Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1920-07-21
The Lady of
the Violets
By Frances A. Schneider
SN~~NS~~~~~~
%. 1877 hy MnCIllra N.....n..-- a...lL.-..

They were alone together In the big
studio, Jack Hammond and his friend,
NesDit; and Hammond had been show
Ing the .latter-recently returned from
abroad-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
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, blue
gray Swallowed by dark brows and
Iashes, looked out half smiling from
beneath very glory of red-gold hair.
1t was a face to think and dream
about
How does 1t strike your" asked
Hammond watching his friends wrapt
consideration.
"As very beautiful portrait" re-
turned Nesbit. "Who's the glrlY"
Il call the picture The Lady Of the
Vlolets,' said the artist.
"Um-m-picturesque, 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? 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
a 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 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 faint, elusive fra
GRANGE of violets and, turning to see
where II 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 great
bunch of violets in her hand, and,
above the pale, shimmerKg folds of the
long wrap she wore, her face rose
fiOwer-like. The Spirit of the Gar
den she might be called, | thought I;
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 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 nostrlls. Gath
ering up my change and ticket, wait
ed moment and then followed.
1.-THE first act was half over as
CROPPED my way to my seat. In the
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 was located. The girls face was
turned toward her companion, and she
was smiling; and l remember wonder
ing what such namby-pamby fellow
as he looked, could possibly say to
amuse her. While | was thinking thus
and gazing rather fixedly at the glory
Of the lady's hair, a sort of dlmness
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; hut presently the dimness grew
into haze and with it's greater dens-
ity came an unmistakable, pungent
odor. Others perceived this, too, and
IHCit was iCStltSS sur
the audience. Heads were turned un-
easily and I heard half-suppressed ex-
clamations--hasty questions - whis-
pered answers. Suddenly as l sat look
Ing uncertainty about me, from just
above the curtain there issued light
puff of smoke that wavered across the
space below the central chandelier and
cast perceptible shadow on the audi.
forum. At this, some fool in the gal
lery shouted 'Firer
'Well, Mes, you know what that cry
would mean In big, overcrowded
theater! The audience was on its feet
In moment, struggling and fighting
for the exit doors. AS l got up, /
caught sight Of terror-stricken man,
pale-faced and wild-eyed, fighting his
way desperately up the aisle. 1t was
the man l had seen with the lady of
ho violate h,,4 ho u