Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1914 — CONSOLATION PRIZE [ARTICLE]

CONSOLATION PRIZE

By KATHERINE HOPSON.

“The race is to the fit. Because his sprained ankle debars him from the skating party, I am invited to remain as the consolation prise. Otherwise, I should hardly have a chance to speak to the noted lion.” Gail Bentley’s tone was bitter aS she voiced her thoughts aloud before her dressing table Bitterness was not usually a quality of her nature, but she was still smarting from her sister Edith s laughing remark. “Mr. Reynold is safe with you," she had said. “I wouldn’t trust him to an • afternoon’s tete-a-tete with any one else." “Yes, he’s sdfe enough. Any girl’s admirer would be.” Gail studied her Teflection grimly. In spite of her disparagement, Il was ivaliy a pielty face that looked back in the mirror—sensitive and high-bred, with delicate features and big serious eyes. That was the trouble, the whole face was too serious —it was devoid of girlishness and vivacity. “The queer part of it is, Gail really looks like Edith,” people were wont to declare, “but she is so sober, and her sister is all sparkle and charm.” It was this which had attracted Bertram Reynold, a noted portrait painter, who was guest" of honor at Mrs; Oreder’s house party. From the first he had paid marked attention to her beautiful niece, Edith, and had affked permission to paint her as the central figure in a new picture he was working on. He had made several sketches of her in different poses and all was going successfully until two days ago, when Reynold met with an accident while hunting, and sprained his ankle, thus being debarred from the skating party, which was to be the crowning event of the week. “Such a pity, too,” Gail heard her Aunt Myra remark to Mrs. Kelley as they entered the former's little sitting room across the hall. “Just when things were getting interesting. Edith is such a picture in her skating costume and new mink furs; and skims over the ice like a bird. Of course she must go—she’s the life of the party. So I’ve asked Gail to stay and help me entertain Mr. Reynold this afternoon. She will not hinder Edith’s chances.” Tears rose in Gail’s eyes. “Is that what every one thinks of me—merely a foil for Edith?” “It’s true she is a picture,” Gail admitted later as the skating party itarted off in the big sleigh. Edith’s piquant face was aglow under the scarlet Tam. The fur scarf was thrown carelessly about her shoulders revealing a glimpse of her snowy neck.

This brought to Gail a pang of realization of how her own sensitive throat always kept her from doing those graceful, careless things like other people. “I always have to bundle up like an old woman!” As the sleigh disappeared from view, she turned with a sigh from the hall window to enter the library. Mr. Rey- • nold was comfortably ensconced in a big Morris chair, with Aunt Myra sitting near, crocheting and chatting pleasantly. Gail was glad she was there, and entered the room feeling a little less shy and constrained. ‘‘How shall I entertain him all the afternoon?” she wondered; but soon found there was no occasion to worry about that, for Mr. Reynold did the entertaining. He was telling about his student days in New York and Paris. Gail found herself listening as to a fascinating romance. Even when a caller came to see her aunt on business and she left the room, Gail still felt interested and at ease —like other girls. She was wearing a dress of warm gray, with a wide crimson girdle and touches of the same at the neck. Behind her were some heavy portieres of a deeper shade of red. Suddenly, in the midst of what he ■was saying Reynold broke off with: ‘‘Would you let me sketch you, Miss Bentley—as you are sitting now?” In wonderment that any one should ask such a thing, she gave consent; and still chatting, Reynold turned to his easel and began to work. ■; As his Interest grew, he became confidential, and told her some of the hopes and plans for future work, and Gail forgot to be constrained and ehy.

Mrs. Creder returned, and on seeing that her guest was well entertained, withdrew to attend to the hundred and one duties which were hers as hostess of a large house party. i Both Gall and the artist were surprised when the waning day told that the short winter afternoon was gone. A few minutes later the skaters returned with glowing accounts of the afternoon’s pleasure. During the confusion Gail slipped awa^ —the little left-out feeling again returning. Now that more attractive girls had come, she was no longer needed —or wanted! She had noticed Reynold’s eyes brighten with pleasure at the sight of Edith's glowing face, and that of pretty Lucy Bowers, another charming guest. “Will it always be like this, I wonder? Shall I just fill in chinks left by more fortunate people? Why is it—wby?" She knew of many girls who •were really much plainer than she, who had many attractions and good times. Thus the old order was resumed and continued until the close of the house party, which camo the following Saturday “We’ll all meet again this spring, I hope, whan J have my picture exhib ’ Fl 4’/. ... - .

IL I'll send every one invitations,'* declared Reynold in his pleasant, <fordial way. - Accordingly, the following April, ail those who were among the guests at Mrs. Creder’s house party received the coveted cards. Mrs. Creder invited her nieces to stay with her that week. The evening before the exhibit she came into their room, her face abeam, and in her hand the evening paper. “Read,” she /cried triumphantly, spreading it out before Edith. There was a t notice of Mr y Bertram Reynold's famous annual exhibit of pictures which was to take place the next day. Near the close the article said: “The cream of the collection is said to be an unusual picture called “Sympathy,” and the original is rumored to be a certain beautiful niece of a well-known society leader at “whose house Reynold was entertained last winter.’ “Of course, Edith, it’s that picture he painted of you in your mauve silk gown as you stood among the ferns. I thought from the first that was the most artistic pose he secured.” "He was so queer about not wanting any one to see his work after it was once started. A genius is always peculiar. I don’t know whether I could really care for one or not.” She gave a conscious little laugh. Nevertheless, it was evident to Gail that Edith was highly flattered to be the -central figure in a famous-, picture. Many of their friends dropped in that evening and laughingly alluded to the press notick Every one was convinced it was as Mrs. Creder said, and Edith received much good-natured banter.

Through it all Gail watched in silent wonder that she should be so blinded by the surface honor as to lose sight of the beauty of the underlying thought. And it was Gail who -was least surprised of the three when a note came from Reynold next morning inviting them to come a little earlier than the ,hour set for the exhibition. " "It is like him to want to spare Edith any embarrassment she might otherwise feel in viewing her own portrait before the others.” "It is an undeniable honor,” declared Aunt Myra, and gave Edith’s blooming cheek a playful pat. When they arrived at the time appointed, Reynold met them at the door of the studio. His manner was chivalrously courteous, and he showed them into the well-lighted studio where the pictures were hung. There were portraits of many noted people, besides pictures of imagination and idealism. The three ladies looked at all in turn as they went along, but their interest was at heart superficial, so eager were they to see the one of Edith in the mauve colored gown.

"The best is shown last,” he declared, drawing aside the curtain which hung before it. They stared in amazement. Instead of the one of Edith as they supposed, the picture showed Gail dressed in gray and crimson against a background of rich velvet curtains. But surprising as was this fact, what really caught and held their attention was the expression of her face. The dark eyes were luminous with a wonderful look of sweetness and sympathy. It was as though a veil had been drawn aside and her real soul for the first time revealed. "Well, well, this is a surprise, to find our little Gail, instead of Edith, as we were led to suppose,” said Mrs. Creder.recQveringher poise. Her tone was playful, but Gail’s sensitive intuition divined that she considered he had made a poor choice of subject. Yet no one could deny the etfect he had attained was beautiful. Reynold laughed and pa ss ed off the situation in his easy fashion. For a few minutes they chatted lightly, then turned to review more carefully the other pictures. Just before the arrival of the first group of guests ( Gail slipped back to gain one more glimpse of her pictrue alone. "Did I look like that, I wonder? Did I ever look like that?” she questioned naively, as the sweet pictured eyes met hers. “Like that and much more —to me.” came Reynold’s quiet voice. She turned and saw him there beside her. Looking up in shy surprise, she read in his eyes 7 hot lhe surface admiration he had given Edith and othersof the house party—but something Infinitely deeper. (Copyright. 1914, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)