The Washington herald., 1914-01-22
Daily Short Story
THREE n, ONE.
~ DOROTHY DcUGLAp.
Copyright lsilJ

Il
~ DOROTHY DcUGLAe.
Copyright lsilJ
| Il was at q private salon that EVERY
saw the picture to which he lost ~.
heart. He had been drinking cup @
tea from the samovar on the feakwooo
table when his rowing eyes w upon the
The Old sainovar, the tsbls. In fact. all
the exquisite bits Of furnishing IN the
studio Immediately lost interest tos
Everiy.
He cat his cup OF tea down and went
fnearer>to the big canvas.
'Whew!" he drew long breetn ot a.
miration. II never saw 20 much beauty
In all my Ilfe." he commented inwardiy.
Certainly the girl Of the CANVAS de-
served his most ardent regard Her eyes
looked down at him j those OF . deer.
wide, and brown. and luminous: the sort
mass OF hair resembfed nothing 20 much
as new-mown hay on which the rays OF
setting sun fingered.
Everiy caught his breath a. his eyes
Travelled down the ivory neck and arms.
surety there was no duplicate pair OF
slim, warm hands with their tapering
tips and pink nails.
The canvas was called THE Soul" The
impression conveyed was certainly spirit
|ual, but because Everiy was not In any
marked degree a spiritual person he
ioneed with q very human longing to
meet the giri In the flesh.
that the picture had won an academy
prize and that Dean Rowland had paint
ed II.
Had Everly been anything Of Bo-
hemian he would have been aware that
Dean Rowland was even then In the
studio-an artist beloved OF all Bo-
hemia-
He went with characteristic directness
to his hostess.
II want very much to know who posed
for that pIcture?" he said indicating
the well-hung canvas
His hostess. a little sculptor Of no
mean repute, laughed.
..All Of my masculine visitors have
the same DESIRE" she told him. land !
always pass them over to the artist. Dean
Rowland Come" she said. plotting
him through the throng Of tea drinkers.
II will introduce you
Everly found himself shaking hands
with a mouse-like. dainty woman, whose
charm radiated her entire vicinity. She
seemed to be all drab colored at first
glance. Later, he discovered the fact
that her eyes were deep. rich blue. that
peculiar little bronze giints in II. All OF
these colors appeared as II they had
been hiding.
II know just what you are going TO
ask" she told Everly with a rare smile.
You want to meet my model for The
Soul. Is IL not 'so7"
Everly laughed with wholesome candor.
81 surely do" he admitted. =
Dean Rowiand's eyes held a peculiar
smile. There seemed to be something
OF mockery In them yet EVERY could
not credit the famous artist with de-
liberate intent to ridicuie.
IF you are free one evening this week
Il think 1 can arrange a meeting" she
told him. But she added quickly,
you are not to be disappointed. Promise
me that you will meet disappointment
bravely-should the occasion arise"
There was laughter on her lips and
Everly spoke as lightly as he could for
a sudden sense OF gravity had oyertaken
him.
Il will overlook all flaws" he told
her. 1T is as much the girls soul that
has called me as IL is her beauty" he |
added In a manner half timorous be- |
cause Of the oddity of his sensations.
A half sigh escaped Dean Rowland's |
lips. '5I |
II struggled desperately with the soul |
in that picture l am glad you feel its |
influence" She turned to greet q new |
conner. Before she went to mingie again |
with the artists and writer's lingering |
beside her. she made her en-
sagement with Everly for the following |
evening at her studio.
He spent a weary day waiting for the
hour OF s. He had been invited for |
dinner that he might have a long even
LII l~N
The studio was lighted softly. Beauty
and comfort lurked in every corner OF
the artists home. Everiy fell to Won
dering why Bohemians alone seemed
gifted with that wonderful sense OF emo
ton The emotions seemed ever to rest
In complete satisfaction In the home Of
the arts.
He looked up to grasp the warm, slen-
der fingers Of his hostess. There was
an illusfve fragrance about her that took
Everly into far of India He discovered
later that the scant was Jasmine.
is had scarcely greeted her when three
very charming women entered from the
adjoining room.
Everly was introduced to each in turn
and an indefinable likeness to someone
struck him in each one of them
Other guests arrived and always was on
he alert for the appearance Of the girl
II the portrait Unconsciously his eyes
lad focused themselves on the head OF
me Of the three handsome women whom
,e had met The air was tawny. like new
nown hay. Everly's pulse quickened.
surely that was the hair OF the portrait
He looked into her eyes. They were
mall and void of soul. No. she was not
he girl. He glanced then At the other
wo women and a hint of the truth
iawned on him.
One had eyes like an OK, wide and
,rown.
But there is no soul in them" NUT