The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1920-09-08
The Lady Of
the Violets


studio, Jack Hammond and his friend,
Nesbit; and Hammond had been show
ing the latter-recentIy returned from
abrOad-some of his latest canvases.
Heres just one thing more I 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 1t. The face was one of
warm flesh tints; Of exquisite curves
and modelings, and the eyes. a blue
gray, Swallowed by dark brows and
lashes, looked out half smiling from
beneath very glory Of red-goId hair.
1t was a face to think and dream
| about.
How does it strike your asked
Hammond, watching his friends wrapt
consideration.
-As a very beautiful portrait" re-
| turned Nesbit. who's the giriv
Il call the picture The Lady Of the
violets.'" said the artist.
| "Um-m-picturesque but indefinite
commented his friend.
Come, sit down, and while you
study the portrait TIL tell you how
and where I 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.
| "AbOnt a year agO-soon after my
return from France, and while my
arm Touching his left arm) was
still bUthering mel made up my
mind suddenly one evening to go to
a show at the Royal. II was late
when l reached the theater. and. the
play being popular one, the house
was pretty well sold out. However.
secured 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 a faint, elusive fra
GRANGE OF violets and. turning to see
where it came from, caught sight of a
lady and gentleman hurriediy enter
ing the vestibule of the theater.
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
fower-like. The Spirit of the Gar
den.' 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 and
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 to the
auditorium, leaving me with my pulses
perceptibly quickened and a faint per
fume of violets in my nostriiS. Gath
ering up my change and ticket. I wait.
ed a moment and then followed.
The first act was half over as
dimness of the auditorium sought il
vain for the lady of the violets and
her escort; but after the curtain wen,
down and the lights up picked them
out. seated in the orchestra circle. not
far from the aisle near which my OWE
seat was located. The girls face was
turned toward her companion. and she
ing what such namby-pamby fellow
as he looked. could possibly say Il
amuse her. While was thinking thu:
and gazing rather fxedly at the gior,
Of the lady's hair, sort Of dimness
seemed to creep between me and tn,
object of my interest. So undefnet
was it at first that thought my eye:
were at fault. and rubbed them vigof
ously; but presently the dimness grew
into a haze and with its greater dens
ity came an unmistakable. pungen
odor. Others perceived this. too. ana
there was a restless stir Throughout
the audience Heads were turned IN
easily and l heard half-suppressed ex
ciamations-hasty questions - whis
pered answers. suddenly as I 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,
6 cast a perceptihie shadow on the audi
u forum. At this. some fool in the gal
!. lery shouted 'Firer
0 well. Mes you know what that CT.
d would mean in big. overcrowde,
I theater, The audience was on its fee
9 in a moment. struggling and fightin,
g for the exit doors. As got up.
D caught sight Of terror-stricken man
: pale-faced and wild-eyed. lighting hi
way desperately up the aisle. 1t wa
1 the man / had seen with the lady o
e the violets; but she was not with him
n Good Godr thought. the coward,
> brute has left her to shift for her
q selfr"
e '-Curw interjected Nesbit. fiercely.
. Mounting upon a seat. locke
| ss.out mo One fhouxht WAS Dara