Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 200, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1920 — Unsealed Proposals [ARTICLE]

Unsealed Proposals

By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS

(©. IMO, by McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) “M-m-m- Bet me see! You have a fine brow, a straight enough nose, your mouth is ratber decent —when shut—■” Risley began, scanning his stepcousin Anne-Maria crfttcally from beneath lifted fingers. She laughed softly before answering plaintively: "But, you see, Ansell, it so rarely is shut I'm sure to spoil the picture.” "You needn’t —can’t be much hardship to keep silent an hour or so,” Risley retorted. Anne-Marla made a face at him. _ “Suppose you try It,” she said. “Pose me, tell me exactly for how long; then, in the language of today, go to it A mighty fair proposition. Are you game?” "Certainly,” Ansell flung back. “In fact, you wouldn’t please me better. A talky model spoils inspiration,” as he spoke flourishing an old sheathed sword and a tattered battleflag. “You know all about these,” he went on. “Try to put yourself in the spirit of those who used them —fill your soul with the joy of victory —I’ll do the rest.”

Risley, you see, had temperament. Anne-Maria translated It conceit. He had come to Hlllover, the Eton place, a tanned shadow of himself, a month back, from a journey around the world. It was thus he had elected. to come home, after service abroad. At first he had been too weary for anything but sleep, food and rest. Together they had brought him back to himself —indeed, to a self raised to about the nth power in its sense of its deserv/ Ings. The deservings included AnnCMaria —she was lively, healthy, reasonably good-tempered. Besides she would be rich when she came to twen-ty-one. Only a year ahead. Her stepmother, his aunt, had exhorted him to make sure of her before that time. She had planned the marriage ever since she came into the family, seven years back. Even so early Ansell had shown temperament—which is a sight draft upoh the bank of Fate for substantial endowment. He was working upon a picture for a prize competition—not that he cared for the money; what was a mere thousand dollars? —but the acclaim of winning would be worth while, withal sweet incense to his swollen vanity. He had already washed in his background—luckily Hillover commanded a noble prospect, full of enchanting distances, with a tree, lightningscathed, a winding, narrow stream, a tall gray bluff, in the foreground. Clear grass at the bluff foot would serve admirably for the standing figure, leaning lightly upon the sword, and gently fingering the tattered flag. He had hoped for another model — Mademoiselle Yvonne, the exotic, brought back by Susan Glower of the Red Cross service to help civilize this crass America, had failed him at the last minute. What she lacked of equaling him in temperament she more than made up in thrift. When artless Susan had let her know that Ansell had to choose betwixt Anne-Maria and working for a living, she had instantly decided to waste no more time nor smiles on him.

-Hence his captious humor. Of course he had not been seriously thinking of the French girl—but she had a way so taking she had gone rather to his head. When he had posed her substitute to his mind, AnneMaria said suddenly: “There must be a forfeit —what’s to gain or lose by speaking out of time?” “Oh, anything,” Ansell said, almost fretfully. “Whatever you like. If only you’ll be quiet now —” busying himself with his palette as he spoke. “Of course if I need to mention small changes on account of changing light —that is not to count*-” She nodded comprehension, the ghost of an impish smile playing about her lips. “Look serious, inspired—if you can," he cried, noting it. Again she nodded, but banished the smile to .her eyes. In its place there shone from her countenance a sweet, sunny peace—she had been the least bit harried these last ten days. She loved her stepmother fairly well —moreover habit of obedience was strong in her. And mamma had all but said outright she could not die happy without seeing Anne-Marla safely settled in life—also that unless she married Ansell the shock of disappointment and grief would surely bring on a heart spasm fatal to Ansell's aunt A year earlier that would have clinched matters —Anne-Maria would have gone, a lamb to the matrimonial slaughter. Jim Eldridge' had suddenly dawned on the Morison. That complicated matters. Jim was masculine to the point of saturation, chivalrous, humble before womanhood, and of a fine merry humor more than engaging. He would have courted AnneMaria rfgiit off the reri if mamma had not intervened, telling him her stepdaughter was betrothed to the wandering soldier-artist—had loved him for years and would never love anybody rise. ■ Therefore th«r good lady had beapnght Jim to be kind to Anne-Maria and kinder to himself, by keeping all thought of loving her out of his mind. See the complication? It was quite beyond poor Jim to think an elderly Christian lady could lie—even for the

accomplishment of her own darling purpose. * He had accepted the role of brotherly friend with what grace he might —to the sorrowful bewilderment of Anne*Maria—-who recognized In him “the male of her species,” but dared not admit It even to herself. She started ever so slightly when half an hour later Jim came up the hill, calling a gay greeting to them. Ansell waved him away imperiously, then, finding him stock-still and staring, burst out with a stamp of the foot: “Go back! Don’t you see we are not to be Interrupted?” “Jim, you’ve saved my lift!” AnneMarla cried joyously, holding out her left hand to him. The right was numb from clutching the sword. "What’s up?” Jim demanded, possessing himself of the other hand. “Is it a game or an endurance contest, or what?” “I think It is the game of my salvation,” Anne-Maria said under her breath. Ansell pushed in between them, saying masterfully: “You have lost, young person. I claim as my forfeit —this, taking her right hand forcibly from Jim’s clasp. “You spoke first!” she cried, snatch- • Ing away her hand. "I had to,” Ansell retorted. Jim looked dazed.' “There is—speaking and speaking,” he began. “I have to do some of it—here and now. Madame Eton has asked be to stand brother to Miss Anne-Marla. As such, T call vou to account. To my sm* knowledge you are making love to the French woman, and all the while engaged—here.” “Who says it?” Anne-Maria demanded, her eyes shooting sparks. “The madame herself,” Jim, answered steadily. “She is mistaken,” Anne-Maria returned, her voice steely. “I am not engaged to Ansell Risley—what, is more, I never shall be.” “H-m! Will unsealed proposals be -considered?” Jim asked with twinkling eyes., She smiled" at him, dropped her head upon his shoulder and murmured softly, holding up her lips: “You had better seal right here.” Jim needed no second prompting. Ansell rushed away scowling madly. Jim called after him tauntingly: “Better play safe hereafter. Both ends against the middle is too risky, even for a genius.”