The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-06-25

could be no doubt as to the identity
OF the subject The face was hers: ,
the velvety dreamy, soulful eyes that
mad haunted him for years, as he now
believed. In no sense could the pic
ture be described as a portrait. 1t was
study, deliberately arranged and de-
l1berately posed for in the artists stu
do. He was mystifled. Why shov.d
she, the daughter OF Colonel Castleton,
the grand-niece of an earl, be engaged
| in posing for what evidently was
| meant to be commercial product Of
| this whilom artist?
| Turning from 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
! likeness. Some were half-draped show
ing in sketchy way the long graceful
| lines of the half-nude figure, of bare
shoulders and breasts, Of gauze-like
fabrics that but lily concealed impress
sive charms Suddenly his eyes mar
rowed and a sharp exclamation fell
| AAoih Aio b1pb. LILO USAL C1OSSI W lie
| 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 ton
scious Of the fact tina. 1er 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 an(
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 thu
rather intense scrutiny he bestowed
upon her as she gave him her hant
! in greeting. she did not appear to b
in the least disturbed.
| c. 10 l.
, firmly. Il shall be too dreadfully self
conscious if you are looking on"
Booth looked at her rather sharply
Sara indolently abandoned her com
forta BILE chair and left them alone il
, the room.
! Shall we try few effects, Mis-
Castleton?" he inquired, after perio'
+ Of constraint that had it's effect OF
2 both Of them.
a Il am in your hands," she said sim
9 ply.
l. He made suggestions. She fell int
e the position so easily, SO naturally, 8
effectively, that he put aside all prev
d Gus doubts and blurted out:
r you have posed before, Miss Cas-
e Teton"
( She smiled frankly. But not TO
really truly portrait she sait
e Such as this is to be-
i He hesitated an instant. Il thin
n recall a canvas by Maurice Hawl
J. right" he said and at once experiea.
e ed a curious sense of perturbation.
o was not unlike fear.
e Instead of betraying the confusio
r or surprise he expected, Miss Castle
8 ton merely raised her eyebrows IL
v quiringly.
What has that to do with me, M
o Booth?' she asked.
K He laughed awkwardly.
d Don't you know his work." he II
d quired with slight twist Of his lip.
70 Il may have seen his pictures" sh
If replied, pickering her brow as if
ID reflection. "Oh," she cried, with
y bright smile of understanding. Il see
n Yes have double-a really remar
b. able double Have you never seen He
le ty Glynn, the actress"
h Il am sure 1 haze not" he said, ia
,e ing a long breath 1t was one Of r
10 lief, he remembered afterward. :
N she is so like you as all that. couldn
o. have forgotten her"
If She is quite unknown, I belle,
le she went on, ignoring the implied cor
in pliment "a chorus girl, or somethir
ic like that. They say she is wonderful
lie like me-or was, at least. a few veal
at ago"
le He was silent for few minute
n studying her face and figure with tt
critical eye of the artist. AS he tur
is ed to the canvas with his crayon poin
I'd he remarked, with an unmistakab
C. note of relief in his voice:
IN That explains everything. 1t mu
n have been Hetty Glynn who posed fl
he ali those things Of Hawkright's."
m 81 dare say" said she Indifferent
A CHAPTER TX.
as The Ghost at the Feast.
of The next day he appeared brig