Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-07-21
The Lady of
the Violets
by Frances A. Schneider

&c. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndieate.l
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 IL. 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 very glory of red-gold hair.
II was a face TO think and dream
| about.
How does it strike your" asked
Hammond, watching his friends wrapt
consideration.
AS very beautiful portrait" re-
turnSd Nesbit "Who's the grill"
i call the picture The Lady of the
| NiOlets.'" said the artist.
"Um-m-picturesque, but indefinite, I"
commented his friend.
Come, sit down, and while you
| study the portrait I'll tell you how
and where / met the original. viii
you smoke? Sit here" and Hammond
placed an easy chair for Nesbit, while
! he himself lOunged in the cushioned
window seat.
about year ago-soon after my
| return from France. and while my
arm (touching his left arm) was
| still bOthering mel made up my
| mind suddenly one evening TO go to
show at the Royal. 1t was late
when | reached the theater. and. the
play being a 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 | suddenly be-
came aware of a faint, elusive fra
GRANGE of violets and, turning TO see
where 1t came from. caught sight of a
lady and gentleman hurriedly enter
| ing the vestibule of the theater.
1.-THE girl was bareheaded, save for
that glorious covering of red-gold hair
] have tried vainly to reproduce in
the portrait, and was carrying a great
bunch of violets in her hand, and,
above the pale, shimmerng folds of the
long wrap she wore. her face rose
fiower-like. The Spirit of the Gar.
dem she might be called. I thought ,
or. better yet. the Lady of the Vic.
let's
Just as she passed me, attracted
probably by the intensity of my gaze
for | had forgotten my manners aud
was staring-she turned her lovely
eyes toward me and gave me a feet
ing. rather naughty glance; then she
and her companion disappeared
through one of the doors leading 10 the
auditorium, leaving me with my pulses
perceptibly quickened and a faint per-
fume of violets in my nostrls. Gath
ering up my change and ticket, l wait
ed moment and then followed.
"The first act was half over as ]
| CROPPED my way TO my seat. In the
dimness of the auditorium ! sought in
vain for the lady OF the violets and
her escort; but after the curtain went
down and the lights up picked them
out, seated In the orchestra circle, not
! far from the aisle near which my own
seat Yas located. The girls face was
| turned toward her companion, and she
vas smiling; and remember wonder
| ing what such a Mandy pamby fellow
as he looked. could possibly say to
amuse her. While ! was thinking thus
and gazing rather fixedly DIT the glory
seemed to creep between me and the
| object of my interest So underlined
was 1t at first that thought my eyes
were at fault, and rubbed them vigor-
ously; but presently the dimness grew
| into haze and with its greater dens-
| ity came an unmistakable, pungent
odor. Others perceived this too, and
| there was a restless stir throughout
| the audience. Heads were turned un-
| easily and j heard half-suppressed ex-
clamations-hasty questions whis-
pered answers. Suddenly as ] sat look
Ing uncertainty about me. from just
above the curtain there issued a light
pun of smoke that wavered across the
space below the central chandelier and
cast a perceptible shadow on the audi
forum. At this, some fool In the gal
iery shouted 'Firer
"Well, Mes, you know what that cry
would mean in big. Overcrowded
theaterl The audience was on its feet
in a moment, struggling and fighting
for the exit doors. AS / got up.
caught sight of terror-stricken man,
pale-faced and wild-eyed. fighting his
way desperately up the aisle II was
the man l had seen with the lady of
the violets; but she was not with him
Good God ? thought the cowardly
brute has left her to shift for her
selfr"