The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-09-16

AAAAt SAS oAAA A"SS ANN
appealed to Denman. He could not
have said exactly what it was about
her that had attracted him so strong
ly-although he was a sculptor. 1t
was not a question Of lines, he de-
cided, SO much as a look, a certain in
describable look, in her face. After
ward he noticed that her eyes were
very blue, with dark lashes. He had
always had a weakness for blue eyes
with dark lashes.
1t was just the stupid way things
go that they should be interrupted be-
fore they had been together five min
utes. Larkins had brought up anoth-
er chap. Larkins was an ass. And
she and Larkins and the other man
had all seen the same play the night
before-a play every one was talking
about, and that he, Denman, had not
seen-and SO he had been left out of
the conversation. And then his host
ess had come up and snatched him
away in order to introduce him to q
long, limp young woman, with untidy
hair, the hostess delivering herself
OF the sentiment: "You artists ought
to know each other" And so he had
lost his girl with the blue eyes and
black eyelashes, and when he was
free to look for her again he could
not find her in the crush. Yet he had
fancied that even in that talk about
the play her eyes had strayed more
than once to his, as if she would
rather have continued the converse
ton with him.
A loud thump on his door reused
him. Come I'M" he yelled, after the
informal fashion of the studio, secure
of the sex of the knocker. His guest
entered; it was Larkins. .
well, you're a nice one," comment.
ed Denman, his sense of wrong at
once aggravated by the sight of the
cheerful Larkins.
whats up now?"
II want to know why you had to
come up and butt in with Weston
when I vas talking with Miss Under.
hill" Ill
"You neal Underwood" was Lark.
ms reply. He did not say any more
for a moment, but instead grinned in
an irritating way he had. Cant be
partial" he explained. "You weren't
the only one after me. I find myself
living the strenuous life when I an
out anywhere with Dolly and Helen
become suddenly popular with the
boys. Never mind, cheer up, old
chap Larkins accented his remark
with a resounding slap on the other
mans shoulder. dolly told ME or
the way home that she thought you
were awfully. handsome, and, that she
adored artists, and that she was just
crazy to come to your studio"
Denman's face became suddenly IL
Illuminated. you're a good sort, after
all Larkins," he replied in a softened
tone.
II thought SOL observed Larkins
cynically. well, when do I bring
herr"
"Oh, any time! To-day, tomorrow
the ooner the better"
Lets say tomorrow" said Larkins
I'll call you up on the phone ant
let you know"
He turned at the door to remark:
Il should have thought Helen would
have been more your STYLE"
"Helen?" repeated Denman, vaguely
"The other one-her sister,"
did l meet herr"
HM11cf have 7 froftod ou2.~
to both of 'em. Helen is sort Of
WELFARE. But I guess Dolly's NOR
of a winner"
The next afternoon another knocl
came at the door of Denman's stu8l(
"a decorous and refined knock. thi.
time, signifying that there were la
dies present-and Larkins entered
with Miss Underwood. :.
well, here we are. I'm a man O
my word. I said I'd bring her, ant
I've brung her. Now, what do I ge
out of it?" he observed as they en-
tered, and Miss Underwood had ex
hibited an incompatible dimple a.
she said: Ebony is so absurd"
For an agitated second Denman wa.
only, conscious of a fluffy, silken, per
fumed presence, thes, he recovered
sufficiently to look for the eyes. They
were as large anG blue and black
dashed as he had remembered them
but the way in which they looked a
him was somehow different to-day
There was a certain coquettish tricl
in them-yes, distinctly coquettish
1t was in the very flicker of her skirt.
as she futtered about the studio from
one model to another, asking the mos
ignorant questions in the most raw
ishing manner. She knew as mucl
about art IS a Persian kitten, bu
what Of that? How pretty she was,
Prettier even than he had remem
bered he.. Hang art! Life was thu
thing!
Aren't losing much time" was
Tony's mental comment as, looking VI
from Denman's~ sketch-book some mo
ments later, he observed the two heads
close together over a photograph ant
discovered that the conversation
was becoming less audible, and whe1
Dolly, at the end of an hour, had ex
claimed: Come, Tony, we really mus
on Toonmon had fO11Owed them IN th.