Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-19
THE TWICE AMERICAN
By Elea~or N. I~ers.p A.ahors of From Tie Car Behind"

Elady's cheek to- resemble the texture
OF a gravel walk. Perhaps this
obvious beauty made 1t easier I n APP
probation for an amateur in art as l
am. 1t is q picture OF a garden Wnere
a young man and woman are standfng
beside a white sun-dial. They stand
a little apart; no n could fall to see
perhaps are now together that morn
ing for the first time. The girls face
is quiet and smiling as she looks at
the marble dial, her finger pointing to
the hour crossed by the shadow. Her
companion leans slightly forward to
read where she indicates. So far. 1t
is nothing! Blu beyond and slightly
above the pair, appearing formed OF
the sunlight that shimmers about
them, r two replicas of themselves,
faint yet vague. nebulous. yet real;
two phantom figures ardently alive
who stretch out eager. arms to one
another in recognition. Their atti-
tude is speaking as a dry, hot as the
sunlight and as joyous; strange in
deed in contrast with the indifference
of the human pair, who r them
selves, yet are not, whose material
senses are SO slow, so little cognizant
of what has been and was to be. Such
is the mastery Of the artist. that
when has gazed long enough to
understand him. the solid and actual
man and woman seen less alive than
their mist-spun counterparts."
After a moment he added: "1t Is
called The Recognition
She was sc still that he wondered
If she had left him., He raised his
hand, half-minded to end uncertainty
and tear off the bandage. If she had
gone, his disobedience would not mat
ter. If she we're there, he would at
least glimpse her face and gather
what knowledge he could from its ex-
preston. But. even as he raised his
hand, she spoke, just audibly.
1T is a real p%a!nting?"
"Where'-a little hesitation color
ed the question-"where is it?"
"1n-the House Of the Little
Shoes" he answered. He did not
choose to add that it hung in his awn
apartments.
She was silent so long that again
his hand crept up to the linen which
blindfolded him. Did she understand
what he was trying to tell her? Wa
n angry, or indifferent? Did she
consider his suit, or merely listen to
the music of Abel's, 'cello?1 Noel had
q sudden vision of the fine, mournful
figure of the old Jew bowed over his
instrument. lost in the ecstasy of
creating. Why did the musician play
SO late, he wondered. Was Arloff per-
haps awake. or did Abel pour out an
unrest of his own in those strange
tones?
The girl had stood up. Noel heard
the rustic Of her soft frock and the
click of a little thimble that fell and
rolled away across the floor, unheed-
I'd. Somehow, he OWNED that she
was standing by the door. and that
her face again wore the witness of
the lily Elimpsed floating in the dark
less. -
You have told me of a beautiful
thing" her voice came to him across
the room. He could fancy the de-
nance he once before had seer blaz-
ing in those large brown eyes of
hers. There is no beauty like the
beauty of faithfulness. Since you
care for nothing that is real, no doubt
you will be happy with-a picture:
For that is all you will have"
The door closed. Noel started up
on his pillow, COMPOUNDED and dis
mayed. - =. -
Miss Arlon" he cried. "Rosa-
As. he jerked off the bandage. the
door r%eopened.. His angry eyes en-
countered the stout figure of the
nurse advancing, her face frigid with
disapproval.
Miss Arloff has gone to take some
she coldly informed him. IT
am sorry to see your excitement.