very true and noble man is equally
the fact. Certainly she believed that
she loved him, though it is problemat-
ical whether the comparative loneli-
ness Of Abbeyvale was conducive to a
development of the feeling.
This afternoon Hope had gone out
Immediately after luncheon and was
to stop on her way home at the vii.
lageeto get the mail.
Edward Steelman worked away at
his easel. The north light wouldn't
hold much longer and he was eager to
catch the &feeting idea which strug-
gled toward being yet would not quite
assume tangible form. Silently he
painted as the sun got carer the
west. ss
Lal had fallen asleep on the wicker
couch on the porch, n hand under
his cheek and the other dropping
carelessly across the back of his
couch.
Once Edward had spoken to him,
and, receiving no answer, had stepped
out upon the porch and gazed upon
him with a look wherein the artists
deep admiration and the fathers
deener love were strangely mingled.
How splendid the lad isl" he NUT
tered; and then he went back to the
studio and struggled with the eyes
of Phaedra. They baAled him still.
He needed but astouch, yet that touch
he could not give. The wild light Of
a passion-half morbid, perhaps ultra
human. He. knew what he wanted.
It seemed to him that he could think
the look, but could not e it in his
minds eye, as he must do ere he
could imprison it upon the canvas
What would I not give for a model
who should show me that look!!" he
said, half despairingly. There must
be Phaedras in the world to-day. Why
cannot find one? I know in my soul
that I've done a great thing, wanting
only this-this- Bah! I must lack
the final gift. I.guess I'm not an art.
list after ALL"
Steelman spoke to himself savagely,
as a man threatening another with
righteous wrath; and as he did so
there came the grating of wheels
upon the gravel drive and he heard
Hope alighting from the cart and hand.
ing the reins to the groom. His face
frightened; it was always so good to
see Hope. There was about her the
atmosphere of a womanhood half
afraid and half imperious which
charmed him. He heard her football
upon the porch step; he fancied he
heard the rustic of her skirts; then
there was a sudden pause; she had
stopped.
Steeiman listened intently and
looked through the doorway, expect
ing to e the trim figure darken it
She did not come. It was very silent
but for the .chatteringe of some spar
rows on the lawn. He waited a few
seconds, then laid down his brushes
and walked to the door, his step muf
fled by the heavy rug and his position
obliquely to the doorway, rendering
him invisible from outside.
He looked but once, but it was with
a gaze long, intent, all-comprehen'
sive-a gaze which swept through
whole chapters in his book of life and
read a horror worse than failure al
the end. There was ono wild throt
at Steelman's heart; he felt the veins
fill at his temples. He held his teeth
together to suppress the moan OF
agony which claimed an ~utterance
Hope stood leaning against the trellis
one white hand half hidden in the
luxuriant clematis. In her eyes Steel
man saw the light which he had
prayed that he might see. She was
gazing directly at Lal as he lay there
upon the wicker couch. Her pupils
were dilated until from the depths Of
their purple pools there glowed
glory Of white light. Her nostrils
and half-parted lips seemed seeking
more air. and Steelman heard a quick
tremulous lisp of breath drawn in
ward and smothered.
In n lightning flash he compre
hended the height and depth Of 6
I1dSSuy Wu1Cu MS SOUL anC
turned his life to ashes. He had seer
his Phaedra and could paint her eyes
now-those strange ayes which haG
eluded him so long.
Quietly he turned and walked bach
to his easel; the brushes were lyins
awaiting his hand; he touched then
not, but gently took the palette knife
and without a tremor cut the picture
into shreds. Then he went to a side
table and opened a drawer, and as he
took from it the object which he
sought his ayes glanced hastily about
the little studio, falling upon the ia
miliar details of drapery and odd
ments which seemed like miniature
landmarks in his everyday existence
The light fell through the window
tinged with red, and a low growl OF
thunder came from the west. A tea,
dropped upon a photograph of La,
lying upon the table. Another photo
graph, that of Hope, was standing in
a silver frame. Steelman turned il
face down and wrote something