Middletown transcript., 1920-07-10
The Lady Of
the violets !:
By Frances A. Schneidss

Z By Frances A. Schneider :
o>~~~~~~~~~~~~
C. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicase.)
They were alone together In the big
studio, Jack Hammond and his friend.
,Nesbit; and Hammond had been show
ing the latter-recently returned from
abroad-some of his latest canvases
Here's just one thing more want
you to see, Mes" said Hammond plac-
ing portrait on the easel.
Nesbit stood back and looked. The
portrait was that of girl, the figure
thrown into relief by some dark dra-
perry behind it. The face was one OF
warm flesh tints; of exquisite curves
and modelings, and the eyes, blue
gray, Swallowed by dark brows and
lashes, looked out half smiling from
beneath a very glory Of red-gOld hair.
It was a face to think and dream
about.
How does it strike you?" asked
Hammond, watching his friends wrapt
consideration.
"As a very beautiful portrait" re-
turned Nesbit. "Who's the girl?"
Il call the picture The Lady OF the
Violets,'" said the artist.
acknowledgements but indefinite. y
commented his friend.
"Come, sit down, and while you
study the portrait I'll tell you how
and where 1 met the original. Will
you smoke? Sit here" and Hammond
placed an easy chair for Nesbit, while
he himself lounged in the cushioned
window seat.
"About a year cgO-soon after my
return from France, and while my
arm touching his left army was
still bothering mel made up my
mind suddenly one evening to 60 tc
show at the Royal. 1t was late
when I reached the theater, and. the
play being popular one, the house
was pretty well sold out. However
secured a seat in the parquet. The
box office official was just showing my
change and ticket through the window
Of his little den, when l suddenly be-
came aware Of faint, elusive ira
GRANGE Of violets and, turning to see
where it came from, caught sight OF
lady and gentleman hurriedly enter
ing the vestibule of the theater.
1.-THE girl was bareheaded, save fol-
that glorious covering Of red-gold hail
I have tried vainly to reproduce ir
the portrait, and was carrying a grea'
bunch of violets in her hand, and
above the pale, shimmerng folds of thu
long wrap she wore, her face ros'
f1ower-like. The Spirit Of the Gar
den.' she might lie called. thought
or, better yet, the Lady Of the VIC
let's
"Just MS she passed me, attracted
probably by the intensity of my gaz'
for had forgotten my manners ant
was staring-she turned her Lowell!
eyes toward me and gave me fleet
ing, rather naughty glance; then sh'
and her companion disappeared
through one Of the doors leading to tn
auditorium, leaving me with my pulse
perceptibly quickened and a faint per
fume Of violets In my nostrils. Gath
ering up my change and ticket, wait
ed a moment and then followed.
1.-THE first act was half over as
CROPPED my way to my seat. In tn
dimness Of the auditorium I sought II
vain for the lady of the violets ant
her escort; but after the curtain wen
down and the lights up I picked then
out, seated in the orchestra circle, no
far from the aisle near which my owl
seat was located. The girls face wa
turned toward her companion, and sh
was smiling; and l remember wonder
ing what such namby-pamby fellow
as he looked. could possibly say t,
amuse her. While was thinking thu
and gazing rather fixedly at the glor,
of the lady's hair, sort Of dimes
seemed to creep between me and tn
object of my interest. So undefine'
was 1t at first that I thought my eye
were at fault, and rubbed them vigor
ously; but presently the dimness grew
into haze and with its greater dens
fly came an unmistakable. pungen
0dor. Others perceived this, too, an
there, was a restless stir Throughout
the audience. Heads were turned un
easily and l heard half-suppressed eS
clamations-hasty questions - whis
pered answers. Suddenly rs sat look
ing uncertainty about me, from jus
above the curtain there issued ligh
puff Of smoke that wavered across tn
space below the central chandelier an
cast perceptible shadow on the aud
forum. At this, some fool in the gal
lery shouted 'Fire!'
"Well, Mes. you know what that CT
would mean in q big, OvercrOwde
theater! The audience was on its fee
In a moment, struggling and f1ghtin
for the exit doors. AS I got up,
caught sight of terror-stricken mar
pale-faced and wild-eyed, fighting hi
way desperately up the aisle. It wa
the man I had seen with the lady Q
the violets; but she was not with hin
Good God!' I thought! the coward
brittle has left her to shift for hel
self!"
MONEY LOST OR DESTROYED