The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-07-10
The Lady of
the Violets
BY Frances A. Schneider
- - - . - - - - - - - - 49,
(@ 1929. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicateD


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
RbrOad-SOme of his latest canvases.
Here's just one thing more l want
you to see, Mes" said Hammond plac-
Ing portrait on the easel.
NeSbit stood back and looked. The
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.
1t 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?"
~ call the picture The Lady Of the
ViOlets, said the artist.
acknowledgements, but indefinite"
commented his friend.
Come, sit down, and while you
study the portrait I'll tell you how
and where l met the original. VIII
you smoke? Sh here" and Hammond
placed an easy chair for Nesbit, while
hn IA inns in hn
window seat.
about a 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
a show at the Royal. 1t was late
when l reached the theater, and. the
play being popular one, the house
was pretty well sold out. However,
l 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 it 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
I have tried vainly to reproduce in
the portrait, and WAS carrying a great
bunch of violets in her hand, and,
above the pale, shmmerng folds OF the
long wrap she wore, her face rose
flOwer-like. The Spirit of the Gar
den. she might he called, l thought ;
or. better yet, the Lady of the Vio-
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 fleet
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 faint per-
| fume of viOlets in my nOstrils. Gath
ering up my change and ticket l wait
1.-The first act was half over as
CROPPED my way to my seat. In the
dimness of the auditorium l sought in
vain for the lady of the viOlets and
her escort but after the curtain went
down and the lights up l picked them
out, seated In the orchestra circle, not
far from the aisle near which my own
seat was located. The girls face was
| turned toward her companion, and she
was smiling; and remember wonder
ing what such a namby-pamby fellow
| as he looked. could possibly say to
amtIse her. While was thinking thus
and gazing rather fixedly at the glory
Of the lady's hair, sort of dimness
seemed to creep between me and the
object of my interest. So underlined
was 1t at first that l thought my eyes
were at fault, and rubbed them vigor
ously; but presently the dimneSs grew
into a. haze and with its greater dens
| ity came an unmistakable, pungen
| Odor. Others perceived this. too, anC
| there was a restless stir Throughout
the audience. Heads were turned un
easily and heard half-suppressed ex
clamatiOns-hasty questions - whis
pered answers. Suddenly as l 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 ariC
cast a perceptible shadow on the audi
forum. At this, some fool in the gal
lery shouted Firer
"Well, Mes, you know what that CT.
would mean in a big. Overcrowdet
heater! The audience was on its fee
m. moment. struggling and fighting
for the exit doors. AS i got up,
caught sight Of a terror-stricken man
2ale-faced and wild-eyed, fighting hi
way desperately up the aisle. 1t wa
the man had seen with the lady q
che violets; but she was not with hin
Good GOdr | thought! the cowardI
| IaA 60 I,