The banner-enterprise., 1883-05-31


fellow-artist, though Cissy knew not
the fact) was a lofty room, some thirty
feet square. 1t was hung round with
the usual artistic properties; bits of
old oak occupied the corners, a suit of
armor peeped from underneath the
glowing hues Of Smyrna carpet, and
at the further end of the room was
dais of empty egg-boxes, evidently in
tended for the models. There was
one small picture on an easel, with the
face slightly sketched in, representing
forlorn-looking damsel going through
q wood.
"Make yourself at home, Rollo,"
said Cissy; "some one is sure to come
presently"
Rollo did so-on the unarmored part
of the Smyrna carpet.
"What the deuce is that dog-I beg
your pardon" said Darrell, entering
the studio suddenly.
"He is my dog" demurely said
Cissy. "Is not Mr.. Singleton coming
to-day?"
"No; he has been called away to
the country. If it is not rude ques-
tion, may | ask who you are?'
Certainly l am Mr.. Singleton's
model"
"Then allow me to point out to you,
in the politest possible manner in the
world, that it is not usual for the dogs
when they have dogs-of young
persons who act rs models to repose
upon a valuable carpet like that"
"Tdke him off, then" said Cissy, ir-
ritated at being called "a young per-
son." and makinga a sign to Rollo not
to move.
Darrell approached Rollo, and meas
ured his length on the floor.
"You see. | am afraid that he will
not stir" said Cissy.
Darrell busted himself in silence.
There was perplexed look on his face.
No ordinary model would behave so.
81 ought to order you out of the stu
did," he said, "only the fact is my
model has disappointed me, and was
looking for another when you came in"
"Shall l do?" asked Cissy, very
much amused, and picturing to herself
Miss Webster's face when she should
hear of this adventure. "What are
your termsI' in her most businesslike
manner.
"Ninepence an hour
al think that is rather mean. Mr..
Singleton always pays a shilling an
hour and luncheon. lie told me so."
"Oh Singleton is rich and famous;
am not"
"I will agree to it if you will give
Rollo some lunch"
"Done," he said, laughing at her
coolness. lie had hither regarded her
with anything but professional eyes.
If he could only transfer that lovely
face to canvas he felt certain of sue
cess. She was admirably adapted for
Enone, if she would but look SORROW
full enough.
"And now, having arranged the
preliminaries, what am l to do?" she
asked.
"Will you kindly mount the dais?'
said Darrell.
"What! Those egg-boxes -
"Yes."
"Are they not rather uncomfort-
able?"
"Enone ought to look uncomfort-
able. You will be of no use unless you
do"
II never heard that Enone sat upon
egg-boxes. Wasn't she the wife of
Parisw
"Yes; he abandoned her. She comes
weeping through the wood. Now
imagine that she has been deserted by
him; that he has returned to her,
wounded by the poisoned arrow of
Philoctetes; and that she has refused
to heal the wound. Realize the situa-
ton"
Il am afraid that l cannot realize
all that at once" said Cissy, settling
himself as comfortably a. she could !;
al never did think Paris worth crying
about
Darrell got rid of the former face,
and sketched in the new one. He was
young artist of great genius, and
really anxious of proving so to the
world. 1t was an exceptional face
which he endeavored to copy.
At the end of two hours Rollo
leisurely got off the Smyrna carpet and
yawned.
"He wants his lunch" said Cissy.
"Oh, very good" said Darrell, help
lessly. "That's in the compact, is it
not ?"
"Yes."
"What does he generally have?"
Biscuits" sententiously.
But l haven't any"
"Then you must buy some."
"Cool, for model" thought Dar-
rell, but he hastened to get his hat.
AS he was going out she stopped
him.
"My eighteenpence,' she said, hold
ing out small, white hand.
"Are you afraid | shall not pay your"
he angrily asked.
"You might not come back" she
answered.
lie gave her eighteenpence and went
round the corner to the bakers for
biscuits. When he returned she had
disappeared, dog and all. No token of
her presence remained, but one expen-
sive little glove on the egg-boxes, and
a lovely mournful face peeping cut
from the canyaa