The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-01-05

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
chandelier after bursting through the
pane. The impact had shattered it,
so solid was the well-packed sphere.
Outspread upon a drawing board d.
rectly under the chandelier was
sheet of paper, near to it drawing
utensils and water color plaques.
There was heat in the house, it was
evident, for Nina could see where the
particles of grimed snow We're melt
ing.
In flash she realized the condi-
tons. Here was possibly some favored
conception of the artists fancy in
peril of mutilation, 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. No
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 a push. To her perfect satisfac-
ton it went up easily. Nina utilized
a nearby flower box for q 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 trifling
stains the sheet was unmarried after
she had swept it clear of the melting
snow. Only then did her eyes take in
the subject of the almost completed
plcture-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 puzzled rev.
erie by voice at the window.
"What's the matter, lady?-a fire?
saw yer climb in" and a wonder
eyed urchin drew back as Nina pre-
cipitately' got outside through the
window again.
"a SNOWFALL broke the window" she
explained, land II 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 urchin told Victor Russell
all he knew, which was enough to en-
Tighten the interested artist. He was
a 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, afiush with embarrassment.
He did not allude to the portrait,
but after that the ice seemed broken.
He made no attempt at concealing his
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.
ooh, have you heard" gossped 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 1t with his sister in
the city," and Nina went her way
chilled and stricken.
81 am the happiest man In the
worldw 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. 1
understand there Is a rumor about
that l have a wife. Not that lucky!
The lady under comment is the wife
of my brother, "a war correspondent,
just returned. She suffered q mental
shock, which his return has entirely
cured. They are both at the house
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
sure reflex of the love that had
been growing up in her heart since
the day of the stray SNOWFALL.