The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-15
DECISION.
CHAPTER 81.

Colin continued to stare at me and
I continued to stare miserably into
the fire. So there was silence in the
room for few moments. Finally
repeated:
Il can't go on with this"
NO, that's evident" Colin re-
sponded, beginning to light another
cigarette But | don't want you TO
do anything rash. Tell me about it.
You know sometimes when a thing
seems unbearable. if you will only
talk about it to some one
Talking about it won't help this
time" | said Besides, I've talked
about it lot to you. Surely you can
see too? You've been out with me.
are together Why, even my aunt is
shocked because he neglects me quite
openly for other people"
Il have been out with you, but not
much with that set where ! first met
YOU" Coin said, launching himself up
again in the chair and turning once
more toward the fire You know
how Mrs Van Brugh is. all enthusi-
asm one day, all forgetfulness the
next"
she's dropped you"
She's dropped me. The winter !
met you, was her pet. She was 60
ing to discover me, to be my pat
roness. To give her her due, Connie,
she did a lot for me. She had me
meet a great many people with lot
of money who wanted portraits done
at high prices. Thanks to her, | have
a rich clientele, l am financially sue
cessful"
You cid a wonderful painting OF
her, the best she ever had done"
One could do no less in gratitude"
Colin said simply.
1T was the sensation Of the Spring
Exhibition. 1t helped enormously to
make her the most discussed woman
in New York. And that's what she
wanted" | said this viciously.
Perhaps. But she is fascinating to
paint. ] could not have helped but
make a good portrait"
Il believe you still like her"
Colin turned his head to look at me,
little smile widening still more his
extraordinarily wide mouth. | felt
ashamed of my remark at once. Colin
always had that effect upon me when
he turned to look at me-he made me
ashamed of whatever ! was saying or
doing that was wrong.
Il believe l do" he answered calm
ly. Il wouldn't in your place, but then
] have no reason not to like her
except for the shabby way she has
treated you. There's no excuse for
that. Gwen is an odd, perverse crea-
ture," he went on, settling down into
the chair for a long talk. You know,
a good many years ago, when | was a
poor art student here in town, before
! managed to get to Paris, l used to
see her lot l didn't know her. She
had money, she was in school, she was
always doing things to get her name
in the papers. The papers often had
her picture in. | cut one out once
and made a pencil skecth of it. Some
odd, devilish CLEAN in her eyes inter
ested me"
Did she have red hair them" I
asked. cattishly.
NO, blonde She dyed it black in
Paris-after her divorce. That's when
your father knew her That's when
| met her. ! was trying to make a
name there, living among the art
students. She made it fad of hers
TO run around in the Latin Quarter
and in Montmarte, and to know all the
strugglers and poor wretches of stu
dents. She was nice to US too She
helped lot of us out of tight places.
so when | came back to New York
and began working here and began
earning a little money and gaining a
little reputation, | wrote her of my
progress. She never answered, but
she remembered my letters and when
she came here she had my address
and sent for me- She's rather nice,
If you get on her nice side"
Evidently ! didn't"
NO, you didn't You couldn't any
way You are so different from Gwen.
Gwen goes dashing about into one en-
thusiasm after another Nardonski
came after me. She began playing
him up. and fogot me- She liked your
gold hair and your round blue eyes
and your general air of being a sweet
little giri, and she would have been
very nice to you if you had let her
The fact that you are younger than
she is, and pretty where she is merely
attractive and eccentric. would not
have mattered at all Gwen must be
given credit for that She has not
the ordinary petty jealousy of one wo-
man toward another"
| had never heard Gwendolyn so
analysed In spite of myself listened
with interest. In spite of my dislike,