OCR Text |
Show H (l'op right. 1905. by Dally Story lub. Co ' The conception wan perfect, but H whero throughout all Europo was to H bo found the model? In his thoughts, H Margollus carefully went over tho list of models that ho know'. Ono or two H came nearly to the standard ho had H ect for this piece, but not quite. He M traveled, visiting the principal cities of Franco, Italy and Germany; then H returned to London. Still tho model H of his conception had not been found. H Onco moro he sought throughout Lon-H Lon-H don, but without success. From thoso H who might have been hired for money, H Margollus turned to thoso In the H higher walks of life. There was a subtle power ho had always held In H rcscrvo for some situation In which H every other expedient had failed. I Bhould that power now be resorted I to7 H Margollus sat one night In a box H at Her Majesty's Theater and sur- H vcyed the audience with his eyes, from pit to roof and back again. Several Sev-eral times his gazo had lingered on lomo especially beautiful woman to itudy minutely tho nature of her charm, only to bo withdrawn at last unsatisfied. Tho boxes had been left Invlolated for thero sat tho nobility. Dut when the vast audience from the pit to the roof had been passed In rovlew and found to yield not tho thing sought for, the vision of tho artist began boldly to sweep tho boxes. Ono after another these glided glid-ed under his gaze, until an occupant of ono of them arrested tho attention of Margollus with an electrlc-llko suddenness. sud-denness. Tho Countess Alfrcttl who, with her husband was residing in London Lon-don for the season, sat In a box opposite op-posite .that which was occupied by tho artist; and hers wero tho face and form that had made such a sud-'' sud-'' don appeal to his sensa of perfection. Tho model ho had sought was before him but she wob tho Countess Alfrcttl. Al-frcttl. However, a smile of triumph ntolo over tho features of Margollus and ho determined that tho Countess should servo him. The famo of Margollus gave him entree to tho best society of London, and It was not long before he met tho Countess Alfrcttl and mado trial of his BUbtlo power Slio yielded quickly nono had ever withstood It. Ho found that ho swayed her os the brcezo might sway somo tender flower. flow-er. In his presence she moved as in a dream, but there was nn ecstacy In It that wus llko the stimulus of old wine to her. Ono day, as tho Countess was driving driv-ing past the studio of Margollus, she chanced to glanco upward at an open window. Tho artist was sitting there and their eyos met. Instantly tho lady yielded to tho hypnotic Influence that tho man had gained over her. ?Jj Margollus spoke her name and she turned quickly toward him. I Margollus had Invited hor to visit his studio; but, though sho had promised I him to do so, when out of his pres- onco she shuddered nt tho thought of fulfilling this promise. Out of his prcsenco, sho feared tho artist; In his prosenco, a strange, unaccountable, dreamy kind of happiness possessed S her. On this occasion, whon their oyes met, oho descended Immediately from her callage nnd ontered tho building. I Margollus met her below nnd conduct- ed hor through each department of M his rooms with till tho affability of manner of which ho was capablo, nnd flnnlly escorted her out agnln, with a H profusion of thanks and npproolation I expressed In his parting words. Ho followed her a moment with his eyes then turned back Into tho house, with an expression of deep satisfaction ex pressed in his face. Matgollus waited patiently n few days, Dut at last, one afternoon, lato, ho passed tho hottso which was occupied occu-pied by Alfrcttl and his wife. Tho Countess was standing over somo pot flowers near tho street. Margollus spoko her name, and she turned quickly quick-ly toward him. Tho strango power of his eyes at once compelled hor, and she becamo tho automaton of his will. But ho had hardly stayed his footsteps An Intense whiteness settled upon the count's face, and continued bis way almost Immediately. Imme-diately. Countess Alfrcttl was left dreaming; dream-ing; In an hour, when It becamo qulto dark, some mysterious volco commanded her to steal from tho houso and go to tho studio of Margollus. Margo-llus. Sho crept awny, and so stealthy had sho been In all her movements, that nono saw her. When It was discovered that the Countess Alfrcttl had disappeared, a great cry was raised and all London was aroused. Alfrettl, who had Just gone to Florcnco on some business, was summoned homo again, but ho did not reach London until tho aftornoon following tho Countess' disappearance. disappear-ance. Every department of tho police po-lice regulations was notified, and a careful search throughout tho city was Instituted. Out all to no avail. Friends came to offer condolence to Alfrettl; among them, MargolluB. But after this, for long days and nights, Margollus was not seen among his friends. Servants of tho houso in which ho resided gave It out that tho artist was engaged upon a great pic-euro pic-euro and was not to bo disturbed undor any circumstances. Tho search for tho missing Countess Coun-tess was continued assiduously, and was extended to other cities. Every plausible suggestion was acted upon, but all resulted fruitlessly not a clew had been found by which to trace her tho first stop boyond tho houso. In tho meantime Margollus was painting tho Sleeping Naiad. With nerves Btrung to tho highest pitch, and almost without eating or sleeping, ho worked llko somo demon that was striving against Time for tho possession posses-sion of tho World. At last It was finished; and a long, deep-drawn sigh escaped tho throat of tho artist, as his practiced oyo followed the detail In search of somo slight imperfection and found none. How long had It been 7 How many hours? How many days? He had kept no record of time. Nothing had come up to him from tho Btrcets of London slnco the first news of tho dis appearance of the Countess. In reality almost a week had passed. Tho Countess had been given up as dead, and Alfrcttl wus plunged Into tho depths of grief, whllo his friends nnd tho friends of tho Countess wero wrapped in gloom out of sympathy und sorrow. tint on tho evening of tho fifth day, Just after nightfall, a flguro crept Into tho house of Alfrettl and threw ltsolf Into tho Count's arms, Tho Countess had loturned, nnd now life surged through Alfrettl's veins. Tho beautiful beauti-ful woman had wrapped a largo shawl round hor head nnd shoulders, nnd sho was still dazed for somo moments nfter hor return to hor husband's arms. "Oh. toll mi what tins happened?" sho exclaimed. "I fovm5Welf In the, street, alone, nnd In ihoarkness tho street lights woro- todlm. And you you started for IFJorenco this afternoon. But you dldjnpttfgo?" Alfrcttl knew by thesejjast words that her mind was n blank since tho tlmo of her disappearance.' Sho had been tho victim of soraementnl aber ration and hnd been wandering Clod know where. Quickly he fabricated somo story explaining everything, and sot her mind nt rest. Then ho secret ly Instructed tho servants and requested re-quested all her friends to refrain from mentioning tho (strange disappearance disap-pearance In her presence." - Whon tho Sleeping Naiad of Alar gollus was hung, critical London paused paus-ed In wonder-struck admiration. Ono day, at an early hour, before tho salon had received Its dally crush of visitors, Margollus paused before his own picture. Henrlng.,a footstep behind him ho turned and saw Alfrcttl Al-frcttl approaching. . ' "It Is my first view." said" tho latter, lat-ter, turning his eyes toward Iho painting. paint-ing. Tho next Instant an Intonso whiteness white-ness settled upon tho Count's face, his lips quivered nnd a labored breath Rurgcd up from his breast His eps sought thoso of Margollus, and tho hypnotic flro that leaped to. meet his gnzo told tho story of iho Countess' trance. - |