The Cairo bulletin., 1909-01-21


things should not have been put in
the plural was convinced, but then,
as ! have been told often enough, |
am a very "cocksure' person. and as
often wrong as right
When we had finished our tea |
vent round the studio and examined
the half-fnished studies that were on
view Then presently ! took a pho
! tograph from the mantlepiece.
And who is this ." said.
THAT is mother" she answered,
with such tender note in her soft
| voice.
And this is your sister, Of course~
| said taking up another portrait.
Yes" said, again
And your brother2" | went on as
! took mp photograph of handsome
and weltset-up young man.
She was silent, and, as / turned 20
look at her, deep flush rose to her
face, but she said, without embar-
! rassment: Il have no brother That
is a man | used to know Then she
added with unnecessary haste: He
does not care for art or artists. AMI
I TO myself ! said as | put the photo.
graph back upon th1nantel place
Il wonder If he Is The other thing
that has added one more to the ranks
Of the Bachelor Maids. 2"
Il wish yoH would not write any
thing about me- the girl said pres
emily. q am not good enough. Wait
! until ] become famous, If ! ever d."
she added, wistfully
Just as YOU like ! replied. But
! was told that you wanted to be in
terviewed."
No indeed But am glad to meet
you Did / not see you at the lecture
on Indivdualism the other night ."
oh We're YOU there? What did
YOU think OF it?"
II suppose 1t was very clever she
replied, but am afraid that | do not
appreciate the JOY of being myself as
much as ! ought ! was very keen
upon It once, but it is lonely, dreary
work sometimes am not genius,
as you can see for Yourself | have no
dash-no originality Some one told
me that once but did not believe"
Him or herr" put in with a feeble
attempt at archness,
y am going to send that" pointing
to the figure Of the kneellng child TO
the academy next spring" she went
on. ignoring my question But il viii
not get in, II is too conventional and
commonplace
"But they like pretty exhibits at the
academy" | said. and your work is
very sweet"
"If'that is all you can say, the best
thing can do is TO hide II ont Of
sight" and she flung a cover over the
figure as she spoke, and before 80
seated herself again ! noticed that
she had turned the portrait of tho
good-lookiue man with its face to the
wall
Poor fellow" said to myself
What has he done" Then, after
little more chat. rose to say good-bv.
Il do not feel very bright to-day"
she said But please come and see
me again should like to hear what
von thought Of the lecture
81 suppose YOU know Miss Fride-
WED? % ! asked
BY name only ! am member Of
tho ETpoHmentalists' but do not 20
often to The meetings In fact. I am
a rocluse. ! am going 20 dine with
some very old friends tomorrow she
continued And | feel quite fright
ened Al The bare idea Isn't Il silly?
But somehow think YOU understand
Gooa.by"
a few DAYS later I heard unov.
noct"dlv, q fow particulars abou' thc
young artist She had been engaged
70 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 he would not allow
her to have a siJdio or a latchErv
He might have left her the key"
my informant added. but lsobel de-
cla-cd that no man should have The /
power 10 say thar she must NOT do !
this or that. 50 the engagement was I
broken of-she keeps on her studio |
and she wears her Yale latChkey /
hanging 20 p bracelet upon her wrist, 4
and tries very hard TO pose as an P
woman The pair never
meet. re saws that al women are
vain and hcRle and spends HIS tims ,
travelling Even the charmine fat hat .
DO furnished for BIER is shut uu. and
he refuses 10 JET &c..
met Isobpl once Or twico during he /
next 70 months bat although VIZ 70. 3
ma'ned very friendly. shr Old nor con.
G1e in me : was surprised therefore.
10 ger note from her one morning
by - mes euger 10 sav that the studio
was iei thar she was going abroad in I
mediatelr and would come over TO
Too thp same afternoon
sent baci the message with pleas
rre ~ hul lhl= time 40 sweet vnice 70