The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-03-22

on the tenth morning after her arrival.
She was preparing lunch over the lit
tie gas stove in corner Of tho studio.
Il shall be back soon." he said %
he put on his overcoat, and she
smiled and nodded. just as though she
understood. He took the letter to
mail and one of his pictures under his
arm. This he designed for certain
dealer who purchased his work at
ridiculously low price; nevertheless, 1t
would provide him with food for q
month, and, possibly. II he were sharp
at bargain. with enough over for
their fares to Hicksville, his mothers
town.
AS he crossed the street Harmed
became aware Of swarthy, sinis-
ter-looking man who, leaning against
the rail which surrounded the park,
watched him with sort Of malignant
stare that struck him cold with appro.
hension. Harmed hesitated, then, ridi.
culing his fears, he continued on his
way, but more quickly. At the end OF
the street he paused. The man was
still leaning against the rail. Harmed
now laughed at his terror. Obviously
this was some Italian laborer out Of
a job; but the nervousness which the
incident had produced revealed to him
the abyss over which his happiness
hung suspended. He resolved to get
the girl to Hicksville as soon as pos.
sible. He was lucky enough to sell
his picture at a satisfactory price, and
departed homeward, blissfully ig-
norant that the dealer, who was &C.
cumulating Harned's work against the
day of his fame, would gladly have
paid him three times the price he had
demanded.
The man was no longer leaning
against the rail. Harmed hurried into
the house. AS he did 80 he became
aware that he was still clutching the
unopened letter in his hand. He would
have turned back to post 1t, but his
fears had awakened again and he
fastened up the stairs to his studio.
unlocked the door, and ran In. The
studio was empty.
He rushed into the bedroom. The
girl was not there. She was not any.
where. She had gone as mysterious.
ly as she had come. He called her.
ran down the corridors and shouted.
| A fellow artist came out Of his room
and looked at Harmed with an amused
smile.
Have you seen girl-my model
dark, with black hair-disappear
Harmed gasped.
The others eyelids fluttered upon
his cheek. "No. old man." he replied.
Say, II l were you, wouldn't make
such COMPOUNDED noise about 1t.
anyway"
All that night 1t showed. and all
that night Harmed paced the streets
in frenzy, looking for her in every
woman's figure that hurried Bly, There
were stout and lean women, old and
young, some with dark, tousled hair
some frizzled blondes-there was
none whom he could have mistaken
for his love as far as he could have
seen her.
Toward morning he was back in
his studio again. He had torn his
letter to his mother into fragments.
and he was painting again.
Harneds picture. 1.-THE Snow
Bride" was the sensation Of the year
at the Exposition Of American Paint.
ers. In single day he leaped into
celebrity. Bent, the shrewd little deal.
er who had some 20 Of his pictures
stored away. now brought them forth
and held Harmed exhibition, which
netted him nearly $4,000.
One day knock came at the door,
and Harmed opened 1t to find lit.
4 the tan-colored gentleman at the door.
dressed in well-fitting frock coat
and carrying a silk hat in his hand.
He introduced himself with a smile
and a bow as the Persian consul.
Mr.. Harmed. l am looking for an
artist to paint my wife," he said. Il
was much struck by your painting,
The Snow Bride In fact, am the
purchaser Of it, II you will permit mo.
The price is, understand, $2.000?'
He went on to speak frankly. He
had long wanted q portrait Of Nine.
Nouriddian, but unfortunately. his
means were limited. He hoped that Mr..
Harmed would not demand an exces.
sive price; he was sure that some
day the picture would become val
ued heirloom in his family. Harmed
drank in the mans praise with the
thirst of one whose long struggle had
at last been rewarded with success.
He agreed to be at the consul's apart
ment the following Thursday at noon.
in order to meet Nine. Nouriddian
and make that acquaintance which
must precede the sitting.
Harmed must have arrived too
soon, for the consul was not yet home
from his office, and Nine. Nouriddian
was also out He was shown into q
modest reception room; he was con-
scious that young woman was seat
ed there. Next moment the blood rush.
ed to his head. There before him.
smiling and tremulous, was the WON
an he loved.
It seemed like a dream to Harmed.
A mist swan before his eyes and q
dizzy faintness overcame him. He
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