The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-13

was torn by jealousy-a Jealousy noIse
the less ACUTE because she realized that
she had only herself TO blame.
And Rosie-Rosie stood quite still in the
middle of the studio, biting her lips and
trying to understand what il all meant
This was the end-the bitter end-of her
fond dreaming, OF her tender little ro-
nance. Rosie was e.aiek-witted enough,
and the fact came home as she gazed at
the girl upon the platform. the young
lady-iustinctiYeiy Rosie felt the differ
ence in station-who had usurped her
place For here was the true original OF
the picture which Arthur Netherby had
been painting She herself mad been
nothing more than model-a mere figure
of assistance 10 the artist because of a
certain accidental resemblance mainly
about the hair and eyes; but no more TO
him than that-no more. When he had
spoken soft words TO her II was OF this
other woman he was thinking-the woman
/ he loved-and not a single pretty phrase
had been meant for Rosie herself OH
/ how cruel ii was, and how she had been
deceived! Why, he had even called her
1 Ceeily-by mistake-that very morning
And yet she had not guessed the truth
/ The position was a strained and difficult
one for both girls; but il was Cecily, pos
sessed or natural tact. who recovered her
1 self first Don't look so frightened
Child, she said. I'm not a ghost. Mr..
Netherby and ] ere old friends. / came
20 the studio Unexpectedly, and / saw the
/ picture which be has been painting. /
/ thought IL was intended for me-you and
] are so astonishingly alike-and s0-Well.
! meant to have 8 joke with him, and let
him find me posing for him when he came
/ In. But of course I see now how silly
/ was: FOR it's you that he was painting
and I've had nothing 10 do with it-noth-
/ ing at all Her tone was bitter, yet why
should she feel any resentment against
the poor little trembling girl who, Ike
herself. had been taken 50 utterly by
I surprise?
There was small mirror in the studio,
and, going TO this she began TO do up
t her hair. Her fingers funbled awkWardly
I with the pins. I'm making myself look
a perfect guy" she said, piteously, and
/ that's even worse than making a fool Of
myself" The red rose fell from her hair.
its petals catching in her dress. She
! brushed them away feverishly. oh,
shall ever be ready before he comes?"
I she cried. Il wouldn't have him see me
/ ike this-I wouldn't have him know that
.
worlds"
What are you going to do" Rosie
stepped timidly 10 her side Up till now
I she had been staring duly al this beauti-
/ ful apparition, who was ike and yet so
unlike herself. The mirror reflected the
! faces OF the two girls-reheeted them
mOckingiy.
What am I going 10 do4" repeated
/ Cecily. Why I'm going away just as
quickly as ever ] can, and I'll never.
/ never see Arthur-Mr. Netherby-again -
/ A sob broke III her throat i used 10
think that he cared" she added. hOarsely,
and when / saw that picture felt sure
+ Of IL. ] was engaged to him once, you
/ see, but we quarreled. and it was nay
( fault. and now I am being punished for
/ IT,"
But he does care for you" Ia spite
Of the tears In her own eyes-the tears
called up by her own bitter disappont-
ment-Rosie found courage 10 speak. It's
I who have made a foel of myself, not
I you. Oh. ] see il all now"
What do YOU mean? ! don't under
stand. We seem TO be At cross purposes
{ Cecily allowed a tress Of her black hair.
which she had just lifted, 70 fail back
upon her shoulder. It's you Mr. Neither
+ by has been painting, she went on. He
wasn't thinking of me at all He-he's
/ forgotten me"
But he hasn't-I tell you he hasn't"
! Rosie found a sudden and wonderful
/ courage. Look at the portrait again
she pulled the other girl by the sleeves
4 till they stood together in front OF the
+ canvas-'iook al il carefully, and then
+ look at me. Isn't It clear-Quite clear
+ I'm only a poor girl whom Mr.. Netherby
I a.
/ suppose I attracted his attention because
there's a resemblance between you and
me. He wanted 10 paint your portrait,
not mine I've never meant anything 10
him-Tve Just been his model When he
I praised my hair and my eyes il was your
[ hair and your eyes that he was thinking
/ Of ] was a silly little idiot ever TO have
imagined anything else. he called ne
/ Cecily only this morning. bur l didn
guess the truth Oh, yes, Mr.. NetheTby
s viii be glad 10 see you-you musn think
/ of going away. It's / who must go Hell
/ be quite ready to take you to his arms
and forgive you. and-and I hope you
+ viii both be very happy.
/ And so the whole truth came out The
I two girls. so curiously alike so far divid-
/ ed in degree, sat close together, holding
/ each others hand. on one Of the low
3 couches in the studio. and their respective
I stories were soon told.
Il shouldn't mind so much, sobbed
Rosie. If / hadn't quarreled with my
! Jack for ] see that he was right. and
that by coming here I've only made a
( little fool of myself And-and ! don't
suppose I cared for Mr.. Netherby really.
Z I was only fattefed because he said such
nice things and I thought they were
I Eaa
now?''
! To which piteous question Cecily re-
sponded with sage counsel suggested by
her own experience. I let silly quar-
/ rel go on for six whole months" she said
don't be as foolish as / was, Rosie.
1 I've not been happy-really happy-for a
single moment since il happened. And
/ you love your Jack just as | love Arthur.
/ Go to him at once. II you can, kiss and
be friends. You'll find that he'll be ready
enough 10 take you back to his arms.
DO you think so. really?" Rosie made
I little dabs at her eyes with pocket
/ handkerchief rolled into a ball. i could
find him al the Objective often gone
/ there before. But upposing-supposng
/ he refuses to see me?"
! lie won't, If he's the sort OF man
/ you've Told me he Is, responded Ceeiiy,
with decision. III answer TOT tnat.
Her words carried conviction. Then
/ I'll GO" said Rosie, brayely. Her mind
once made up. she was feverishly anxious
/ TO be of. Besides. she was afraid OF
meeting Arthur again that afternoon.
I She was ashamed of her folly. But he
didn't know, and would nVer know. Cecily
/ promised that she would not betray the
truth. IT'S as much his fault as yours.
/ though" she declared 'and I'd like 10
scold him for his thOughtlessness-
HE didn't mean 10 hurt me- Rosie
answered. $50 please-please don't say a
word -