The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-09-15
A MODERN GALATEA,
Hearts Have Changed Little
Since Pygmalion's. Time"
BY cRIrTeNpEN MARRIOTT.

-
As Wykoff entered the parlor u
young man who was warming his
hands at the fire looked up.
Hello, Wykoffr' he said languidly.
cts you, of course"
Wykoff did not seem any better
pleased at the meeting than did the
speaker. "Humphw he remarked dis
gustedly. Il might have known I'd
find you here, Meredith"
Its mutual" returned the other, I
with gesture of resignation. 81 can't
for the life of me see how you can af-
ford to neglect business this way, old
man. Maybe, though. you have seen
Forbes this morning"
Wykoff shook his head. He did not
seem in the least interested.
'.He was looking for you," went on
Meredith II don't know what he
wanted. but l imagine from his man
ner that 1t was something important.
He said he would be at his Office till s
O'Clock. It's nearly that now, and you
had better hurry II you want to see
him."
'Forbes can wait. Look here, Mere
dith! I'm tired of seeing you hanging
around here all the time. | wish
Before Wykoff could explain what
he wished a girl swept into the room,
holding out her hands in grave well
come. How do you do, Mr.. WykoffT.
she said quietly. How do you do.
Mr.. Meredith? l seem to be honored
this afternoon. VIII you ring for the
tea, Mr.. Meredith? Sit down, Mr.
Wykoff. You look troubled. hope
nothing IL wrong" Her tones were
calm. Any one could see that she took
little interest In the affairs of others.
"Wykoff isn't troubled, Miss Curtis.
That's his way of expressing extray-
agant joy. He was Just saying how
pleased he was to see me here"
The girl glanced at Wykoff, who was
plainly seeking for some retort--and
finding none. Airy persifiage was not
In his line.
you must not tease Mr. Wykoff,"
she said gently. when is that sister
of yours coming to see me, Mr. Wy
koff? / want
The sentence was never finished, for
with rush a small girl bounded into
the room and flung herself on Wykoff
"Oh. Mr.. Wykoff" she cried Come
right out and sculp my snow man. You
promised you would" She caught his
hand and tried to drag him to the
door,
Bessie. Let Mr.. Wykoff Alone" in
terposed Miss Curtis. you ought to
be ashamed of yourself"
A CLEAN came into Merediths eyes.
"Otit of the mouths of babes and suck
lings," he quoted gayly. Positively
you are getting quite a reputation.
Wykoff! Keep on and maybe you'll
get real client some day--somebody
who wants to be 'sculped' in marble.
to adopt Miss Bessie's charmingly ex-
pressive word"
Wykoff WINGED. No one knew better
than he that SO far he had not made a
moneyed success in his art; sculptors
have little honor in western America.
He had known Meredith all his life
and, being tongue tied himself, had
greatly admired the others glibness
until he himself had become a target
for It, He hesitated now, angry all
through, but fearing II he spoke at all
he might say more than he intended.
Little Bessie. however, had no such
scruples Deliberately she fixed her
eyes on Meredith. II don't like you"
she deposed positively.
"Bessiew Miss Curtis was scandal
lied
II can't help 1t, Sister Mary. l don't
like him So therew She turned to
Wykoff. "You promised" she reiter-
ated wistfully, land I've got a snow
pile all built and"-
Reluctantly Wykoff rose. 81 really
did promise, Miss Curtis" he declared,
"and suppose must keep my word"
He spoke sorrowfully, for he hated
to leave the field to his rival, even
though all he could do was to stand
and take punishment and pretend he
liked it.
But II Meredith expected to profit by
the others disappearance he reckoned
without his host-or his hostess. Miss
Curtis talked on in the grave, quiet
way that had stirred the heart of more
than one man, but she gave him no
chance to bring up the question which
lay nearest to his somewhat sophisti-
Gated heart-the question he had come
resolved to ask before he left Finally.
when the conversation began to Ian
guish she rose, declaring that the |
house was abominably hot. She In
sisted on going out to see what Mr..
Wykoff had done with the snow man.
Meredith made no demur. Wise In |
the ways Of women, he knew better |
than to try to force the conversation.
In the girls existent mood he did not |
fear Wykoff and welcomed rather than |
otherwise the chance to break some |
shafts of wit on what he deemed that |
gentleman's sluggish intellect. Wy
koff, he thought, afforded an excellent |
foil for his own brilliancy.
When he and Miss Curtis reached |
the front door neither Wykoff nor lit |
tie Bessie was In sight. A line Of foot
steps, however, led across the snow
to where clump Of evergreens stood |
In the corner of the lawn, and toward |
these the girl led the way.
Her feet sank soundlessly in the deep
carpet Of snow, and they rounded
bush and came upon Wykoff before he
heard them.
Bessie had disappeared, and Wykof
was alone for the moment--and yet
not alone. Before him rose a splen-
did fgure--tbe figure Of goddess or
Of . woman Of heroic size, on whose
exquisite features, smoother and fair
er than ever sculptor cut from living
marble, rested look that made Mary
Curtis catch her breath--the look OF |
one who. capable Of all things, was
yet imprisoned in an Icy shell from
which no lovers kiss had called her.
One arm hung by her side; the other,
bare to the elbow, was raised in warn
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