Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-02-01

She ventured to glance in and through
the window to see If any further dam
age was done.
"Oh, dear" palpitated Nina and her
brow wrinkled in pretty dismay.
The SNOWFALL had landed against a
chandelier after bursting through the
pane. The impact had shattered 1t,
so solid was the well-packed sphere.
Outspread upon drawing board d.
rectly under the chandelier was q
sheet of paper, near to 1t drawing
utensils and water color plaques.
There was heat In the house, 1t was
evident, for Nina could see where the
particles of grimed snow were melt.
ing.
In flash she realized the condi-
tions. Here was possibly some favored
conception of the artists fancy in
peril of mutilaton, possibly destruc.
ton. The CRIME and wet would ire
parably damage the sheet. Nina act.
ed on a speedy impulse. She ran
around to the front door and rang the
doorbell frantically several times. Nc
one appeared in answer to her sum.
mons. She sped back to the window.
"If it will only raise" she uttered
breathlesSly and she gave the lower
sash push. To her perfect satisfac.
tion it went up easily. Nina utilized
nearby flower box for platform,
got through the window quite grace.
fully considering her urgency and
reached the table.
"Just in time-I am so glad!" Nina
uttered fervently to herself, and with
the exception of one or two tritiing
stains the sheet was unmarried after
she had swept 1t clear of the melting
snow. Only then did her eyes take IN
the subject of the almost completed
picture-it was portrait Of herself
A strange thrill pervaded her be.
ing. The secret interest of Victor Rus.
sell in herself somehow stirred her
She was startled from a puzzled rev.
erie by voice at the window.
'What's the matter, lady?-a fire?
I saw yer climb in" and a wonder
eyed urchn drew back as Nina pre-
cipitately got outside through the
window again.
"A SNOWFALL broke the window" she
explained, "and IL was trying to fix
things and then, literally, she took
to her heels, for In the distance COM
ing down the street, was Victor Rus
sell.
And the urchln told Victor Russell
all he knew. which was enough to en-
tighten the interested artist. He was
frank, OutSpOken man and two days
later when he met Nina on the street,
he thanked her for her friendly efforts
in his behalf.
''But it was all my fault" she con-
fessed, aflush with embarrassment.
He did not allude to the portrait,
but after that the Ice seemed broken.
pleasure whenever they met at the art
rooms or on the street. Then one day
girl friend of Nina rudely dispelled
the delightful romance that had come
into her life.
"Oh, have you heard" gossiped this
innocent but excited tale-bearer, that
the woman at Mr.. Russell's is his de-
mented wife? Think Of Unmarried!
She has spent part of her time there
and the rest of it with his sister in
the city" and Nina went her way
chilled and stricken.
81 am the happlest man in the
world" spoke the voice Of some one
hurrying behind her. and then the al
most boyish exuberance Of Victor
Russell died down as he scanned her
blank colorless face. "Ah! see," he
added, "you have heard something.
understand there Is rumor about
that I have wife. Not that lucky!
The lady under comment Is the wife
of my brother, a war correspondent,
just returned She suffered mental
shock, which his return has entirely
cured. They are both at the hous,
and our long, patient care of dear
Evelyn is over and sunlight has come
back to u.s."
And Nina was glad that the poor
lady had come back to reason and
happiness, and gladder that Victor
Russell was not married, and gladdest
Of all that she read in his dear eyes
a sure reflex of the love that had
been growing up in her heart since