Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-02-28
LOS ANGELES HERALD SUNDAY MAGAZINE
I" Fl 0 N 0 R I A"

''Yes-she paid a lightning visit to the
studio, and intimated she was leaving this
part of the country almost immediately
Chris StentOn spoke in an irritating drawl,
putting at his pipe now and again, and
glancing up through half-closed eyes at his
two companions.
HonOria is beautiful butterfy-well,
! am sorry she has betaken herself to fresh
fields. A good thing your picture is nearly
finished Melekin-yOu don t really need
HOnOria again." said Cunning, turning to
his friend
81 can never finish my picture without
Honoria, so L am afraid it will have to re-
main as it is" Melekin laughed mirthless
ly. 81 am returning to London tomorrow,
early" he added, shortly. Before the
others could offer any opinion on this ex
traOrdinary announcement, he went into the
house.
THREE years had sped by with their
n kaleidoscope changes.
Guy Melekin had not returned to Dew
onshire since the day in June when he de-
cided to put beautiful HOnora out of his
life. Had he succeeded in doing this9 No,
his thoughts were ever running on her, and
he had found it impossible to take up paint
ing again.
He had been in the gay capital but
short week when he ran UP against Chris
Stenton-Honoria and the days in Devon
shire rose up in full force before Melekin
Cnce more.
Still dreaming?' asked Stenton, laugh
ing, and with his usual rough tactlessness
bumped straight against the other s scarce
~ healed wound.
NTo1o
81 wish had never left the cottage so sud
denly. Did you or Cunning ever see Homo
ria again?''
"No. [ daresay she has been fitting
about forming brilliant study in colors
for other artists-my dear chap, it s time
you woke up, had a good stretch, and went
bs OK to the cottage and finished that very
excellent canvas you were foolish enough
to desert!' Stenton nodded his head Wig
Crously.
Guy Melekin said nothing for moment;
he glanced away. Are you over here on
businesss?' he said, striving to divert
Chris Stenton s attention from himself.
Eyes, [ We a fair-sized canvas in the
salon-very decently hung, too. You know,
you We been wasting some of the best years
Of your life tramping foreign landslide
result is, you have not forgotten! Because
i'll your idle existence you We done nothing
but remember. m going steadily up the
ladder-you ought to be nearly at the top
with your talent-whereas-
Stenton raised his shoulders, his eyebrows
continuing the movement upward.
81 We lost interest in the whole thing,
Stenton, and if | had stayed my work would
lave been poor stuff-no one would have
looked at it. -
care you doing anything tonight"
said Stenton, fumbling in one of his peck
cts. He produced leather case bullying
grotesquely with letters and odd papers.
FNo; 1 thought-'
EDon't think! You I! wear out your
brain. Relieve me of this invitation and
enjoy yourself / can't manage it myself
business +" Stenton thrust a card into
Guy Melekin s hand. CT IN staying at
the Bedford, drop in and see me tomor
row." Hailing ''fiacre,' Chris Stenton
Jumped in and drove away, leaving his
friend handling the said invitation with
great disfavor.
He glanced at it. and discovered it was
for a reception at the house of one of the
leading ladies of Partisan society
90 m not going to turn out tonight for