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174 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.

The mouth fell into an expression of despair,, and the eyes looked up with a tearful idea of pain in them ; the hair fell around the pale beautiful features. Philip gazed but did not paint.

" Why do you pause ? will you not have me for your model ? Do I not act well ? "

Then she arose from the crouching attitude she had assumed and laughed almost hysterically.

" You cannot realize that I who am so gay and rich and so high-born should act such a part as the miserable wo- man of the prison the lash perhaps. Well, you are right do not alter the picture ; it has all the spirit of the misery of persecution outrage, the rod, the lash ; you have felt it in your heart ; I am glad I have seen what you feel ; but go seek the wretched, not the happy such as I for your model ! "

She was putting on her bonnet.

" But you are not going ? " exclaimed the artist.

" Why not ? " she said ; " you will not paint me. You do not think I can be of use in your picture ! "

11 Forgive me, " he said, " you have perplexed me ; I was not prepared for so wonderful a realization of the woman I saw at the Opera the face I have tried to paint."

"Some other day, then," she said, "when we are both less embarrassed. I have other engagements a luncheon, dinner, a dance and I must get up my Society spirits, eh ? It is not for me to think of such sorrowful things."

She comprehended in a long sweeping action of her arm Philip's entire sketch.-

" You are angry with me," said Philip.

" No, no," she said, " I am never angry ; despair is not anger ; revenge is not anger ; longing is not anger. Ah ! I see I bewilder you ! Thank you."

She had pointed to her cape ; Philip assisted her to put it on.