The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-01
THE PHOENIX
BY IzOLE FORESTER.

By IZOLE FORESTER
What Is phoenix--I mean definitely Jess tone
fun Of perplexity she leaned forward on her
desk. her pencil balanced waiting for the answer The
bird that rose from some ashes. wasn't IT.
Why" Phyllis. her sister stopped petting the
Persian cat to listen. remember myself
Its the subject of Ror, Iatimer's painting.
Jess went on And they say It's founded on his own
Phyllis hardly caught the words. She was aecu.-
terested in them but to- night frankly did not
want to be bothered ancient history. She had
month that almost annoyed her. But fae she had
not across him. and Ye future held strangely
Three years before her father had been killed in
mother had followed
within year. The two Newell sisters found them
lovely old mansion Montague terrace, whose VIM
dows swept the harbor view for miles
Mrs. Newell had been Kentucky belle, and IA
Phyllis found charm and beauty loving,
generous nature that had made the Dunderiaes OF
Lexington famous for generations. She loved music
passionately and horseback riding pictures art in all
its interpretations and Jess said laeonieas II was
natural she should love Rory atimer FOR RORY was an
incarnate Interpretation of art
1t had been Jess fault their meeting at all and she
admirable. considering Rory. There had been an
the children and little play that Jess had writes
for them, full of pastoral beauty and tender charm
glamour into their poor lives, she had told Phyllis,
.oh, | know what you want to say that they VIII
live In squalid tenements and live hread and
coffee but they recognize art when they see and hear
and sunlxh, and color back home And besides. /
have engaged the interes. Of a'm'r over the Phone
ard he has promtsed to help.
Phyllis sat in the big armchair opposite listening
idly and smiling but a. the name she leaned quickly
| forward her gray eyes suddenly darkening
Rory I.atmer Jess
Jess added ahsenty she her finger
index Ale:
.The artist does stunt don't You
'sprnstime In Melos lot of little children throw
ing pink blossoms at some mermaids on dophns Hes
sort OF boy. thought he was still abroad
and phoned TO his studio on chance OF finding him
there"
Has he~b been abroad since-I mean very long,"
Phyllis asked a low tone. bending to stroke
hass araes s phn. dressed for dinner
It of her little personal creed of right Nv
Three years think" answered hriskiy. HE
perfect cub then big. placid boy with
ing fabulous salaries at comic lustraton-ye= dear.
como-and thea he went abroad to pick up the foreign
touch. nobody knows Just what happened hat all
al ,h e haa over heels into real art Turned pic
tramp and did all the dead cities and the half
has come back home and is a serious dear sort
boy nearly all his hopes come true. And he
doesn't do any comic sun any NOR n,,o,
slightly.
denly.
.Oh, knew him abroad, little"
you had better retain favorable impression dear
arms laid with quick impulse around her
sisters bare soft throat her cheek pressed close to
hers.
Il have retained very favorable impression laugh
ed Phyllis flushing And am glad. so glad that his
hopes have nearly all true.
They both paused a step the bare polished
of the broad hallway caught their hearing and
Rory Latmer in, boyish corty as always show
ing whit in his face manner whether he had
heard their talk about him or not
For nearly an hour he talked with Jess over the
plans settlement fete talked together earnestly
merrly. the subject changed TIM, and with an air
message to the heart of Phyllis sitting somewhat
in the shadow from the yellow glow Of the broad low
spring Paris when she and Rory and all the world
! seemed young together.
Tho ha 1ulW bepn
artist seemed the degradation OF to her
even his salary three and FIVE hundred
a week The color rose even now her cheeks
remembered the quick burning words she had said
TO him. words scorched his ambition dead left
only the vague hope of possible phoenix that might
through love II appeared from later results that
the phoenix had risen One of his unanswered letters
forwarded Paris after the motor accident had
something about the ashes Of dead hopes being an
And 1t had been her love and pride in his future
that had wrodah, the s mrse s. .es turned her
head to meet his gaze with curious sense o. relief
heea tie snur have known how she loved
him. though large part OF the love was depend
tits simply bully to you again. Rory began
happily You'll never know wha, real help You
learned good deal Of things as they are since then
quite good while I've laughed my terri
BILE spell in love. still, at least. It brought the
first thorough criticism had ever had and It put me
en- the right track n s heard broken
laughed laughed altogether cheevfnly for anybody
with u broken heart Phyllis thought
4 am very ead that / helped you any, Rory" she
said softly I've always believed ed, 50 ea,i N YOU you
She lifted her long lashes and looked at him. but
Rory failed to respond.
Il know it," he explained eagerly. That's just what
told Jess She seemed to take up the work where
left it. near since came % New York. I've
Ieel successful. but I've had few friends. and
like her" He paused minute, and asked boyishly:
DO yon thing vii make good brother-in-aw. phyl-
lfs?"
,For moment her head dropped and she closed her
eyes hands crushing the thick fur of the
cat In her lap. Jess came down the broad staircase
beyond the velvet porteres humuns under her breath
these Indian summer days y suddenly dawncd upon,
Phyllis the life that had transfgured Jess.
'Isnt Il lucky didn't take pity me. sisterY-
laughed Rory rising and locking down at her BROTH
erly fashion.
VERY. very Fortunate" said Phyllis samsly Wiz :
slow smile For us both. Rory.