The Marshall republican., 1910-01-07

MOI MIN the glance. Sne
was absorbed In washing out the un.
satisfactory sky for q second trial.
Derring did not so into the house.
He walked rapidly up and down the
beach, watching the angry sky and
the isolated little house. He fancied
down, 1t stood out more distinctly and
vividly-emphasizing it's individuality
the work OF TAI against the power
OF darkness.
At last he came and looked over her
shoulder.
Rather better, isn't 1T" she asked
complacently without looking up.
you have caught the very demon
Of the storm in those Clouds"
1t wat true. She had done what the
w~ater-colorist seldom a~chieves-suc-
ceeded in washing out her first at
tempt and replacing 1t with the desir-
ed effect. The thorough wetting Of
the paper or a touch Of genius had
aided the second attempt, and the
result was a wash-clean and fresh in
color-and in the clouds what Derring
had called the demon Of the storm.
Come" he said decisively as she
sat putting in the last few touches
l%ingeringly. Come. You must stop.
II is too dark. You will be frozen"
She began to collect her sketching
materials.
Leave those for me. Go on to the
house and get warm. I'll bring your
traps"
She started obediently towards the
house, breathing on her cold fingers
to warm them. But-so fierce was the
wind-she made slow progress, and
, before she reached the house he was
| at her side. He opened the door that
ushered them into the low room.
The round-faced Dutchwoman who
greeted them looked with kindly eyes
on the ycsm&9 lady. She hustled about
the room and placed an armchair near
the fire. "You stayed out longer this
time she said in a deep cultural
voice. She gave o quick look Of inter
est from Helen to Derring.
Helen sank into the chair with a
grateful smile. Yes, ! stayed out to
I'm" She had slipped noiselessly
from the armchair TO the floor.
With q quick exclamation Derring
dropped to his knees beside her.
tits only the heat" said the Dutch
woman practically. Give her this"
She had prepared a draught Of brandy,
Derring poured 1t between the white
lips, around which a blue line was
slowly settling.
They watched for the effect-Derr.
ing eagerly, the woman with close at
tention. There was no sign Of re
turning life. Derring looked up IN
despair and the hurried away
into an inner room for some other
remedy.
He leaned over the m~otionless fig
ure, listening. Slowly he gathered /,
In his arms. Tenderly, pa~ssionately
he drew her to him and pressed his
lips on the white mouth with its
shadow. She seemed to him already
dead-removed from caresses. Slowly
the lids luttered. a breath trembled
through the lips, and she lifted hei
eyes to his, family.
The good Dutchwoman appeared
bearing a large bottle of ammonia
She figured in behring's eyes as q
ministering angel and the bottle as
h~eaven.sent chalice. But 1t brought
tears to Helen's eyes and she pushed
Il away with the assurance, ~half-laugh
ing, h~alf-tearful, that she should be al
right in a minute.
Derring lifted her to an improviset
couch and she lay, with eyes like
stars. looking about the little room
He held one of the hands in his and
chafed 1t gently and then. under
the pretence that 1t was still cold. Hel
brown hair had escaped from itf
fastening and was pushed carelessly
back. Against the dark covering Of
the couch IL formed a halo about hei
face. Derring had always fancied thai
the Madonna might have been al
horse In such a room as this. 1t was
a Holbein face.
'rhe old m had lighted the
candles on the low table and wal
spreading the table for supper. She
entertained her guests by leaving
them free. The two candles gave on
a dull glow and completed the effect
Of an old Dutch interior.
Helen and Derring exchanged
glances of appreciation.
Think Of finding 1t within Nv,
miles OF Washington street! am go
ing to sketch 1t some day. She hal
promised to sit for me and 1t will b.
nice and warm" She shivered a lit
tie,
Derring suddenly held fast in boti
his hands the one he had been idl.
stroking. you must never do such /
foolhardy thing again"
mot even for q ~successf But ! an
glad 1 did 1t. It is a success" Hel
eyes rested lovingly on the sketch OF
the floor by the wall.
She was still looking at II when hs
left the house to telephone for a car
riage. But when he returned, half al