Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-06
Copyright. 1879
CHAPTER |


upon"
There was an artists enthusiasm II
s>Gregsons girlishly sensitive face as he
looked across the table at Whittemore
apd lighted cigarette.
"She wouldn't so much as give me a
look when | stared" he added. II
couldn't help it. Cad. I'm going to
make full.page cover of her tomor'
row for Burke's Burke dotes on pretty
women for the cover of his magazine
why. demmlt. man. what the deuce are
you laughing att"
"Not at this particular case, Tom,
apologized Whittemore. But - I'm
wondering"
His eyes wandered ruminatively
about the rough interior of the little
cabin. lighted by single oil.lamp
hanging from a cross-beam in the
ceiling, and he whistled softly.
I'm wondering" he went on, If
you'll ever strike a place where you
won't see 'one of the most beautiful
things on earth'sThe last one was at
ish girl or was she a Creole? | he
lieve I've got your letter yet, and I'll
read it to you tomorrow. | WASH
surprised. There are pretty women
down in Porto Rico. But | didn't think
you'd have the nerve to discover one
up herein the wilderness
"She's got them all beat" retorted
the artist. f1ecking the ash from the
tip of his cigarette.
Even the Valencia girl. eh?'
There was a chuckling note of pleas
ure i'm Philip Whittemore's voice as
he leaned half across the table, his
handsome face. bronzed by snow and
wind, illumined in the lamp.glo"'.
Gregson. in strong contrast. with his
round. smooth cheeks, slim hands and
build almost womanish. leaned over his
side to meet him. For the twentieth
time that evening the two men shook
hands.
Haven't forgotten Valencia, eh?'
chuckled the artist. gloatingly. Lord,
but I'm glad to see you again Phil
Seems like a century since we We're
out raising the Old Ned together, and
yet it's less than three years since we
came back from South America. Nalen.
cia. Will we ever forget it?
when Burke handed me his first
turn-down month ago and said,
Tom, your work begins To show YOU
want a rest thought Of Valencia,
and was so confoundedly homestck
for those old days when you and
pretty nearly started a revolution. and
came within an ace of getting our
scaps lifted, that moped for week.
Cad do l remember it? You got out
by fighting and I through pretty
girl"
And your nerve" chucklcd White.
more, crushing the Others hand. .
THAT was when l made DIP my mind
MAl were the nerviest man alive,
Greggy. did you ever learn what be.
came of Donna Isobel?"
"She appeared twice in Burke's; once
as the Goddess of the Southern Re.
publics' and again as The Girl of Va
lencia.' She married that reprobate
Of a Carabobo planter, and | believe
they're happy"
at seems to me there are others"
continued Whittemore, pondering for
moment in mock seriousness. There
was one at Rio whom YOU SwOre
would make your fortune If you could
get her to sit for YOU, ana whose
husband was on the point Of putting
six inches OF steel into you for telling
her so, when ! explained that You
were young and harmless. and ~.
tie out of your head ~
with your fist" cried Gregsom
ioyously. Cad. but that was
mighty blow can see that Knife
now. was just beginning my pater-
noster when--Chug and down lie
went. And he deserved il. I said
nothing wrong. In my very best
Spanish | asked her if she would sit
for me, and why the devil did he
take that as an insult? Ana she was
beautiful"
"Of couI So" agreed NLittemore
"Tf ! remember. she was the l"volicst
creature you had ever seen And
after that there were othars score
of them al least, each loyrHyr than
the one before"
They make up my life" said Greg.
son, more seriously than ne had yet
spoken. They're the only thing
can draw and do well. I'd think an
editor was mad If he asked me 10 10
something without a pretty woman
in it. God bless EN- hope IN go
on seeing them forever When can't
see beauty in woman | want 10 die"
And YOU always want 10 see It in
the superlatiye degree"
81 insist upon it, If she lacks some.
thing, as Donna Isobel wanted color,
/ imagine that it is there and she is
perfect But this one that saw
tonight is perfect, Now what want
TO know is this Who the deuce is
She"
where can she he found. and
will she sit FOR Il Burke, tyo or three
miscellaneous. and study for the
annual sale" struck in Whittemore.