Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-02
THE SIGHTED ARTIST.

Ger, Iatf-halGeO young HAL, Win DiuS
dreamy eyes, and features outlined like
the curves Of Greek model; while bis
blue velvet painting cap, tasseled with
gold, and Persian dressing gown that he
wore added. by species of sympathetic
contrast. to his refined beauty And
directly opposite to him. in a crimson
cushioned easy chair, upon the dais de.
voted to Mr. Cecil's sitters, reclined one
of the most beautiful girls of the Paris
season, Olive Clermcnt.
Dark and glittering. with hair like
rneshes of misty Jet, and cheeks glowing
like Swallowed ponegranate blossoms, she
sat there, as Cleopatra might have sat en-
throned before the worshiping gaze of
Mark Antony, her eyes filed with lambert
light beneath their long, curled lashes.
and the coral red lips half apart; and as
she sat long breath. like sigh, futtered
through the crimson portals
You are tired. Miss Clermont," said
Mr. Cecil, pausing with his brush poised
half way above the palette
Not tired, Olive answered, with q be-
witching smile; "only | was thinking"
And may | venture to ask Of what?'
''Of your future"
The dark eyes glowed, the velvet lips
dInpied into a smile.
Rupert Cecil looked up with sudden
deepening of color.
and how did your fancy honor me by
picturing that same future1" he asked, in
low. thrilling voice.
Olive Clermont laughed.
NAY. must not tell You that. Fame,
glory. renown. viii gil be yours; while
Yes" he repeated very slowly; ''while
you"
While shall be only Olive Clermont."
She rose as she spoke, with a sweet
smile and a nod toward young lady who
sat in the shadow beyond, engaged in
some light fancy work.
Come Clara; think, Mr.. Cecil, you
said the sitting was complete"
For today, yes, he answered mechani-
cally
Shall come again next week, ON Tues
dayf"
AS usual If YOU please"
And Olive Clermont, tying red pluned
hat over her black curls, swept out of the
room. followed by her companion, leaving
Rupert Cecil in a dreamy ecstasy of bliss.
He had loved her with the passionate
alteration of a man of genius-and the
faintest dawn Of possibility that his de-
toxicating to him.
He was still rapJ In these meditationS.
when, some FIVE minutes later, he came
downstairs, stopping as be did so in the
little ante room to leave the key Of his
studio during his temporary absence.
as he stood waiting for the porter'S
little boy to attend his summons, silver,
clear voice from the vestibule rang on his
ear.
What nonsense, Clarai AS il I should
ever condescend to think twice of poor
artist He may consider himself very
highly honored il | amuse myself one day
in a week with this portrait painting bust
ness"
And then the wheels of the glittering
carriage rolled up to the door, and Olive
Cermont and her friend, Miss Allen, were
whirled away.
Rupert Cicn stood perfectly quiet, with
the studio key hangingFon his little finger;
and no one would have thought, to view
the composure Of his lip and brow, that
the brightest hope and aspiration of his
life had that moment received its death
blow Well, what IL the smart was bit
ter, the sting passing keeny Men. aye
scores of them, had endured it, and lived
valiantly through the agony long ere this.
1t was quite true, he WAS only poor
artist -
When Olive Clernont came into the
studio again, on the following Tuesday,
Mr. Cecil was painting industriously away
at little scarlet lighted Eruption of
Mount Vesuvius.
And my picture, Mr.. CecilT' nsped the
belle, with somewhat of plaintive reproach
in her accents.
Il ~ lot Sh,,,t
it has met with an accident The canvas
is slit through from top TO bottom"
Olive uttered an exclamation of sur
prise and disappointment
oh. dear! how could thst possibly have
happened9 But you viii begin it again,
Mr. Cecil2"
Il regret TO say" he answered coldly,
that my other engagements will not per-
nit of it. leave for England next week.
Olive ClerInont pouted 1T will be &
very great disappointment to papa
Il am sorry" Cecil answered frigidly;
and that was all the satisfaction the belle
could get out of him.
Il don't see what has happened to put
him out" she said TO Clara Allen wheI.
they were once more seated in the car
risge; but don't care very much about
1t, one way or the other. | was getting
tired of the Irritation
So Miss Clerrnont dismissed the Young
artist for good and all from her mind.
Had she not plenty of other things to busy
the capricious little omnium gatherlm
that she called her mind?
"Is it really true that he is 90 famousg"
Olive Clernont was the speaker, but
oh. how changed Pink checked and
cherry Tipped still. with the roses and
cherries one buys in perfuner's shop at
SO much per ounce. while blue circles out
lined the heavy eyes. and the lines of the
face were rigid and inelastic Moreover.
her dress was no longer rich and fresh
and studded over with jeweled sparkles,
for the wealthy Moses Clerm Mt Of old
was little better now than an inpover-
ished gambler, and Olives fast fading
hopes of matrimony were % the wane.
Yet she still strove TO smile and look
prettiiy artless-what other hope wss
there for herS
Really true Mr. Alkmond answered,
with smile; land not that only. but for
tunate in a pecuniary view. having inner
tied the large fortune Of an uncle in the
West Indies. Art Is now mere pastire
With him"
"Bov DELIGHTFULLY."- -romantiel" sighed |