St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-22
arose, and took Off my fez, the same l
have on just now, by the way.
Madame, in what way can serve

"Thefe was not seconds hesitation,
nor tremOr in the voice, which replied:
4 wish to pose as model
II confess | was a trifle embarrassed.
A few years later l might not have been
so, but l managed to soy:
"'There is no dearth of models, mad
anne, but there is likewise no surplus Of
good ones. am sorely in need of one
for picture l am to paint, but confess
have about given up searching. My
ideal Is not to be found, fear. But,
pardon me, be seated -o'
Thanks and she sat on divan.
You will pardon me Ii say that hope
to fill the requirements Her calmless
and assurance puzzled me. I
Have you ever posed?'
"'Never. And / only do so now on
condition that you will not paint my
face and will not attempt to discover
my identity.
WILL POSE YELLED.
"'YOur frankneSs am sure will pa r
don the same quality in me- replied.
L am resolved to do no patching for this
work. Il wish it to be my masterpiece,
and cannot risk failure by composite
posing. l must paint you entire.' l
strOve to see what effect my words
would have, but she was so thicRly
yelled that | could not distinguish a
feature. | was tantaliZed by the nlyS-
terry, and l determined that If she in
any way met my requirements l would
accept her services. She was silent a
moment or two.
But my identity" she said. You
Will not seek to discover it?'
DO not be alarmed. If paint you
shall treat you as / do auy other
model. We have little or no commune
xxrifI IL
more only by their given names, or
some sobrfquet bestowed upon them by
the quarter. AS to their residence or
private life we never trouble ourselves
to inquire l fancied l detected sigh
of relief from under the heavy veil.
Another pause, and then:
Very well. | consent with those
conditions. Let us Begin
What, nOw?'
Yes; my time is precious
81 threw aside the canvas l was work
ing on, and placed On the easel the
stretcher containing the beginning Of
my picture. Faust had been filled in
and one or two bits Of background, but
Helen was a blank. My back was
turned but an instant or two, but when
| turned, after that short space of time,
was astoniShed to find that she had al
ready thrown off her outer wraps and
gone behind the screen. There was the
noise of buttons being torn out of their
holes, by the dozen, and presently be-
held black silk dress lifted above the
screen and pause second in the air
While 1t was extracted from refractory
hair pin. A pair of red silk corSets rat
tied upon the floor, and shortly after
ward two neat but not over-small shoes
were cast into sight. A few more sec
onds of waiting and Nine. Incognito
stepped out upon the bare floor of the
studio in full view. l started to my
feet in astOnishment. | had seen per
haps hundred women in like posi-
ton in score of studios and art
schools, but never before had beheld
such perfection of female form. Even
allowing for her carriage costume, 1 had
SurmlSed before that she was more than
usually large for a woman of fash
ion, but had no idea that the clothes of
modern women would have allowed
such graceful lines to exist for any
length of time. 1t was as near an
approach to the classic outline as the
hideOus environments of fashion would
allow. And the face! 1t was my Helen,
for whom had searched so long. Sc
verely. beautiful and classic in feature,
with the true Grecian nose and noble
forehead.
the face that launched thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Illium. ! :
81 indicated the pose wished her to
assume and fell to work. When I
thought for novice that she must be
fatigued, | suggested
THAT SHE POSTPONE THE SITTING.
An appointment was made for another
day, and in the meantime | worked on
the material L had gathered. l was
mystified and not a little piqued,
but so delighted at finding
SO near an approach to my ideal that
resolved to smother my feelings.
Again she came and again l sought to
penetrate the mystery by making a
study OF her notwithstanding her key
note, as it were. Again the calm, dis
passionate face baff1ed me. There was
nothing in it which gave me the slight
est clew to her course of action. We
hardly exchanged a remark. | kept nv
word. and made no attempt to draw her
into conversation, or to make her reveal
the slightest clew to her identity. Sit
ting followed sitting. and still she was
the same faulty faultlesS' icy sphinx.
Then it broke upon me. She was
in love with her own form. There
was no doubt of it. Every action, each
glance, confirmed it. My picture was
nearly complete as far as Helen was
concerned. Another sitting and 1 would
be done with her. One morning l took
a run on the boulevard to stretch my
legs bit, when who should run across
but Jack Carnegie, whom [ went to Ok
ford with years before. Jack was a
moody, exclusive, jealous fool, who was
always made butt of at school in spite
of his wealth. He seemed startled at
seeing me and not too well pleased. He
gave evasive answers to my inquiries as
to his presence in Paris, and after chat
fling him little l left him. An hour
later, while reading paper III a cafe,
ran across Blukes.
"'Do you know Carnegie's in town
with his bride?' said he.
Bride? Is he married?'
eyes, fortnight ago at Ostend.'
eve laughed over the idea of Carne-
gie's getting married, and then parted.
That night devilish idea took possess
would have it, found Carnegie at the
first hotel entered. / sent up my
card and followed soon after. A
dainty supper was set for two, but
Jack was there alone. He looked
black welcome at me, but l laughed i'm
his face and leeringly asked to see the
bride. / was insulting enough to have
deserved horsewhipping. Much to my
establishment he left the room, and re-
turned bringing with him-my model!
L could not restrain my amaZement, and
even she was startled out of her icy
calmneSs. Jack observed us both and
nearly exploded on the spot. 1 STAN
mered few idiotic remarks and made
my adieu.
1.-TWO days later Mrs. Carnegie rushed
into the studio and began to disrobe.
"'Quick! she said. Il have but a
moment OF two. This is the last sitting.
Jack is furiOusly jealous and he suspects
something wrong
Madame 1 said. you have been
very injudicious in coming here as you
have and 7 have hapn aytramaIv xuropr