The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-25
Chapter s


was really awfully proud Of Wal
ter's success. He had had several pic
lures hung in the Academy, and was
spoken Of as that rising young ar.
tist." II at times / wished he had
some other profession, just hearing
him enthuse over a face, bit of sun
set, tree as it was outlined against
the sky, would show me how utterly
foolish it was even to think of him
as anything but the artist he was.
But / had my bad moments-yes,
hours and days when I felt sick to
think of him in the studio alone with
Helen Ralstrom. OF no other model
had ever experienced such continued
uneasiness. 1t was in no way lessened
when Grace Earter called one day and
said:
What are you thinking of, Doreen.
TO let Walt paint that girl?"
what girl? ! don't know what you
mean" ! parted, knowing well enough
whom she was talking Of, but not how
she knew about Miss Ralstrom.
THAT Miss Ralstrom. I was going
by the studio and thought I'd run in
and see what Walt was doing, and
there they sat having luncheon to-
gether as coy as you like. They did
not seem any too pleased to be inter
rupted either. She's a raying beauty.
Trust Walt for that!"
"She is lovely" replied. ~the love
lest blonde I ever saw" AS Grace was
a decided blonde felt l had scored.
walt is too good looking to be safe
with such a girl / believe she is in
love with him now. She looked dag
gers at me because joked with him. T"
Grace left soon afterward, but she
left very uneasy feeling behind her.
Suppose she were right, and this girl
had fallen in love with Walter? He
. was easily flattered. Would he be
able to resist her-her beauty?
! determined to say nothing OF what
Grace had told me, not to mention
would drop in at lunch time in a day
or two. I'd see for myself II my hap
piness was in danger from this Helen
Ralstrom.
Two days afterward went into the
studio about l o'clock To my sur.
prise, Walter and Miss Ralstrom were
just going out. He introduced me-
then said:
"Harter just left his car for me
Miss Ralstrom has posed all morning
so / told her I'd run her home. You
have come Just IN time to go with us. >
How NIGEL" returned quickly
Never shall forget the look she
flashed at me Of rage, disappointment
hate. l had forestalled her by my
quickness.
l climbed into the front seat beside
Walter, while she still frowning seated
herself in the tonneau. I turned occa
sionally to make remark to her, and
once or twice Walter spoke of the
scenery, calling her attention. We left
her at the door of plain little house
Walter telling her to come early tht
next morning.
She scarcely noticed my polite fare
well, her eyes smoldering. 1t was evi
dent she hadn't forgiven me for put
ting in an appearance. But Walter
had noticed nothing. He said:
II don't wonder Helen was quiet
I've not let her rest a moment all the
morning. She usually chatters lively
enough Then before ! could reply
He added:
Nov well take a spin all by on,
lonesomesl Harter said to use the ca
until and It isn't yet"
At this remark, uttered in a ga,
4 voice, all my jealousy of Helen RAJ
y strom left me. Walter cared nothing
for her, she was just model to him
1t did not occur to me then that had
not appeared he might have spent tn
afternoon motoring with her, that sh
knew this and that it was the cause o
her anger.
81 must get car soon, Just a road
ster, or a coupe" Walter remarked a
he let the car out.
'Oh, wish you couldl A roadste