Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-23

It m send every enc invitations
declared Reynold in his pleasant, cor
dial way.
Accordingly, the following April. all
those who we're among b guests at
Mrs. Creders house parry received the
coveted cards, Mrs Creder invited
her nieces to stay with her that week.
The evening before the exhibit she
came into their room her face abeam.
and in her hand the evening paper.
Read" she cried trtumphantly.
spreading it out before Edith.
There was a notice Of Mr.. Bertram
Reynolds famous annual exhibit or
pictures which was to take place the
nsHt day. Near the close b article
said: The cream OF the collection Is
said to be an unusual picture called
"Synpathy,' and the original Is ru-
OF a welIknown society leader at
who's house Reyno1d was entertained
last winter
"Ot course, Edith, Es that picture
he painted Of you in your a six
gown as you stood among the ferns.
l thought from the first that was the
most artistic pose he secured"
H was so queer about not want
ing any n to see his work after 1t
was once started. A genius Is always
peculiar. l don't know whether l
could really care for one or not She
| gave a conscious little laugh
Nevertheless, 1t was evident to Gail
hat Edith was highly flattered to be
the central figure in a famous pic
ture. Many Of their friends dropped
in hat evening an1 ~laughingly allud-
ed to the press notice. Every one was
convinced it was as Mrs. Creder said,
and Edith received much ~good-natured
| banter.
Through it all Gail watched in silent
wonder that she should be SO blinded
by the surface honor as to lose sight
of the beauty of the underlying
thought. And it was Gail who was
least surprised of the three when a
note came from Reynold next morn
ing inviting them to come a little ear
lier than the hour set for the exhibit
ton.
1T is like him to want to spare
Edith any embarrassment she might
otherwise feel in viewing her W por-
trait before the Others"
1T is an undeniable honor" de-
clared Aunt Myra, and gave Edith's
blooming cheek a playful pat.
When they arrived at the time ap-
pointed, Reynold met them at the door
Of the studio. His manner was chiv-
alrously courteous, and he showed
them into the ~wenlighted studio
where the pictures yer hung. There
were portraits of many noted people,
besides pictures Of Imagination and
idealism. The three ladies'. looked
| at all in turn as they went along, but
their interest was at heart superb
cial, SO eager were they to see the
| one Of Edith in the mauve cOlored
! gown.
The best is shown last" he de-
clared, drawing aside the curtain
| which hung before it.
They stared in amaZement. Instead
| Of the one of Edith as they supposed,
| the picture showed Gail dressed in
| gray and crimson against a back
| ground Of rich velvet curtains But
surprising as was this fact, what really
caught and held their attention was
the expression Of her face. The dark
! eyes were luminous with a wonderful
look of sweetness and sympathy. 1t
was as though a veil had been drawn
| aside and her real soul for the first
time revealed.
We'll, we'll, this is a surprise, to
find our little Gail, instead of Edith,
as we were led to suppose" said Mrs.
| Creder. recovering her poise. Her
tone was playful, but Calls sensitive
intuition OWNED that h considered
he had made a o choice OF sub
ject. YET no n could deny the eff
feet he nae attained was beauti-
full.
Reynold laughed and passed off the
situation in his Easy fashion. For a
few minutes they chatted lightly, then
turned to review more carefully the
other pictures. Just before the ar
rival Of the first gEo1p of guests, Gail
slipped back % gain n more glimpse
Of her pictrue alone.
Did l look like that, l wonoer?
Did l ever look like that?" she ques-
toned naively, as the sweet pictured
eyes met hers.
Like that and much more-to me"
came Reynolds quiet voice. She
turned and saw him there beside her.
Looking up in shy surprise, she
read in his eyes, not the surface ad-
mfration he had given EDITH and 9th
ers Of the house paxty-but some
thing Infinitely deeper.
copyright. 1914, by the Mcclure New
paper Syndicate-)