The Devil: A Tragedy of the Heart and Conscience

sense of regret that the realities of everyday life should take the place of such joyous visions. She felt strangely

mes. "I think I have always been jealous of that studio and its pos

elf for the thought

myself? That I am in love with Karl? What silly

Old Heinrich admitted them, his eyes growing big and round at the imposing

velvet jacket, hurried

my worksho

her hand, and turning at once to let her eye

d. "You see, we are prompt. And n

d the room. He felt piqued at he

onderful studio,"

junkshop," Karl s

picture is that?" she asked, pointing to a

is a model who h

it. We met the girl

s; that

huckling over those that caught his unpoetic fan

em more at my leisure," he said.

e not to remain,"

ime these last six years," Herman said. "But Olga has been nervous about the ball we are going to have to-nigh

e so many people," Olga said,

on, "but I suppose in our position they are

his watch. "In another hour we shall not be a

oming to the ball to-night, Karl? You know you

o fall in love with his

he spoke with perfect sel

e said, and he tried to

enough for this treasure, Karl;

osed, moving toward the door. "We will all be hap

r to Karl and s

ry charming

immediately, which would be ahead of my matrimonial scheme," Karl replie

, as he went up to kiss Olga. "Good-by,

ed a question which he had never

aid to leave yo

lo

me, I

th an effort. "I am hurrying away because I am afraid

t jealous?"

e was the peculiar meaning which his words did not convey. "If I were not afraid

ked at both of th

od-

h the door. Olga stood frowning, worried, ill at ea

he matter?

r hands before her eyes and for a moment did not speak.

raid? Pleas

t just now, when my husband went away, I fel

ptly, and Karl urg

n? I don't under

d faced him. "You know. I have fought against co

und the studio, with its biza

s, terrible monsters, cold, white statues, heads without bodies, and you in the

d swiftly

ow?" h

pression of terror in her eye

in Karl's eyes that Olga had never seen before; there was a tumult in her heart that she had never

ly. "This is the reception-room of my s

ry woman who comes he

l replied

estion any more than Karl could have told why he had asked Herman if he was no

stand my husba

think

hould he say that? Why should

ink he is rea

hook h

friend, he has often pretended to be jealous. This time there was something in his voice tha

alcove in one corner an open fire burned brightly, casting a red glow over the big, comfortable arm-chair drawn up

years. Now that the situation is forced upon us,

Olga said, smiling at him. "A clean conscience is like a warm

od seem light, but Karl

paint your portrait, you gave me a look I had n

er fear returning. "Don't let us

respectfully. I do not see what harm can be done by talking everything over quietly. It seems so long ago

sted, holding out her

a poor little chap, who gave drawing lessons to Herman and his sisters. You were a little waif, fed cake and tea at the millionaire's

ing face with her han

nocently; just one kiss, the me

eagerly. "We have grown up sens

o hear her interr

u, but determined never to tell you so, and when I met you again I, too, was somewhat changed. Still, when our eyes met

?" Olga

" Karl said. "Though we have met hundreds of

atefully and held out

ood, true fr

l asked her, smiling. "You a

ered. "He knows what we were to each other, and when he was leaving us here alone

f cour

hat we have not entirely fo

answered

each other still you would

not," he sa

y. And I, too, shall be happy, because I want you to marr

Karl acquie

e of it," Olga cried, her mo

turned and faced Karl, kno

ng," she said. "Monsieur, I have

bowing gravely and entering

e my portrait paint

playing and excl

you after I got home. I have made many,

, startled again

-day I see your soul," he said. "Yesterday yo

on't; we agreed to end e

end everythin

aid. "Now that I did come, let us work. Take your colors a

, Olga; as soo

I do first

ur hat and c

d hands as if to help her. She drew back

t touch me,

ught a whiff of fragrance from

on your hair?" he as

y not," s

perfume of your hair. Pardon

. She looked up and saw that K

studying my feat

d. "I am thinking of a pose. You know your h

referred a full lengt

. You must be quick;

shall

nd some shawls there from which to select one

, K

Oh, it is snowing terribly," he add

this? I don't feel well to-day; to-m

surely want to know why we did no