The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-19


added. with unnecessary haste: HE
does not care for art or artists and
to myself I said, as l put the photo
graph back upon thsfmantel place:
IT wonder if he is The other thing |
that has added one more to the ranks
of the Bachelor Maids? %"
II wish you would not write any.
thing about me-" the girl said, pres
emily. Il am not good enough. Wait
until become famous, If I ever do" ,,
F, she added. wistfully.
"Just as you like" replied. But
I was told that you wanted to be in
terviewed"
mo. indeed! But am glad to meet
you. Did not see you at the lecture
| on Individualism' the other night?"
ooh! were you there? What did
you think of it,"
| 81 suppose 1t was very clever" she
replied, but am afraid that do not
appreciate the JOY of being myself as
much as l ought. I was very keen
upon 1t once. but it is lonely, dreary
work sometimes. I am not a genius,
as you can see for yourself. have no
dash-no originality Some one told
me that once. but did not believe"
Him or herr" put in with feeble
attempt at archness.
Il am going to send that" pointing
; to the figure of the kneeling child, ito
the academy next spring" she went
on, ignoring my question. "But it will
not get in. It is too conventional and
commonplace.
But they like pretty exhibits at the
academy" ] said, land your work is
very sweet
! IF that is all You can say, the best
| thing ! can do is to hide II out OF
sight" and she flung cover over the
figure as she spoke, and before she
seated herself again. noticed that
she had turned the portrait of the
good-looking man with it's face to the
wall.
Poor fellow" said to myself
What has he done?" Then, after a
little more chat, rose to say good-by.
81 do not feel very bright today"
she said. But please come and see
you thought Of the lecture"
81 suppose you know Miss Frides.
wied?" asked.
''Rv name only I am a member OF
the Observation-Disclosures, but I do not go
often TO the MEETINGS. In fact, | am
a recluse. am ooing to dine with
some very old friends tomorrow she
continued. And | feel quite fright.
ened at the bare idea. Isn't 1t silly?
But, somehow, think you understand.
Cood-by"
A few days later heard unex.
pnctcdly. few particulars about the
young artist She had been engaged
to a man who was devoted to her but
although she was fond of him she
was much fondcr apparently. of her
art. and it offended her deeply when
he told her that she would never do
anything great and also that when
she was his wife he would not allow
her to have a studio or a latchkey
"He mieht have left her the key"
my informant added. "but Isobel de-
clared that no man should have the
power to say that she must not do
this or that; so the engagement was
broken off-she keeps on her studio
and she wears her Yale latchkey
HANGING to bracelet upon her wrist
and tries very hard to pose as an
emancipatcd woman. The pair never
meet He says that all women are
vain and tickle, and spends his time
travelling. Even the charming fiat that
r he furnished for her is shut up, and
q he refuses to let It"
d met Isobel once or twice during the
y next IL months, but. although We re
manned very friendly. she did not con
t fide in me. was surprised, therefore
e to get a note from her one morning
by messenger to say that the studio
O was let, that she was going abroad i'm
1t mediately. and would come over t
d tea the same afternoon.
o sent back the message with pleas
& ure," but this time no sweet voice re
sponded to my knock; so. withou
e knocking again, went in. but wheI
= got round the screen which shu
X off the door. could not suppress gas
Of surprise, for. standing in the middle
u of the room. in an attitude which re
> called Leighton's beautiful picture
Welded" were Isobel and the orig
n inal of the portrait which had bee
T. turned face to the wall.
d They did not see me, or they is
ir nored my interruption, and RENAME
10 in silent admiration of the charmin
to Living Picture"
10 sweetheart" | heard him murmu
Ut tenderly. as he kissed her hair. The
AZ he leaned over her shoulder and too
III something from the hand which sh
! raised to meet his
r. At the same moment she caugt
ny sight of me, and. slipping from III
as mans embrace, she ran to meet me
HE has got it," she cried. Il hay
n given it up" Her exuberance scarcel
indicated recent surrender of an
ne thing
nd What >" asked; but had guesse
az already.
IN This" the masterful creature a
n. swered, as he held up latchkey.
Dear me-" | said. What a fu:
as about wretched little key. If thi
We're all ycu had got you would nj
look so delighted.'
Gu His air of triumph eXasperated m
=" But il is something more than Il
io loot of the victor" said lSohel 1T
the proof that am a renegade al
n