The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-05-06
win Spirits
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

pletely absorbed. At such time no one
could secure his attention. His lunch.
con was brought in every day and sci
down beside him: but. although the
servant was instructed to call his at,
tcntion to it. he seldom knew that II
was there Often after he had fin.
ishcd his work for the day he would
feel faint for want of food. Then he
would arise to get some and frequent.
ly knocked over the stool on which
his lunch had been placed and broke
the dishes.
She was poetess. She had had q
lover; but. finding that she didn't feel
those heavenly thrills of which she
had written Of people in such condi,
ton. she had broken off her engage,
ment with him. She had seen the art.
lists pictures and was sure she loved
the man who painted them. She burn.
ed to know him and asked every friend
she possessed to introduce her. But
none of them was acquainted with
him.
But her yearning for him you'd not
down. She resolved to visit hH.n in his
studio. A friend to whom she had
given her confidence advised her to
brush up Il Bit leave off her black
alpaca and put on silk. But the rec.
ommcndation did not Impress her
Love was matter of the soul; it had
nothing to do with clothes. where,
upon her friend admonished her to
wear something pretty all the same.
She went to his studio. climbed sew.
eral flights of Stairs-she was delicate,
and the effort made her heart throb
violently-and tapped softly at the
door. There was no response. Nc
sound came from within. She tried
the doorknob. turning it gently. then
pushed the door Slightly ajar. He was
there. He sat at his easel before q
and figure. The latch slipped back.
making a sound. She started. think,
ing it would betray her. No; he went
on painting. What noble brow! His
tumbled hair-it was Embarrassed
the crown of his august head.
w uul Sllouiu SIZE uo. SuOulu Slt
break the spell under which he work
ed by speaking? No; there was chair
near by. She would go and sit upon
it till he came to himself or from him,
self, SO she went softly to the chair
keeping her eyes upon him the while
and sat down.
Alas, she sat upon palette-a pal
cite OH which were soft paints OF
many bright colors.
She sat looking at him. yearning fol-
him. Presently he looked aside from
his work and straight at her. Through
his eyes looked great spirit. But
they did not see her; they were as
those Of a somnambulist. He turned
his gaze back to his easel
For another half hour he worked
She would no sooner drag him down
from his idea flight than she pulled
down herself when poem was well
ing up in her own heart.
Presently she arose to 60. She had
seen him. Her soul had caressed his
1t was enough.
But unfortunately something fell or
the floor.
Where have you been?" he asked
1--WE been waiting for you. mus,
put in the eyes" Then. without wait
ing. he went on: "A little closer. please
There. face the light"
At the same time he turned ani
looked into her eyes. He thought she
was his model. But she did not know
it. She thought that his lofty intellec
had stalked over the gap of want OF
acquaintance.
Then lie began to paint. putting bel
own dark, poetic eyes into the head
on the canvas. turning often to lool
into those of flesh and blood. In bel
poetic imagination she fancied thai
he was taking. spiritually, her eyes
from her body and placing them in the
head of an angel.
At last the work was finished. HI
arose, stood ut a short distance from
it. viewed it critically. made a few
touches. threw down his brush, put his
hand in his pocket. fished out plug Of
black tobacco and bit off quid.
AS her romance. pierced to the heart
died within her she gave little cry
He turned and looked at her through
eyes from which the light Of Genius
Creatrlx had gone out and saw her as
she was. lean, homely old maid will
handsome eyes.
Who in thunder are your" be blurt
ed.
Poor woman! Had the romance re
manned 1t would have been quite EN-
barrassing enough, but 1t had vanished
with the appearance of the tobacco
What to say she did not know. Their,
was but one thing for her to do-leav,
the studio. She SUNK toward the door
He followed her with his eyes.
"Stop!" he said suddenly. making ,
few quick strides toward her. Was b,
going to break even the fragments o
the idol she had raised and how! H
seized her skirt-that part of it whicl
hung in rear-and, spreading it out, e1
claimed:
Great Scott!"
what is it?" she asked. not bein
able to see behind her.
You've been sitting on my palette!
he said. surveying the wreck Of he
dress ruefully. The dress was cor
fusion of vermilion. prussian blue
chrome yellow, violet and other color!