A Face Illumined | Page 9

somewhat distant point of observation, and in the less searching light,
the fatal flaw could scarcely be detected. Her affected tones and silly
words could not be heard, and he saw only dark lustrous eyes lighting
up features that were almost a revelation even to him with his artistic

familiarity with beauty.
"If I could always keep her at about that distance," he muttered, "and
arrange the lights and shadows in which to view her face, I could not
ask for a better study, for she would give me a basis of perfect beauty,
and I could add any expression of characteristic that I desired." And
now he feasted his eyes as a compensation, in part, for the annoyance
she had caused him in the glare of the audience room.
He soon saw a frown lower upon her hitherto laughing face like the
shadow of a passing cloud, and it was evident that something had been
said that was not agreeable to her vanity.
A moment or two after Stanton had joined the young lady her escort for
the evening had excused himself for a brief time, and had left the
cousins together. She had then asked, "I say, Ik, who was that
gentleman you were talking with?"
"He's an old friend of mine."
"He's not an OLD friend of any one. He is young and quite
good-looking, or rather he has a certain 'distingue' air that makes one
look at him twice. Who is he?"
"He is an artist, and if he lives and works as he is now doing, through
an ordinary lifetime, he will indeed by distinguished. In fact, he stands
high already."
"How nice," she exclaimed.
"He has another characteristic, which you will appreciate far more than
anything he will ever accomplish with his brush--he is very rich."
"Why! he's perfectly splendid. Whoever heard of such a strange, rare
creature! I've flirted with lots of poor artists, but never with a rich one.
Bring him to me, and introduce him at once."
"He is not one that you can flirt with, like the attenuated youth who has

just meandered to the barroom."
"Why not?"
"If you had eyes for anything save your own pretty face, and the public
stare, you would have seen that my friend is not a 'creature,' but a man."
"Come, Cousin Ik," she replied in more natural tones, "too much of
your house is made of glass for you to throw stones. Flirting and
frolicking are as good any day as eating, smoking, and dawdling."
Stanton bit his lip, but retorted, "I don't profess to be a bit better than
you are, Coz; but I at least have the sense to appreciate those who are
my superiors."
"So have I, when I find them; I am beginning to think, however, that
you men are very much alike. All you ask is a pretty face, for you all
think that you have brains enough for two. But bring your paragon and
introduce him, that I may share in your gaping admiration."
"You would, indeed, my dear Coz, yawn over his conversation, for you
couldn't understand half of it. I think we had better remain where we
are till your shadow returns with his eyes and nose slightly inflamed.
He is aware of at least one method of becoming a spirited youth, it
seems."
"A man who is worth half a million is usually regarded as rather
substantial," she retorted.
"Yes, but in this case the money-bags outweigh the man too
ridiculously. For heaven's sake, Coz, do not make a spectacle of
yourself by marrying this attenuation, or society will assert there was a
regularly drawn bill of sale."
"I assure you that I do not intend to put myself under any man's thumb
for a long time to come. I am having too good a time; and that reminds
me that I would enjoy meeting your friend much more than listening to
your cynical speeches. Did I not know that you were like my little King

Charles--all bark rather than bite--I wouldn't stand them; and I won't
any longer, to-night. So go and bring your great embryo artist, or he
will become one of the old masters before I see him."
"I fear I must give you a wee bit of bite this time. I have offered to
introduce him and he declines the honor."
"How is that?" she asked, flushing with anger.
"I will quote his words exactly, and then you can interpret them as you
think best. He said, 'I could not speak civilly to a lady that I had just
seen giggling and flirting through one of Beethoven's finest
symphonies.'"
The young girl's face looked anything but amiable in response to this
speech; but, after a moment, she tossed her head, and replied: