Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-04
A STUDIO STUDY.

Georges Bartel, the now well known painter,
made in his early life what is known ELS love
match. Now love matches are, according to
writers of romance, a panacea for all earthly
ills, but in this instance the magic spell failed
to charm or to bring the young hearts thus
united the connubial bliss which, by Cupid
almanac, they had right to expect
Although married, Georges and his wife
were not happy-perhaps because the affec-
ton that formed almost the entire stock in
trade OF the young couple was not equally
divided.
The bride was a charming creature, with
black hair, pouting red lips and white teeth
an artists ideal-but a little captious as
to temper.
Installed in their modest home, all the
little incidents of daily life that should have
been the excuse for light hearted gayety
only served as a pretext for quarrels and
bitter complaints
Even the sweetest dispositions will SOUR in
an atmosphere of pickering and strife, and
at the end of two years the artist was com
PEELED to acknowledge himself bankrupted il
all the elements that should have formed for
him happy home, while the wife was forced
to admit that the lover had long since been
lost to her in the husband. Because recogni-
tion did not come at once, Julia-such was
Nine Bartels name-lost patience, and the
effect upon her temper was not agreeable
But the less successful the artist may be at
the commencement of his career, the more
he stands in need of love and encouragement
at home. If the world is cold and unappre-
ciative, and dealers are unkind, the greater
the need that he should find under his lowly
roof an atmosphere of cheerfulness and love.
When Georges returned at night, weary
and discontinued at some fresh vexation or
rebuff, had he not a right to find at his fire
side companion, a friend, who would
share his griefs and had the skill to charm
him into forgetfulness of the world and its
annoyances? A smile, kiss, kind word
have dried many tear-smoothed many a
furrowed brow! But smiles, tears and kind
words were not for Georges. 1t seemed in
stead that as the days rolled On, Julias tenn
per became more and more intolerable.
She was not made, she argued with her
self, for life of hardship and privation.
What was the use of being beautiful if her
husband could not buy her fine clothes to
show Off her fine looks? Without dresses
and bonnets, one might as well be buried
Paris. Ali if she could only live her life
over again. Then came surging into her
mind regrets for the past, fears for the
future-in short, the dangerous precursors OF
bad resolutions and worse actions. Julia was
yielding to the voice of the charmer.
One evening poor Georges came home tired
but happy. He had been on his feet all day,
but he had received much encouragement
Al L l..s1
money for present necessities He found the
studio door locked; ne knocked. No re-
Spouse. A vague presentiment Of evil
flashed across his mind. He dashed down
the staircase, and, forcing himself to be
calm, said to the old concierge:
Madame has gone out"
"Ah. is that you, II. George' didn't
see you 60 up. Yes, madame has gone
out. She went away just after you did, and
said that you were not TO wait dinner for
her. she left note for you upstairs"
Georges steadied himself against the wall
to keep from falling.
Fortunately it had grown dark, but for
that the old woman would have been startled
at her dodgers sudden pallor.
''All right. he managed to stammer out,
as he took his key.
He went up slowly this time He under
stood that great misfortune had happened
90 him.
He stopped a moment at the door before
opening it TO wipe the perspiration that was
standing in beads on his forehead He went
in, struck light, and at once began to look
for the misSive which his wife had left behind
her. She had confided it, perhaps without
thinking, to the arms of a plaster Venus in
full view
He dropped into chair and read the fol
lowing: My dear friend Pardon the pain
that am again compelled to cause you. but
il will be for the last time | can no longer
live as we have been living. | know | am
an obstacle in the way Of your obtaining
recognition in your profession. | am sure
your friends tell You so daily-an annoyance
in the present and perhaps burden in the
future. You will be happier without me-
You have loved me and | have brought Won
nothing but misfortune Besides | have a
horror of poverty. / know what it is. for /
had a sister who died of want Don't try to
find me; it will be in vain. Forget me and
pity me. | can see that we were not made
for each other, and ii would have been better
if We had not married. Thy JULIA"
He read and reread this precious epistle,
and was utterly cast down!
IL
Georges had been plunged for some mo-
mentS in gloomy reverie, when his studio
door opened. A young girl, almost a child,
entered softly, but seeing the artist so pros
trated, and evidently under the shadow of
some great affection, stopped suddenly and
said in timid voice:
Il beg pardon, NJ. Georges, l am intrud-
ing"
The painter looked up and saw his model,
to whom everybody had given the name of
Rose Misere.
"Oh, it's you," be said; "what do you
wish!'
Mon Dicu! NJ. Georges, came to see if
you wanted me-"
''No, not just now. I am not painting at
present"
"Oh! I'm sorry!" replied Rose, gently.
Neither spoke for moment. Then, going
up TO him, and after having taken long
look at the stricken artist, she added:
Won are in trouble, N. Georges"
Georges made no answer He crushed
Julia's letter in his hand and made q signifi-
cant gesture that Rose understood
Il am going she said, walking slowly
toward the door, and signing deeply as she
retreated.
I'm sorry, so sorry"
Come, Rose" said the artist, somewhat
aroused from his lethargy by the girls evil
dent sympathy. "Speak! Do YOU want any
thingl Ii is no reason because | am in
trouble that you should not tell me. Speak.
my child, and let ME know what can do for
you"