The Washington bee., 1911-02-25
TWIN SPIRITS
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

de was q genius genius OF tns
| brush. When at his easel be was com
pleteIy absorbed. At such time no one
could secure his attention. His lunch
con was brought In every day and set
down beside him; but although the
servant was instructed to call his at
tention to 1t. he seldom knew that #
was there Often after he had I'm
ished his work for the day be would
feel faint for want OF food. Then be
would arise to get some and freqG~Ot-
ly knocked over the stool on which
his lunch had been placed and broke
the dishes.
She was a 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 on 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.
down. She resolved TO visit him in his
studio. A friend to whom she had
given her confidence advised her 70
brush up a Bit" leave of her black
alpaca and put on silk. But the rec
ommendation did not impress her.
Love was a matter OF the soul; 1t had
nothing to do with clothes. where
upon her friend admonished her to
wear something pretty all the same.
She went to bis studio, climbed sew
erSI flights of stairs-she was delicate,
and the effort made her heart throb
ViOlently-8nd tapped softly at the
door. There was no response. No
sound came from within. She tried
the doorknOb. turning 1t gently. then
pushed the door slightly ajar. He was
there He sat at his easel before
canvas on which were a divine face
! and figure. The latch slipped back.
making q sound. She started, think
ing It would betray her No; he went
on painting. What a noble brow! His
tumbIed hair-it was thin-caressed
the crown Of bis august head.
What should she dot Should she
break the spell una CT which he work
ed by speaking? Nc. there was chak
near by. She wou,i go ard sit upOn
1t 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 q palette-S pal
, cite on which were soft PAINS of
many bright colors!
She sat looking at him, yearninS for
him. Presently be looked aside from
bis work and straight at her. Through
, bis eyes looked a great spirit. But
they did not see her; they were as
. those OF a somnambulist He turned
> his gaze back to his easel.
T For another half hour be worked
She would no sooner drag him down
. from his idea fight than she pulled
r down herself when a poem was we'll
ing up in her own heart.
E Presently she arose to go. She had
seen him. Her soul had caressed his.
r 1t was enough.
But unfortunately something fell on
the floor.
. Where have you been?" he asked
I've been waiting for you. l must
put in the eyes" Then. without wait
, ing, he went on: "a little closer, please
p There, face the light"
: At the same time he turned and
, looked into her eyes. He thought she
was his model. But she did not know
: it. She thought that his lofty intellect
had stalked over the gap of a want Of
! acquaintance.
Then he began to paint, putting hef
! own dark, poetic eyes into the head
on the canvas. turning often to look
: into those OF flesh and blood. Ia her
= poetic Imagination she fancied that
. he was taking. spiritually, her eyes
p from her body and placing them In the
head OF an angel.
= At last the work was finished. He
? arose, stood at a short distance from
r it, viewed 1t critically. made a few
! touches. threw down his brush put bis
p hand in his pocket, f1shed out plug Of
? black tobacco and bit of q quid.
AS her romance. pierced to the heart
q died within her she gave a little cry.
, He turned and looked at her through
: eyes from which the light OF Genius
a Creatrix had gone out and saw her as
, she was, lean, bomely old maid with
, handsome eyes.
! Who in thunder are you" he blurt-
ed.
7 Poor woman. Had the romance re-
. mained It would have been quite en-
barrassing enough, but it had vanished
with the appearance Of the tobacco
; What to say she did not know. There
was but one thing for her to do-leaye
the studio She skunk toward the door
, He followed her with his eyes.
''Stopw be said suddenly, making a
few quick strides toward her. Was be
going to break even the fragments Of
, the idol she had raised and how? he
, seized her skirt-that part of It which
, hung in rear-and. spreading 1t out, ex-
, | claimed:
Great ScottP'
What is IT." she asked, not being
able to see behind her
You've been sitting on my palette!'
. be said, surveying the wreck or her