Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1910-04-14

there's to face Arpeth. She had kept
him waiting ten minutes-for no
other reason than because she chose.
At least she admitted no other rea-
son, although she knew very we'll
there was potent one, a reason that
had local habitation, and answered
to the name of David Lee.
The name was the only unromantic
thing about the young man. He was
an artist, stranger, slim and tall.
very good looking, with an air of de-
tachedness that Drusilla had found
Irresistible.
She was accustomed to have mas
culine ranks go down before her as
grain falls before the sickle. 1t was a
delicious novelty to have this man
look at her through narrowed lids and
interrupt her in the midst of a SEN
tence with
DO be quiet minute-until catch
that pose of your head. You never,
never can do it over If you think about
1t and try-and 1 am simply mad for
1t" Or maybe she would be hidden
less gently to stop where she stood.
3,
had done its work
What made matters all the more en-
thralling was that the results vera
mere scratches-smudgy bits which,
to her own eyes, conveyed nothing at
ALL
You don't think / bother with de-
tail-the idea is all / care about-the
soul, don't you know" David deigned
to reply to timid expostulation.
Every picture worth while is of
soul" he went on grandiloquently,
even II 1t is no more than two onions
on brass tray. 1t doesn't matter
what you paint so there's soul-and
quality-in 1t. Quality means soul,
don't you know? If you want like
ness. understand I'm no camera"
Drusilla had subsidized, properly
awed. yet not wholly subdued. She
had taken 1t out on Arpeth when he
came that evening. as was his wont.
1t had been understood ever since
they were both in swaddling clothes
that they would marry when she came
to 10. All through small boyhood. and
even into the period of roundabouts.
Arpeth had rather twitted her with
the fact, and accepted her obedience
and caresses with the air of patient
sufferance that is so experatingly mas
culine. But after Drusilla put up her
hair and let down her frocks; after
she blossomed from freckled TOM
boy into ravishing creature of roses
and dimples. there had been a change.
mighty and moving. Arpeth had sur
prised himself and his world by fall
ing madly in love exactly where he
ought. Drusilla had had her triumph
then. and had used it magnanimously.
Still. underneath the magnanimity.
there was memory-which possibly
had something to do with the present
state of things.
In month she would be 49, For a
month Arpeth had been madly, mis-
erably Jealous. At first he had been
patient and tender. only laughing at
the association of his betrothed and
the artist. But by and by something
In David's eyes. some subtle change
of voice when he spoke to Drusilla.
had warned Arpeth and set him on his
guard. There was a man of full pos
sessive instinct. under and behind all
the within and affectation.
The fellow was undoubtedly selfish,
conceited, a cad of the first water. but
none the less full of dangerous charm.
Drusilla had conceit of knowing
men like books-but she would never
fathom this shallow fellow. She was
used to sinking her plummet in hearts
full of red blood. His pale conscious.
ness. so full of himself it had no room
for normal emotions. would balk and
battle her. She would take him at
face value-and be sorry for it all her
life
OF course she would never marry
him. At the bare thought Arpeth grew
white. But she might let herself love
him enough to sorrow after him. 1t
would be easy to get rid of him-once
let him understand Drusilla had no
money unless she married to suit her
pastors and masters, and he would
take himself of. But she must not
grieve after him. Arpeth felt his blood
burn at the thought. He had come re-
solved to have 1t out with her-to
bind her with a set promise and make
her name the wedding day, or else
to know definitely that the stranger
would take his place.
1T Is high time you were married.
Druse. Which shall 1t be?" he began
without preface. catching both her
hands and putting them against his
breast.
Drusilla smiled saucily, but her color
rose as she flung back at him: Dear
me, Paul, you're as bad as the cards.
/ told my fortune last highland they
said I'd marry In two weeks-and 1t
might be light man or a dark, or
one who wasn't anything at ALL"
Leave him out. The light and the
dark are quite enough" Arpeth re-
torted, falling in with her humor.
Ia,