Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-09-06
IN THE STUDIO.


The word was spoken SO softly and
shyly that it passed unheard. Daisy
Lester raised her eyes and peerel
round the coffee-urn, thereby elon-
eating and distorting her pretty rehec-
tion in its well-polished substance,
until it appeared to consist chiefly of
one great, staring eye, the other fea-
lures being insignifcantly small.
Her husband was SO deeply inter
ested in the morning paper that he
was quite unconscious Of her scrutiny.
"Justin, DEAR she said, a little
louder.
"H'mP"
As he did not look up, this inarticu-
late murmur failed to express any in
terest in what she might have to say.
"Is that model of yours coming to-
day." she asked. with the color
slightly showing in her white fore
head.
"H'm?"
edo You expect the model to-day?"
she repeated, without any change of
tone.
Him. he said, afirmatively, with
a slight nod in the direction of the
paper.
evil she stay long. dear?"
No reply.
"Will she stay long, dear?"
"Who?"
"The model"
"Stay." he repeated, absently, feel
ing for his toast ana turning over his
empty cup with a clatter. "Oh, yes,
1 hope So
Daisy swallowed the remainder of
her coffee in half angry gulps, then
folded her hands and silently watched
her husband.
He was good-looking enough in his
way, though rather too stout even for
six feet two Of height, considering he
was not much over thirty. His crisp,
black hair was allowed to grow to
somewhat more than the customary
length, but his dark beard was trinity
and closely cut
Five or ten minutes passed, and he
flung paper on one side, pushed back
his chair, and looked at his watch.
"Half-past nine. That girl will be
here at ten, and l have bit to put in
before she comes, SO l must be off.
And look here, Daisy, I'm not to be
disturbed for anything. 1t gets dark
so early, and to-day is SO bright that 1
shall work as long as 1 can see. Get
your luncheon when you like. Have
dinner early-say five, if that will suit
you. But, till dusk, Pm engaged,
no matter who wants me-"
"oh, Justin was going to ask you
to go out with me this afternoon.
won't tomorrow do as well? Any
dull day but times getting on, and l
ought to have finished the picture this
week. You understand? I keep the
model all day. Send her in sandwich
or something at about half-past
twelve"
He walked round to her side, took
her small chin in one great hand
placed the other under the yielding
knot of her plentiful ruddy hair, and
turned her face up to be kissed.
"When are you going to sit for
me?" he asked, his artist eye noting
the delicate gradat1ons from her
creamy complexion to the bright tints
of her hair.
"Now, if you like she said, eager
ly. "Let me sit for that g.rl you are
doing. 1 will be as still as possible
for hours. Oh, Justin, do let me.
Then should be of some use to you"
He laughed outright.
"You are nearly a foot too short
not to mention other objections. No,
my girl, you will be Of much more use
in saving me from Interruptions than
by serving as a model. But I will
paint you some day, when ! can afford
to-"
"Afford to, Justinf'
"When I can afford to paint what
do not mean to sell"
Jones, the maid-known by her sur
name on account of the foweriness of
the name bestowed upon her at her
baptism, to wit, Ethelaeda entered
at this juncture, after modest tap
but quickly retreated to knock more
loudly and announce from behind the
shelter OF the door:
Please, sir, the muddle's come
] "Show her into the studio.
III be there directly" There
was Il quick iInwinding of arms; JUS
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