Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-28
TisiiO,,

.pAND'S thoughts swept to Judy as
~ he had seen her last. She had been
cleaning the studio and to keep the dust
out of her hair she had wound white
cloth about it. Over her black skirt
and inevitable white shirtwalst she wore
a shapelcss bungalow apron. Later she
would remove this, make her hair tidy,
and 90 into the kitchen to see about
dinner. This. was Judy, muddlins end :
lessly over her household tasks. think
ing Of nothing else, and why? Rand
asked himself the question over and
over as lie watched Carlotta Young
pouring tea. The thin sleeves Of the
velvet tea gown fell away from softly
rounded white arms, and suddenly n
lump came in tands throat.
AS yet his thoughts of Carlotta were
almost impcrsonal. 1t was only his
beauty loving artists eyes that gazed
at her so hungrily. and he had n sud.
den, mad desire TO paint her in the
mellow light of the candles. with the
fragile cups and the shining samovar
before her.
This was the first impulse he had had
in days. His fingers itched for the feel
of the brush. he lonsed passionately TO
plan out his color scheme and get 70
work, and suddenly as he sat there
staring at her, she looked Up and their
eyes met.
For the fraction OF minute they
looked into his. and then with faint
color rising in her checks she turned
away.
| Rand found himself suddenly startled.
lie had looked at Carlotta almost ab.
stractly, he had seen her as q possible
model, and she had looked into his
eyes with the eyes Of woman, The
feet disturbed him. II brought her closer
to him, made his thoughts drift in other
directions, until with q start he brought
himself M short, and turning toward
the group next 10 him, tried to concen =
trate on the conversation.
But he was aware of her. and when
II few minutes later she wandered away
from the tea table and came over to
him. he felt suddenly awkward before
the level regard of her gray eyes.
What were you thinking Of when
l surprised you looking at me minute
ago." she asked in u low tone.
Her tone was one of gentle raillery
and Rand forgot his awkwardness.
II was wishing l could paint you,'
he said impulsively.
I Were you, really? Tell me about
! your work. Have you done anythiuf
since you sold your picture and W.
celebrated?'
lie shook his head, and suddenly
found himself telling her of the wa,
things had gone with him of late.
This IS the first impulse ! have. hac
to paint in days" hc said. the word
coming almost in . rush, ''for II min
ute | didn't see anything else but you
ns ! would work you out in a picture
I hope didn't stare too rudely."
She laughed and shook her head
NO. indeed, any woman would fee
flattercd at what you have just tol,
me- Then at the arrival of NOR
guests she left Rand and hurried away
Hc had no further chance to talk /,
her alone. but when he left she asked
him to come again. Rand felt warmed
through. stimulated, glad TO be alive
Ills old desire TO work had come bacl
TO him and the next morning he starte'
a picture Of her from memory. lie wa
determined not to let the atmosphere o
the place affect him, to keep his goa
ahead Of him and work hard. and eve
since his return last night be had bee
deliberately cheerful.
He refused to allow himself TO thin
of unpleasant things, and determined T.
make his work the one thing that mat
tered.