The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-03-18


! took up photograph of handsome
and wellset-up young man.
She was silent, and, as turned to
look at her, deep flush rose to her
face. but she said, without embar-
rassment: Il have. no brother. That
is man used to know" Then she
added, with unnecessary haste: "He
does not care for art or artists" and
to myself said, as l put the photo
graph back upon the mantel place:
Il wonder If he is the other thing
that has added one more to the ranks
Of the Bachelor Maids?'
81 wish you would not write any.
thing about me-" the girl said, pres.
emily: Il am not good enough. Wait
| until 1 become famous, If / ever do"
she added. wistfully.
"Just as you like" 1 replied. But
was told that you wanted to be in
terviewed."
mo, indeed! But am glad to meet
you. Did I not see you at the lecture
on 1ndividualism' the other night?"
oh! were you there? What did
you think of it,"
Il suppose it was very clever" she
replied, but l am afraid that do not
appreciate the JOY of being myself as
much as l ought. I was very keen
upon 1t once, but 1t Is lonely, dreary
work sometimes. I am not a genius,
as you can see for yourself I have no
dash-no originality. Some one told
me that once, but did not believe"
Him or her?" put in with feeble
| attempt at archness.
i am going to send that" pointing
to the figure Of the kneeling child, "to
the academy next spring." she went
on. ignoring my question. "But it will
not get In. 1t Is too conventional and
commonplace"
| But they like pretty exhibits at tho
academy" I said, "'and your work Is
very sweet"
III that is all you can say, the best
thing can do is to hide it out Of
sight!" and she flung a cover over the
| figure as she spoke, and before she
seated herself again, I noticed that
she had turned the portrait of the
good-looking man with its face to the
wall.
Poor fellow!" I said to myself.
What has he done?" Then, after q
little more chat. l rose to say good-by.
Il do not feel very bright to-day"
: she said. But please come and SEQ
me again. should like to hear what
you thought Of the lecture"
II suppose you know Miss Frides-
wied?" asked.
| by name only. I am a member of
| the 'Experimentalists,' but do not go
often to the meetings. In fact, am
recluse. l am going to dine with
some very old friends tomorrow" she
continued. "And l feel quite fright.
ened at the bare idea Isn't 1t silly?
But, somehow, think you understand.
Good-by"
A few days later heard, une>
pectedly, a few particulars about the
young artist. She had been engaged
to a man who was devoted to her, but
although she was fond of him she
was much fonder, apparently, of her
art, and II 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 studio or latchkey.
"'He might have left her the key!"
my informant added, "but Isobel de-
'clared that no man should have the
power to say that she must not do
this or that; so the engagement was
broken off-she keeps on her studio
and she wears her Yale latchkey
hanging to a bracelet upon her wrist.
and tries very hard to pose as an
| emancipated woman. The pair never
meet. He says that all women are
vain and tickle. and spends his time
travelling. Even the charming fiat that
he furnished for her Is shut up, and
he refuses to let It,"
/ met Isobel once or twice during the
! next IL months, but, although We re-
fide in me. was surprised, therefore,
! to get note from her one morning
by a messenger, to say that the studio
was let, that she was going abroad i'm
! mediately, and would I come over to
/ tea the same afternoon.
I sent back the message with pleas
ure," but this time no sweet voice re-
! sponded to my knock; so. without
j knocking again, went in, but when
l got round the screen which shut
OF the door. could not suppress gasp
of surprise, for, standing in the middle
/ Of the room, in an attitude which re-
called Leighton's beautiful picture.
Welded" were Isobel and the orig.
inal of the portrait which had been
turned face to the wall.
They did not see me, or they ig-
nored my interruption, and remained
| in silent admiration of the charming
Living Picture"
Sweetheart" heard him murmur.
tenderly, as he kissed her hair. Then
! he leaned over her shoulder and took
something from the hand which she
| raised to meet his.
| At the same moment she caught
sight Of me. and. slipping from the
mans embrace, she ran to meet me.
"He has got it," she cried. 81 have
given it up!" Her exuberance scarcely
indicated recent surrender Of any
thing.