Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-19

nave known DOM men, ana cioSelN
bound in ties OF friendship as all three
seem to have been-She had apparent
" declined to lei them employ her as
their subject.
Tempting though the lure was, some
fatalistic tinge of soul, characteristic
of the Slav. had seemingly repealed
her from the idea of interfering with
the endowments that nature had be-
slowed upon her But finally Ergazys
argument. seconded by the vivid pic
lures of world-famo painted by Bro
deur's unusual imaginative power,
swayed her from her attitude of OPP
position.
The final interview took place some
time near the Gotta of March in Alex.
andra's apartment al ll5 West One
Hundred ana sixth street. close TO the
park For half an hour the physicians
had been boseigng Alexandra with
their pleas. arguments and petslla-
sons And at The end the French
man passionalcly cried, flingns out
his supple right hand in gesture Of
appeal
Beauty Beauty such as poets
have never sung nor sculptors mold
ed Beauty such as the world has
nerer seen Beauty beyond the
dreams OF high Olympus Beauty SUI
preme and indescribable' We offer
YOU al this-and more"
As she sat in her low wicker chair
before the fire he paused before her.
and gazed on her with eyes that
glowed with infinite enthusiasms
His restless pacing Of the little draw
ing.roum interrupted. he remained
there looking at the woman, judging
her anew by the freight that illum-
ined her lace in the dusk Of the
March eventual.
From without drifted muted sounds
of the cily's travail and unresting life
"a clack. clack, clack 0t hoots from
The asphalt the janele of an ambu-
lance. gong, the confused dull rumor
of the metropolis, which even then.
more than twenty years ago, throbbed
with restless pulse of activity.
But within all was TRANQUILITY quiet,
A perfumed calm ruled the apartment
1t calm husily Rpunctuated by the
ticking OF the Louis 'Quinze gold clock
on the fireplace--a calm in which sat
and muse Alexandra in the fire
glow
Smiling IA little sadly she sat there,
ea2ed into the flames, and made no
answer for a while. What may not
her thought have been?
Vital Ersazy, seated by the table
on whose polished top were piled
American and foreign books, reviews,
and music lighted another cigarette
with a nervous hand He crossed one
thin lex over the other and peered at
Alexandra through his godrimmed
glasses with eyes whose pupils show
tU u Sll tnSt N'Jll AZ 'lpi'
\ fire OF ragerness burned in those
peculiar eyes. Homeopathy he fin
gered his close.cropped, black beard
"AlpNandra,' he exclaimed Your
aas&er?'
The woman shrugged her beautiful
shoulders, half revealed through the
lace Of her gown, but said no word.
Beauty" cried Andre. I'VE Of
fer you exquisite beauty and you
have no reply to give u.s.
She smiled up at him little sadly,
with vast, vague doubt in her dark
eyes.
You ask an answer" she re-
turned How can give ont to a
question such at that"
Her English was perfect, rendered
more charming still by that intangible
foreign accent
"Whv can YOU give none@ Why
not pray?' demanded The Frenchman
eagerly.
AL, Nun ullli, liON IlNtlt gOu VII
derstand the heart and soul of wom
an What daughter of Eve will open
~ admit that she is not already"
You minunderstand,, Alexandria"
he interposed with characteristic i'm
petuosity.
NO, Andre. On the contrary, your
proposals tell me only TOO plainly
the unwelcome truth
Listen, Alexandra, beg you.
Charm YOU have--manner, noisc. at
traction, yes. But--why not be frank?
la beaute, no, not quite. Nature has
endowed YOU with much-wth vast
resources, with irresistible attractions
but has lett her task little incom-
plete. We, Vital and |. offer to finish
the picture. Viola. That is all,"
"To what end?'
"'rhat YOU may have perfection;
that we may have helped create per.
lection, that the world may see per
lection and rejoice, sing you, praise
you, worship YOU"
"lmpossible," she objected, shak-
ing her head, It's shapeliness enhanced
by the long and heavy braids Of hair
/ glossy as Il blaCkbird'S wing 49,