New-York tribune., 1910-01-02

made no comment, however; indeed, he
was glad of her company, and the two
drove away together in the capaCiOus
closed carriage that brought them to
and from cathedral and palace. Dur
ing their working hours they refused to
hampered by the presence of servants.
An old Greek, who acted as caretaker,
took charge of canvases, easels, paint
boxes, and other utensils of the
painters craft, and he came out glee-
fully from his lodge as soon as their
vehicle rumbled under the deep arch
of the outer porch.
Usually Joan had word and a smile
for him, though the extent of her Greek
conversation was a phrase or two
learned from Felix: but to-day she
hardly seemed to see him, and lost not
a moment in settling down to work.
She had not much to do; in fact, so far
as Felix took note of her actions after
adjusting the canvas and mixing some
cOlOrs on the palette, she sat idle for
long time, and even then occupied her
self with an unnecessary deepening of
tints in the picture, which already dis
played an amazing resemblance to its
stilted and highly colored prototype,
At last she spoke, and Felix, perched
on a platform above her head, was
almost startled by the sorrow laden
cadence of her voice.
4 did not really come here to-day
to paint, she said. The picture is
finished; my work in Delgratz is ended.
You and Pauline are the only two
LeOple in the world whom | can trust,
and | have brought you here, Felix, to
tell you that | am leaving Detgratz to-
night"
THE hunchback slid down from the
l. little sCatfolding he had constructed
to enable him to survey the large area
covered by the freSCOs. 4 suppose l
have understood what you said he
cried. 1t is impossible to focus ones
thoughts properly on the spoken word
when a huge dome adds vibrations of
its own, and | admit that | am in
variablv irritated myself when | state
a remarkable fact with the utmost
plainness and people pretend to be
either deaf or dali of comprehension. "
That was Poluski's way,-he never
would take one seriously,-but Joan
merely sighed and bent her head.
You say you are leaving Delgratz to-
night MAY one ask Why" he went on,
dropping his banterlng manner at once.
No" she said.
Felix bassooned a few deep notes
between his lips. - You have some good
reason for telling me that, presume? p"
he muttered, uttering the first words
that occurred to his perplexed brain.
Yes, the very best of reasons, or at
least the most convincing. | cannot
remain here unless l marry Alec, and,
as | have absolutely determined not to
marry him, it follows that | must go.
"Ah, you are willing TO give some
sort of reason, then, he said. AT
. present | am muddled. One grasps
that unless YOU marry Alec YOU must
" not marry Alec? 1t sounds like a
II Euclid with the main clauses omitted. -
rrv, Felix, but | cannot explain myself
,u came to Delgratz with me; will you
me TO Paris If not, will you at least
lelp me get away and l-eep secret the
m going?'
Y round eyed with amazement but he
control his tongue. " You are asking 4
ear" he said Do you know what YOU
Do YOU realize what your action will
&c? What has happened, some lover S
5 unlike you, Joan. If YOU run of IN this
will be trying most deliberately to break
heart.
1.