The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-05-16

at tine time IL was puDuSneu out VINO
dropped completely out of notice soon
afterward because of mistaken no
ton of his own Importance. II
Booths memory served him right, the
fellow came a cropper, so to speak, in
trying to ride rough shod over public
opinion. and went to the dogs. He
had been painting sensibly up to that
time, but suddenly went in for the
most violent style of impressionism.
That was the end of him.
There had been reproductions of his
principal canvases, with sketches and
studies in charcoal. One of these pic
lures had made lasting impression
on Booth: The figure of young wom-
an in deep meditation standing in the
shadow of a window easement from
which she looked out upon the world
apparently without a thought of 1t. A
slender young woman in vague reds
and browns, whose shadowy face was
positively illuminated by a pair Of
wonderful blue eyes.
He came upon it at last. For long
time he sat there gazing at the face
Of Hetty Castleton, a look Of half-won-
der, half-triumph in his eyes. There
could be no doubt as to the identity
of the subject. The face was hers:
the velvety, dreamy, soulful eyes that
lad haunted him for years, as he now
believed. In no sense could the pic
ture be described as a portrait. 1t was
a study, deliberately arranged and de-
liberately posed for in the artists stu
do. He was mystified. Why should
she. the daughter of Colonel Castleton,
the grand-niece of an earl, be engaged
in posing for what evidently was
meant to be a commercial product OF
this whilom artist?
Turning from a skilfully colored full
page reproduction, he glanced at first
casually over the dozen or more
sketches and studies on the succeed
ing pages. Many OF them represented
studies of women's heads and figures,
with little or no attempt to obtain a
likeness. Some we're half-draped, show
ing in a sketehy way the long graceful
lines OF the half-nude figure, Of bare
ohOhANNAD anu biOaoeot VI boNSSa
fabrics that but lily concealed impress
sive charms. Suddenly his eyes mar
rowed and a sharp exclamation fell
from his lips. He bent closer to the
pages and studied the drawings with
redoubled interest
Then he whistled softly to himself, a
token OF simple amaZement. The head
of each Of these remarkable studies
suggested in outline the head and fea-
lures of Hetty Castleton! She had
been Hawkright's model
The next morning at ten he was at
Southlook, arranging his easel and
canvas in the north end Of the long
| living room, where the light from the
tall French windows afforded abun-
dant and well-distributed light for the
enterprise in hand. Hetty had not yet
appeared. Sara, attired in a loose
morning gown, was watching him from
a comfortable chair in the corner, one
shapely bare arm behind her head; the
free hand was gracefully employed in
managing a cigarette. He was con-
scious of the fact that her lazy, half
alert gaze was upon him all the time,
although she pretended to be entirely
Indifferent to the preparations. Dimly
he could see the faint smile of inter
est on her lips.
Hetty came in, calm, serene and
lovelier than ever in the clear morn
ing light. She was wearing the simple
white gown he had CHOSEN the day be-
fore. If she was conscious of the
rather intense scrutiny he bestowed
upon her as she gave him her hand
in greeting. she did not appear to be
in the least disturbed.
You may go away, Sara, she said
firmly. Il shall be too dreadfully self
conscious IL you are looking on"
Booth looked at her rather sharply.
Sara indolently abandoned her COM
Portable chair and left them alone in
the room.
Shall we try few effects, Miss
Castleton?" he inquired, after a period
of constraint that had its effect on
both of them.
Il am in your hands" she said sim
ply.
He made suggestions. She fell into
the position so easily, so naturally, so
effectively, that he put aside all previ-
GUS doubts and blurted out:
"You have posed before, Miss Cas-
Teton"
She smiled frankly. "But not for
really truly portrait" she said.
such as this is to be-"
He hesitated an instant. Il think
recall a canvas by Maurice Hawk.
right" he said. and at once experience
ed a curious sense of perturbation. 1t
was not unlike fear.
Instead OF betraying the confusion
or surprise he expected, Miss Castle
ton merely raised her eyebrows In
quiringly.
What has that to do with me, Mr..
Booth?" she asked.
He laughed awkwardly.
Don't you know his work." he in
quired, with a slight twist of his lip.
81 may have seen his pictures" she
replied, pickering her brow as II In
reflection. "Oh." she cried. with a
bright smile of understanding. II see!
Yes, have a double-a really remark
able double. Have you never seen Het-
ty Glynn. the actress?"
II am sure have not" he said. TAX
ing a long breath. It was one of re-
lief. he remembered afterward. IF
she is so like you as all that. couldn't