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About Eugene daily guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1904-1924 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1908)
T-HE n I r IT By FERENC IXTOLNAR Dramatized by OLIVER. .HERFORD Adapted by JOSEPH O'BRIEN coryntGHT. 190a. aj h:zjvt.j? xtj. sa.va.ge restless, nnlmnted, the only part of him that seemed olive. His voice was cokl, his face expressionless, his eyes unchanging In their steady blackness, but bis bauds were vibrant Their ges tures wore literal speech. All impulse which he had banished from bis speech, from his 'walk, seemed cen tered In his hands. . It flashed across Olga as she gazed at him that he was the Incarnation of the arch liend. the very spirit of evil purpose against which all good con tends, against which she bad fought unconsciously for six years. It was this terrible presence that was drag ging her back over those years, paint ing with fresh color the faded dream, lining her heart with the wild, sweet desire of a . child. She pressed her hands over her eyes to shut out the specter and cried aloud: "Kurl!" Then she fled to meet the young art ist, hurrying to answer her call. . CHAPTER I. nrIITH Blender jeweled bands or 1 I Olga Hoffmann trembled bo tbat she fumbled at the hooks and buttons that held togeth er the waist she was trying to remove. Her heart beat .with a violence It had not known bofore during the six placid fears of her married life. Her face was a mask of fear fear of the un seen, the unfathomable of tho turbu lent emotions that seemed crowd! ug. surging up from uns-xrrnd depths In tier very soul. Mine. ITi!Tmiiiiu was .'rs the stuiilo 01 Karl Malil.T. where she lihu '-r-.ia Sroirglit by her portly banker fcrnimstL Bennnn Hotrmann, that the Irony of the sweetheart of her happy girlhood, pitlntlng !''c portrait for the pleasure of t!:niaii (. hose name she had taken, mlf.'ht be cun:uiimiintcd. Hut It was wlUi mi thought of this that Hoffmann had t;'.!:cii her there or that she had raineiiieil to go or that Karl bad re served them. Ilofi'iiinnu welcomed the nit'.st rt;:llr In Ills own home and knew on jiv.luu. y Kurt! forgetful of the H; I of his youth, dwelt In thought on bi t approaching marriage to a beauti ful vounir heiress. (Hint, lovnl to her hrsbnnd. believed that the old romance Bfffttil Hons boy artist, talented, but wan Ink! aw:v nnmuir those faded untaught, be attracted the attention of Urcaius fulutly remembered.. but which tho wealthy family, nnd they gave him 'employment to further his ambition, come no more. Soon he came and wcut nmoug them And yet when her husband had sons , lke one of (be falnlI piltI.onZBd by out. leaving her there, the faded laven- HermaUi who wu8 nls Benlor, and ador. fler of tlie sweet old days turned lurid, b olKil wnose playfe,ow ue wag. and for the Brst time In six years her , wag B uand80mei Bturdy youthi aoul confessed itself and lay bare and jwlth halr ,nat fe Mack ii mumriTen. Uut she fought down the terg over hi Wblte 'forehead and eyes memory nnd clung to those six years i thHt paM&1 wlth buoyant to and f silence, and all the while there was purpose k the very air of the room an unseen , ' '.. , - . . presence thai seemed dragBlnK ber ; backward through time, bridging thoso ! n years clear to the day when Karl; the . , ' ,., ,. , ,. . t. , i .... i . ... . ,i loved each other without knowing that ooy. hua taken her In bis arms and ,. . , ... . , , . "., " " i . " ,,,,. ,, ; It was love, because life was fresh kissed hef Hps and told her that he ! , . . ' , , . tovej her 1 "wect to them and the days were m .... . . (, i loutf fur l!u ) lime uiiu ureamiug. Tiieir . Now w tb all of that In her heart ; unclouded until the In" rH. V " t" : ' ! a u.e 'hen It was determined S ,-tvewlT, 8 ! 't Kurt 8"ull ? P"1" cZlTZ: I have come to j " Olga should given . ... , . 1 tho finishing touches of her education got my portrait pa uted as my husband . , t "uu"""u , ' , , . 4 r tbat she might take her place In so- ft it,ut t II, Dliu viiuu. o inline iu t worn. CHAPTER II. rfiA was a ward in the family of Herman Hoffmann when fc;H she met Karl BreL A preco- o Karl, torn by emotion as herself,, acquiesced. "Here are shawls from which you may select one for your shoulders," lie said. "I will go and prepare the studio while you remove your blouse." Ho left her so filled with fear that she could uuiilly bring herself to tug t the buttntn that hold her waist. "Ah!" she exclaimed Impatiently nt Inst, f I'jplnrc the walBt from her. As It dropped to the floor ber per fectly rounded shoulders and white throat wore bare. She arose from her neat an t reached for tho filmy silken clety. Then the comrades became Bweet bearts. When they were to be sent away from.cacb other they knew that It was love. "Ah, Kurl, I shall be so unhappy without you!" Olga said. "But I will come back, Olga, a great artist perhaps, and you will be prouder of me than ever." You will forget me nwuy In Paris." "And will you not forget me, Olga?" "Ah, never, my Karl!" ICarl took her In his arms then and kissed her. "I love you, Olgu. I will not forget." The years went swiftly for Karl In rrtawl she bad chosen. But the shawl atllIii, ,, ,h ,. nf ,, (ell fro-u ber nerveless bauds, nnd she goeB read,ly t0 ,leep, Ag for 01(5af Blie 4rcw kick, with a shriek, guzlng In I lnllPtll1i i,,. ,v.ti,n, .io.io r many mouths, but there was much In the world that the was learning about, and tho fow relatives she had .were b.'.ry with her future. Young Herman Uoffmaun, grown stout uud serious and taking ,::rt in the business affairs of the family, loved her for her rare beauty, and they were married. Kurl came back, famous, painted portraits and lived the life of a young artist Hoffmann had become a banker and a until of Importance, no was Blow nnd somewhat pompous In speech, but ho wns loyal In his friendship for Karl and devoted to bis beautiful young wife. Karl came and went In their Lurrornt what seemed uu apparition. A nterirllram voice, suave, gentle, de H!crati. rnH: "Madntur-. I beg your pardon. I fear I permitted myself to fall nulcep." From the depths of a great arm chair, drawn np before nn open fire v.-hone- red light gave It sinister II lunituatloii, n mail urose, stood before Jlgn and bowed profoundly, no was In the conventional afternoon garb of a ccntleiniin. Ills frock coat was black; ht hair was black; his eyebrows, eye T:t!ips aud eyes were black. His face waa white, as colorless as his Immac ulate linen, as expressionless as the monocle he wore. One touch of color, I house almost as he had in the old (mi, cuius i ram un scan. He looked with undisguised admira tion at the beautiful woman before him. But It waa the cold, critical ad miration of the cynic, emotionless and without life. Olgit drew back from him, catching up the shawl and hiding her gleaming shoulders. As she looked days. Never once did he or Olga spook of their old love to each other. Each believed It dead. For Olga this was not strange, as she had ber hus band. Whom she believed she loved, her home and her social life. Ber time waa taken up, and Karl was only a dally Incident, t htm his eyes seemed to hold hers. Tue 70nng Hrtfat eame bck to a She was fascinated, yet repelled. I consciousness of Olira-s beautv ' and . thought I was aloue." she falter- i BWeetness. She had adopted a ma d when bor voleo came to her. j ternnl air toward him which he found "When I enmo In somo time ago M. vagUy Averting. Sometimes there Blnhlor wns out. and I must havo throbbed In his pulses a bent of tho fallen asleep In his comfortnblo chair. 0d rorvor, but he had himself well In Agiiln I npologlr.0." , control, m, plm,tons were not wny- renr mm suspicion umuca uiga s W1,r1, n told himself dallv almost cyea, nnd Bhe drew yet farther from tills suave, polished stronger. "There was no one In that chair a few minutes ago when my husband wns here!" she cried. . Without a flicker of expression or a truce of emotion In his even, steady voire, the . atningor glanced casually at the ctnilr from which he had emerg ed like a specter and replied; "T beg your pardon. I must be mis ft ken." lie seemed like one who would jest with Infinity. There was nothing Ironical In hH that ho thought of Olga as a sister. But It was significant, although he never admitted that, that he had to tell him self this panic tiling very often. Thus sped the six years of Olga':'. contented, unruffled life. Karl lived In his studio, where notables came to be painted aud models posed and flirt ed, and an old manservant looked after his clothes and his comfort It was a spurious apartment, richly fur nished In the trappings which artists love. There he lounged and worked, but In all the six year Olga and her husband had never been there. Karl Olga was startled and glanced quick ly at Karl. The young artist could not keep the blood from rushing to bis checks, but he replied carelessly: "Olga would do my poor art great honor. I never knew that .either of you thought so well of my skill." "Come, come." Herman cried, "1 want a portrait of Olgu, and you shall paint It. Let us discuss It What sort of a pose would you sngg-'st. Olga?" "Keally. I would have to think about It, Herman." Olga answered "This is rather sudden, and one can't make up one's mind about ti portrait so quickly." "Why not? Now. I think a half length purtruit. in evening dress, with a shawl thrown over your shoulders, would be very attractive." v Herman had grown quite stout and wore a neatly trimmed beard. He wns generous, good natural und kindly, and Karl was very fond of him us well as grateful to him and his family for the opportunities they had giveu him. He did not wish to oppose this whim of his friend, nnd be left the discus sion to Olga. "I should prefer full length In a street costume," she said. "Not at all." Herman asserted. "The picture will be painted Indoors and bung Indoors, and you wear indoor clothes. Now that Is settled. Karl, when shall we begin this portrait?" "I can be ready at any time," Karl said. ."Come when you will. I am qnlte afour disposal.' "Then let us have a Bitting tomor row. What do you aayt I will take Olga to your studio, which we shall be very glad to Inspect and leave her there. I shall be very busy In the aft ernoon, but I can call for ber when the sitting Is over." , "Delighted!" Karl cried, with enthu siasm. "Olga. you will make a splen did model, and I shall be happy to paint you." "Very well. I am In your hands," Olga said. "We will have a sitting to morrow, and In the evening you will come to my reception. You will. meet Elsa there." Elsa was a young heiress selected by Olga as the prospective bride of Karl. Olga had brought them together and In every way fostered their growing fondness for each other. "You are deterntlned to marry me off to Elsa, I see." Karl said, laughing. "It's high time, my dear Karl, that you took a wife and settled down," Olga said, with maternal emphasis. "I don't like, this studio life for a young man of your Impulsive temper ament. "Well. I'm a willing victim." said Karl, laughing. "The moment you married people settle down to your own bondage you begin to try to put others In the same plight." "Nonsense. We want you to be hap py. Just ns we are, don't we, Her man?" Hoffmann looked Indulgently at bis wife and1 Karl. "Elsa will be a good match for you," ho said. "And tomorrow evening should be your opportunity, my boy." Karl felt himself strangely disturb ed at the thought of Olga's coming visit. He roamed the rooms of his studio when he got home, looking at the miscellaneous' assortment of pic tures, arms, rugs and bric-a-brac. A fow sketches In charcoal and oils he thrust Incontinently out of sight They were not for Olga to see. He did not awaken old Helnrlch. his servant, but be busied himself rearranging the fur niture and even hunted up a duster and dusted some vases and porcelains. He laughed at himself then and threw aalde the brash. "I suppose I could leave this to' Heln rlch," he said. "This wlU.be Olga's first visit And now 1 believe that I've wanted her to come here all the time for six years. But it la Just as well" -M , ' After Karl left them. Olga and Hoff mann discussed the portrait "I don't suppose it will matter, my leaving you nt the studio tomorrow afternoon," Hoffmann said. "I have some Important business to look after. You see. Olga, I trust yon." "Of course you do. you old goose!" Olga said, blushing nnd pinching his car. "Now. good night. I'm going to bed." When she was nlone her husband's wort!s recurred to her. "He trusts me!" she mused. "Of course he does. Rut why should he tell mo about It tonight? Why isn't It a matter of course ?' tone, aud he bowed with grave polite- d(PK, mmt ot ,ntn(p, , (bo wor(, era. As be advnucod Olga retreated tnwwrd the door through which Karl hid eurered the studio. "Wliere did you come from?" she cited. "Ah." I: exclaimed quickly, "I coim; fvtu nowhere: I go everywhere: I am I-rv.- ::r fcrri-ri bl forehead with long, r oqre-.it fbvrre plimlncnntly. TIkvc hud were as striking as h i to paint her portrait, but be did not dare to ask. Olga never spoke of It' and It was not onttl Herman himself brought up the subject that It waa ever discussed. One evenlug at Herman's house, when Karl had been making some ketches. Herman said: "Karl, why have you never painted s portrait of Olga? She ts more beso- lirtll thMit In? nt nrr mUI. ..... patrons.' CHAPTER II. MIL'S fitful slumber was dis turbed that night by vague half dreams whk-h oppressed him when he arose. H w filled with misgiving, doubt uncer tainty. His thoughts, half formed, dls ttirblng. were of Olga. He tried to think of marriage with Elsa, but It wns wltbnut enthusiasm. Warm, beautiful, affectionate', she made no Impression on his heart, which seemed like Ice. He looked around the studio with aversion. The pictures on the walls seemed no longer to represent the aspiration of the artist. They were mementos of be models who had posed and flirted and talked ucnndol within his walla. He paced the floor restlessly, nerv jusly twisting bis unllghted cigarette In his fingers until It crumbled, bis mti. ii,f 1,1a ..lohrows druwn to gether. Then he seized his hat and overcoat and flung himself out of the door Into the gathering winter storm. For nn hour he plunged through the snow, the chaos of the storm matching "lis mood. Almost exhausted, he turned back toward hi? home and entered. The room glowed warmly. In front of the Inviting fire was the Dig urmcum. with its wide seat comfortable cush- Inno ami lilirli nillnlt bttCk. AS he lOld islde his greatcoat he stepped toward the chair, lnteudlng to bury himself In its depth and surrender to his mood. A shudder ran over him. and be drew back, staring at the seat. ' It was empty, his eyes assured hlm, but he could not rid himself of a feel ing that It was occupied. He pressed his hands to bis eyes and then flung them outward with the gesture of one distraught. "I am going mad," he thougnt He called loudly, harshly: "Helnrlch! Helnrlch!" The old mnn. alarmed at his master's unwonted violence, hastened into the room. Karl flung aside his coat, and Helnrlch held for him his velvet dress ing Jacket He slipped into it. shook himself and lighted a cigarette. His hands shook with nervousness, and he held them out from him that he might look at them. 'Oh, what a terrible sight!" he groan ed. Monsieur?" Helnrlch said Inquir ingly. Has any one been here? Kan asK- ed. "No. monsieur; only Ma'm'selle MimL She is waiting In the studio to pose." With an Impatient gesture liari walked across the room, picked up a newspaper, flung himself on a couch and held the sheet before his eyes. He did not even see the print, but he per sisted, trying to banish his restlesB thoughts. Helnrlch, solicitously brushing and folding Karl's coat waited. The artist looked at him Impatiently. "Tell Ma'm'selle Mlml I shall not need her today. She may go." "Yes, monsieur." Helnrlch said. The servant stepped to the door of the studio and threw it open. He called out: "Ma'm'Belle, M. Karl says he - will not need you today. You may go home." '. Ilcliuiou wltudiew. Karl lay al full length on the couch, holding the paper before, him. . . A young woman daintily featured, with rounded figure, whose lines show ed through her close fitting costume. burst Into the room. . Although conscious of ber presence and Irritated. Karl did not look. He pretended to be absorbed In his news paper. Mlml looked at him and wait ed, but ns he did not speak she ven tured timidly: ;' "Aren't you going to pnlnt me to day?" . "Er no, not today." "Do you not love me any more. Karl?" The newspaper rattled with the art ist's Impatience nnd Irritation, but he did not answer. Mlml approached him. "You do not love me. You have ceased to care for me. Ah, Kurl, when yon loved me you puluted me every day! Now you paint nothing but land scapes." Karl forced a laugh.' "Nonsense," he said. "You talk like a silly child, Mlml." "You suy that now, out you did not say such things when you loved me, Karl. It is always the way with us poor models. At first It Is, 'Ah, what shoulders, what beautiful coloring, what perfect ankles!' Then you paint us every day. Aud then it Is: 'WThat In the world have you done with your figure? It ts all angles.' 'What on earth have you put, on yonr face? It ts as yellow as old 'parchment' And then you palut landscapes." Mlml burst Into tears and vigorously daubed her eyes with her handkerchief. Bhe was an extremely pretty girl of the bourgeois type, with heavy colls of straw colored hair piled high on ber head and big btae eye tbat were quick to weep. - Karl arose, threw aside his paper and essayed to comfort her. ' "There, there," he said, patting her shoulder, "don't cry, Mlml. Yon are full of folly today." As quick to smile as she had been to cry, Mlml unveiled her eyes and looked nt him eagerly, her Hps parting over her white teeth. "Then you do love me, Karl? Ah, tell me that you love me!" "Yes." "And you will paint me again? If not today, perhaps tomorrow?" "Perhaps, but I am very busy." He turned from her nnd sat on the couch again. Mlmi's uiood suddenly turned to anger, and she cried out at hint furiously.: "I know that you do not love me, und I know why. You are going to be married. Yes, yes," as Karl made an Impatient gesture: "I know It Is true." "You are very Billy, Mlml," be said. "Ah, no; I am not! It is true what I have said. I have beard all about ft, but I did not believe tt because I waa a fool. You are going to marry Mile. Elsa Berg, who bj said to be very beau tiful and who will be a great hetreaa, and then yon will forget me. as you would be glad to donnow." "Where In the devil have you heard all of this?" Karl demanded, springing angrily to his feet "It does not matter. You cannot deny that 't Is true.' Then htr mood changed swlftfy to contrition, and she went close to Karl. "But forgive me. I know It must he- I have always known, and I must have annoyed you. We models are jlwaya annoying In our street clothes. Forgive me. Karl. She looked appealingiy at n-an, ana he was moved. "Never mind, Mlml. Run along home now, nnd 1 promise to palut you again, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the next day." ' She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Then she fled from the room. Karl flung himself down on the couch again and hid his face with bis nnms. CHAPTER IV. t ILGA'S dream Journey had I J J been through the flowering ISTU'SI orcnnra 01 Binuooa nana in LvfiSMi band with.. Karl, nnd she awoke with a sense of regret that the realities of everyday life should tako the place of such Joyous vision. She felt strangely elated: during the day and eagerly waited for the hour when Herman wns to call for ber nnd take ber to Karl's studio. "I wonder what It will be like there?" she asked herself a dozen times. "I thluk I have always been jealous of that studio and Its possibili ties, uud I have always wanted to go there but I did not dare." Then she chlded herself for the thought she had not uttered, i . "Why. I'm n goose! What am I con fessing here to myself? That I nm in love with Karl? What silly nonsense! Come, Olga, you are getting romantic." Herman came after luncheon, nnd they drove together to tho studio building. Old Helnrlch admitted them, his eyes growing big and round at the Imposing splendor of Hermnn's great coat and the bewildering beauty of the grand lady. Karl, in his artist's velvet Jacket hurried forward to greet them. "Welcome to my workshop!" he cried. "How do you do?" Olga said, barely giving him her band and turning at once to let her eyes rove curiously around the walls of the room. "How do yon do, Karl?" Herman said. "You see we are' prompt And now I am curious to see your place." Karl watched Olga at she surveyed (be room. He felt piqued at ber seem ing lack of Interest in blm. "So this Is your wonderful todlo," she said absently. "It Is much like a Junkshop," Karl said deprecating!-.1 "It Is very interesting," Olga said. "Whose picture is that?" she asked, pointing to a painting of a half nude figure uu the wall. - "That? Oh. that Is a model who has posed for me." "Oh, yes; I recognise it We met the girl on the stairs, Herman." "Oh. yes; thnt Is she." Herman busied himself looking at the picture, chuckling over those thnt caught his unpoetlc fancy and nudg ing Karl in the ribs at some of them. "I must come again and Inspect them more nt my leisure," he said. "This afternoon I have to go away." "I am sorry you are not to remain." Karl said politely. "Oh. I suppose we might put off the Bitting in view of the fact that the picture might have lieen pnlnted any time these Inst six years,' Herman said. "But Olga has been nervous about the ball we are going to tonight, aud I thought It best to bring her to day to distract her. You know this is really a house warming tonight" "And we were obliged to Invite so many people," Olga said, still looking at the pictures. "I hate these social affairs." Her man rattled on, "but I suppose In our position they are inevitable. What time shall I' return for Olga?" "It grows dark quickly," Karl snld, looking at his watch. "In another hour we shall not be able to see. Suppose you return about 4 o'clock." "Very well. And now I must be go ing. You are coming to the ball to night, Karl? Y"on know you really are the guest of honor. Isn't he, Olga?" . "Yes. Indeed. Karl Is to fall In love with his future wife tonight" Karl looked at ber, but she spoke with perfect self possession and lightly. "I shall do my beet" he said, and he tried to apeak with enthusiasm. "Ah, you are not half grateful enough for this treasure. Karl. . Yon should be happy." Olga said. ' "Of course he should, and be will," Herman Interposed, moving toward the door.. "We will all be happy, you and Elsa and Karl and I everybody, I hope." Olga went nearer to Karl and spoke seriously. "She Is a very charming girl. Karl." "If you say one word more about that girl. I shall fall In love with her Imme diately, which would be ahead of my matrimonial schedule." Karl, replied Jestingly. "You know 1 nm riot obliged to fall In love until tonight." "Well. well. I must lie off." Herman snld ns lie went nn to kiss Olgu. "Goo by. dear. I shall oall for you hc 4 oclocK." ' Almost against his will. Karl nsked a question which he had never before In all Ills life thought of. "Aren't you afraid to leave your wife alone?" - "Alone V "With me, I mean." Herman looked at hlm and then poke Jestingly, but with an effort "1 ,un hurrying away because I am afraid f shall change my mind and take OIa i wjim me,-; he aahL (Continued next Saturday). 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