Warren sheaf., 1909-01-21
And this Il your sister, Of courser
said, taking up another portrait.
Yes" said. AGAIN.

| 1eS, Sald, again.
And your brothsr7~ went on a.
| took up = photograph Of handsome
and well.set-up young man.
She was SILENT and, GO / turned 10
look at her. deep dush rose TO het
face, but she said, without embar
rassment: 7 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 I said, as put tho photo.
graph back upon thelmantel place:
Il wonder II he is Tho other thing
that has added one more to tho ranks
OF the Bachelor Maids. ?"
Il wish you would not write any.
thing about me-" the girl said, pres.
emily. II am not good enough. Wait
until I become famous, II I ever do"
she added, wistfully.
Just as you like" I replied "But
I was told that you wanted to be in.
terviewed." 81. =
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?' ~f.-@.. tt. L. $'.,s 49,. +. !. "
II suppose it was very clever" she
replied, "but am afraid that I do not
appreciate the Joy Of being myself as
much as I ought. I was very keen
upon It once, but it is lonely, dreary
work sometimes. am not a 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" I put in with feeble
attempt at archness. -sS
II am going to send that" pointing
to the figure Of the kneeling child, Ito
the academy next spring." she went
on, ignoring my question. But it will
not get in. It is too conventional and
commonplace"
But they like pretty exhibits at the
academy" I said, "and your work ID
very sweet"
IF that is all you can say, the best
thing 1 can do is to hide It out of
s1ght!" and she flung cover over the
figure as she spoke, and before she
seated herself again, noticed that
she had turned the portrait of the
sood-looking man with it's face to the
wall
Poor fellow!" I said to myself.
What has he done?" Then, after a
little more chat, rose to say good-by.
l do not feel very bright to-day"
ene said. But please come and see
me again. I should like to hear what
yon thought of the lecture"
Il suppose you know Miss Frides.
Tied?" 7 asked.
Nv name only. l am a member Of
he 'Experimentalists,' but I do not go
often to the meetings. In fact, l am
2 recluse. I am going to dine with
some very old friends tomorrow" she
continued. "And I feel quite fright.
"ned at the bare idea. Isn't it silly?
But, somehow, think you understand.
Good-by." ,...~-- .,s.s7- =.
A few days later I heard, unex.
pectedly, few particulars about the
young artist. She had been engaged
to man who was devoted to her, but
although she was fond Of him she
was much fonder. apparently, of her
art, and 1t 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 a 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 on-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, -,N,~.
I met 1sobel once or twice during tho
next IL months, but, although we 70.
NAMED very friendly, she did not con-
f1de in me. was surprised, therefore,
to get note from her one morning
by 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. g..
sent back the message with pleas.
ure," but this time no sweet voice re-
sponded to my knock; 80, without
knocking again, went In, but when,
I got round the screen which shut
OF the door, could not suppress a gasp.
Of surprise. for, standing In the middle
of the room, in an attitude which re-
called Leighton's beautiful picture,
'Wedded," 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
y ~,