Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-20
THE ROMANCE or A STUDIO.

In the everyday working world ther,
are hot sunshine and rattle of carriages
the ceaseless tread Of restless feet anC
the confused Babel of thousand diff
ferent sounds. But III the very throna
Of it one can turn into il long high hall
climb u wide stairway, and enter 4
totally different place and atmosphere:
that is Don Lepel's studio.
1t IS 4 lofty room, far above the
street, so that "the still, sad music OF
humanity only reaches it as u pleas
ant murmur. Its lights are all care
fully mellowed, yet iii its cool silence
there is no lack of suggestive COM
panionship, Gods and goddesseS from
Olympus, beautiful as ever are there,
and old tapestry and armor and furni-
ture from feudal castles have their own
tale to tell. There are sketch books
lying i'll around, and i volume Of Ten
nyson open on II prie-dteu, its margins
covered with fragments of beautiful
women.
Four easels are III the room. on each
an unfinished picture, and the whole
air of the place is that of STILL thought
full, purposeful work. For if Lepcl is Il
painter, he is not one of the traditional
order. There are no crushed rose-buds,
Or unstrung guitars, or rhumbed Ana-
creons on his tables. odd little gloves
and play-bills and knots of erumpled
ribbons he has no acquaintance with.
None Of his friends have ever accused
aim of vcrse-making or Of gallantry.
Lepel Is paintor of the modern school,
industrious and thoroughly roep ootorln
with fashionable visiting list, and Il
good credit i'll the Second National
Bank.
| am sorry to admit that he is rot
handsome. People expect beauty Of
artists; but Lepel is short and rather
stout, and has other deficiencies not
worth particular mention. Still rs he
stands before his easal with his palette
on his thumb, calling up on his canvas
y face Of exquisite beauty, there is q
sense of power about this ordinary
man which almost ennobles him.
He has been working this warm June
day since early morning, and he is sat
istied with himself. Il Will 60 to the
Park now," he SAYS, approvingly
shall enjoy stroll, and perhaps | may
take u pull up the lake"
That was Lepelrs very sensible idea
of recreation; and he had quite tired
himself with the first part Of his pro-
gramme when he came to little rustic
seat under some pines near the upper
boat-house. There was girl sitting
reading at one end of the bench, but
she was very young and shabby, and
ne did not in the least fear that she
would consider him an intrusion.
AT first he watched the boats, but
gradually his companion attracted him.
Her form was faultless, and he found
himself dressing and posing it in all the
characters which Just then occupied
his pencil. OF her face he could see
nothing at all, for there was little
brown sun-shade between them. This
was so far favorable that it allowed him
to make thum-nail sketch of her at
titude, which was extremely natural
and graceful; and he had scarcely done
it when fortune played him pleasant
trick; the girl, in attempting to tear
open leaf, let her sun-shade slip; it
fell to the ground, and Lepel stopped
and lifted it for her.
The next moment they stood face TO
face, and Lepel exclaimed, in tones
which were a strange mixture Of plea
sure and annoyance, "Why, Bee! Is
it possible
Bee shrugged her shoulders, and said,
petulantly, she supposed it was.
:" And have been sitting beside you
twenty minutes, and did not know you
" / knew you.
"Why did you not speak.
My dress was 50 shabby-and my
shoes. / suppose you have grown rich.
"Do you suppose | have grown a
onob also, Bee? Sit down; | want to
talk to YOU
" Really
"Yes, really. Where is your father
now
He died last summer"
"Peor child, What have you been
doing since?'
" can find nothing to do. During
the opera season ! sang in the chorus,
and | made MY money last a. long as
possible But | am very poor; you can
see that"
Bee, owed your father some
money for copying
No, you did not, Mr.. Lepel. You
can not offer me charity on that plea.
But If YOU know any way to get me