Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-18
A GAY DECEIvER.


logical pictures have most delightful mod
ern air. His Grecian goddesses look like
Parisiennes; their wind blown hair, their high.
heeled sandals, and peculiar tWirl given to
their drapery have capuvated the Partisan
piore him to let them sic for D,annas and and Anu Anu
dromedas- But he Is q most unroman,ic fellow.
and is swayed by no considerations other than
those Oh gain: Althougn he is but he has gained
fame and some fortune; and he is SO indus
trious that ne flies from useless words and time
consumels-that Is to say, women and bores
sc ygas Ssgo lust after the art exhibit closed
SO he packed his trunk, assisted by his friend.
Eugene de Lassi, and was bidding adIeu to his
stuclo when the servant entered with note
l. was nice little note, datntily perfumed, and
hand Imaginable. He read 1t, froWned ana
crumpling 1t up threw it on the door.
'C0nfound the women" he said.
Nv hats the natter" asked his friend.
why, I'm such an uDlucky Fellow, replied
Jacques. There's always some woman or
other bothering me. writing about how she
adm ZIG my paintings and how shed IKE to
man would say he would like to see my
paintings because he admired the cut of my
heard Look, said he, picking up the letter,
azores ADDRESS Nine. Leonie, such street and
But" said Eugene, who was reading the
note ITS very well written. assure you, full
with it?"
ION, you literary map,7 groaned jacques.
'Wbat am going 10 do with 1t? Why, burn
II, OF course. What do you suppose am going
I'm ten you what to do with It," said Eu.
gene Sss you're going away
''Then give 1t to me-,
Why. what win you do with IT." said
Jacques, with a stare.
Well: I'll play painter replied Eugene.
I'm not much OF q one, but / can daub q lit.
ue-enough, at all events. to deceive woman
In love. And I'll find out who Mime Leonie' is;
that's only part OF her name, I'm sure"
set OF for Switzerland. and Eugene de Lassi.
man OF letters, remained TO persOnate him. But
only iOr Nine LoOnte. Other visitors were told
the truth-that the master was gone. At last
she came. Eugen6'i romantic fancy had painted
her as young and beautiful. Bat she was more
than that-shs was divine, She was brunette
and had the most delightful nose, the most
sparkling eyes, the most glorious hair and the
most admirable little hands and feet that Eu.
gene had ever seen. He fiattered himself that
he vas correctly made up for his role. His vel
vet blouse and Jaunty cap were little too
Clean, perhaps, but that was good fault.
Nm LeoLte wanted her portrait painted and
1t was very difficult for her TO decide how 1t
should be cone She wavered long. One day
she would be Omphale. the next day she had
dtcldeo that TO be represented as Salome was
Necessary to her peace Of mind. But when Eu-
gene had made his preparations his tickle god
dess decided that Delilah was the character
that suit ed her. And then she would wander
around the studio and drape herself with tue
barbaric stuf15 used by long gone models, and
porcelains. And then she would say she was
weary and would come the next day. And
she would go, leaving Eugene de Lassi deeper
In love than ever.
as for him, he was In dream. He had re-
tired from the world. AT bis own quarters his
door was daily stormed by publishers, by IAN
ayers, by printers boys, by creditors and by
friends. But no one knew where he had gone.
&C tnCr hI,t
had lot tod him where. 1t was wrong, decid-
edly wrong; but he took certain feroclous log
IL ii when he thought how he himself had
once pursued these same editors and mana
gers.
Eugene had at last discovered that his imam.
crita was widow, wealthy and of good family
Her full name was Leonle de Morse. He mad
never told his love, but that she Was blind to tt
" as impossible. Yet she was certainly blind to
his painting. for she expressed her admiration
OF IL with an enthusiasm that made Eugene
wfLce. But one day when he was, as usual.
attempting to transfer her to canvas. a particu-
lar atIoctous tree which he had introduced in
the BACKGROUND attracted her attention.
jacques" said she don't you think that
skili?"
WHAT" shouted Eugene.
81 mean-that is-I'm afraid that keep you
SO much from your work that"
only hope thas you may keep me from 1t
forever" returned the amerous Eugene. And so
the dangerous moment passed.
But this state OF affairs could not last forever.
One fine day, as Eugene was seated upon q
diTan, thinking OF his lady love, who had Just
departed, who should enter but Jacques Brun-
feIe. Yes, there he was, with his attendant
Carrying els umbrella, his sketch books, his
camp stools. his baggage-a true artist just
nom the country. the false one trem Oled as
he thought that his dream was oger. Had he
been Borg,a he would have slain his friend
AS lie wss lot he pressed his hand warmly,
ard baoe him welcome: Bat how could he ex-
ireate himself from his dilemma? HoH could
he answer to high-spirIted woman for the
deception ne had practiced upon her? AS to
persuadtn9 jacques 10 consent TO any arrange
Ment for keeping up the deception, that was
out OF the question; where his art was con-
cerned the painter would prove as deaf aS
post. and as unmanageaOle as a balky horse.
So Eugene was puZZtd.
Finally bright idea occurred to him.
why Iot," thought he, ''give a comic turn
to the affair. II properly done Leonie will be
oisarmed. She Is easily moved to laughter, and
then Will explain ana beg her forgiveness"
Alas. Poor Eugene's Idea was not happy
one.
The next day when Leonie appeared it was
jacques who met her az the door. He was In
blouse, cap and carried palette and brushes.
can l see NJ. Bruhiere?" she asked, With
some little surprise.
'.That is ny name, Madame" replied the
You Jacques Bruhiere ~ said she with an
amused laugh, and she pushed By him and
entered the studio. "You the great palntar ?
NO, no !! and she seated herself and looked at
hlIn dehantly.
But II she was at ease In the studio he was
more 30. Her quick woman's eye noted this.
and On the easel there was already begun a
canvas in which she recognized the masters
touch. Leonle was becoming iii aU ease. she
picked up little Hlndoo god which stood on
the table beside her, and fingered II nervously.
Her hands trembled, the little In onster slipped
from them and dashed to pieces on the IlOor.
TIE artist stepped TO the wall ana rang the
Dell. The door opened and servant entered
ciad IN livery and wearing an apron, rendered
necessary By the fact Of his cleaning brushes,
Ibid monsieur ring 2" he asked.
Leone started et him and grew white
yes, JEAN" replied the artist. leather I'D
the fragments or this trifle, which madame q "a
unfortunately broken. No7." said he turning
TO Leonie, iii madame viii kindly inform me n
v hat owe the honor OF this WIS.,"
He stopped. Her white, set face, her starry
eyes frig htened hirn.
lackey." she Missed; "a base lackey.n Ans,
have loved this hearrlesS, cruel, lying Wretchl,
Win sudden impulse OF fury Sue Snatcned
up pretty toy, silver poinard, which iay
upon tee table and Spraag at Eugene. Quiek as
lash the artist dashed between them. But
quick as he was he YVES too late. The po,nard
struck Eugene In the side, 1nficling a deep
wound. AS she did so, Leonte uttered a shrek
and tainted away.
Eugene's comedy had become a tragedy.
Truly. pretty sight for the studio OF an
Bruslere, as be gaZed ueon the two PROSTATE
forms. This comes OF oolging your friends
Catch me doing It ag AIN"
Three years had passed. Leonie was Ia the
brilliant salon OF Tue Countess de Sag0ne WHOSE