Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1915-12-24

her. Nothing else mattered quite so
much as that. And yet he did think
beautifully Of her in spite of every
thing, though he could not but think in
the terms Of her own statement last.
But it was "all in the game" A
mar must laugh at those things, what
ever the laugh did to him. He was
facing another year today, that was
all, and her marriage to the other
man took place that night.
A black cat came out of the corner,
washing its face in the center of the
room. A homeless kitten, It had APP
peared the first day she had come,
stealing in the door at the time OF
her departure. He had kept It as an
omen of good luck and more. That
was something like nine months ago.,
If such time could ever be reckoned BY
calendar. She had told him then that
she was a model, but had refused 70
pose for him without drapes. Who
she really was he bad found out weeks
later. 1t was too late then, for he
had fallen in love with her.
There was a knock at the door, and
he went to open it. Stanton. the en-
itor of a powerful weekly, entered. He
stalked around the room as n with
something to unload, and, at length,
hinging himself on the couch, proceed
ed b%rusquely: il
Hastings, you're an awful ass, and
because it was New Years l dropped
in to tell you about It. Ten weeks
ago your picture won highest honors
at the London exhibit. Two weeks
later you repeated in the Metropolitan
with another picture. But you have
not been acting like a successful man,
but to the regret of your friends, like
a sloth and a fool. A couple of the
boys have seen you beastly drunk.
You have shut yourself away from
everyone and everything. You are be-
ing reviewed by every important jour.
nal in the country, and yet you nope
around as though you were your own
lackey. There are one or two of us
have begun to think it is a woman.
We DO not know of any woman but
that cussed portrait is always sitting
there. And ] do believe the thing
lives"
Hastings laughed a little. 1T is
purely fanciful," he said, not really a
portrait. And, of course, it is absurd
to think of a oma in the matter.
l suppose that l have not been quite
well. Let us have a drink, because
it's New Year"
I'll be hanged if 1 will, Hastings.
l believe you have been drinking too
much. have got to go now. 1 just
in for a minute. But do not
forget what l have said"
Il will not forget, Stanton; and
thanks for your interest. We cannot
sometimes explain ourselves to our
Selves"
After Stanton had gone he took out
his watch. 1t wa five o'clock, and
she was to be married at nine. He
would sit in the rocker and go to
sleep. He would waken probably,
about about twelve and know that it
was all over. He would have a sand
wich first and put the d~ecanter Of
claret beside him. Claret always had
a tendency to make him sleep, particu-
if he put a little sugar in it. He
did these things, but it took him hours
browse off, and only after he had
turned the portrait on the easel.
1t seemed but a minute had passed
when he awoke. OF course he knew
he vas not awake, that he was
dreaming. Someone was weeping soft
ly on his shoulder, caressing his hair.
Only one woman on earth had that
of person. If anywhere in the
world he found one of her hairs and
touched his cheek with it he would
have known to whom it belonged!
Then her eyes, penitent and wet with
tears, came around, slowly meeting his.
With a start he realized that he was
He held her, looking at her
as something to marvel at. She ex,
planned it all in a whispered breath. Il
could not do it, Paul." she said. II
away from them, from them all.
Will you-will you marry me now.
dear-tonight?"
He looked and saw hat she wore a
wedding gown.
There w was a minute when /
would not" he replied.-San Francisco
Argonaut.