Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-18

NO, Sctl0 Iuo SlEI, hOscA ooAoio
''What is your name?" asked the ar
| fist.
s.Consuelo.'
| .Consuelo," repeated the artist, sand
| you look inconsolable.
] The girl did not understand his re-
mark, but her large. dark eyes were
turned upon him wonderinglys
| "Well, Consuelo. we must make the
best of our time,n said the artist
| ''Come, will arrange you as I wish you
to sit," and he placed chair for her,
arranging with some care her attitude
and drapery-
You do not feel timid, do your"
asked Godfrey, kindly.
..Oh, nor answered the girl, look
| ing at him with wonder again. 1t was
| inconceivable to her that she should
| feel timid in his presence.
| The grave, gentle face of the artist
had won her confidence completely.
| Accustomed to rough looks. sometimes
| blows, the child seemed in the atmos-
| phere of this elegant studio to breathe
the air of paradise.
But the look of sorrow did not leave
| her face; it was too deeply imprinted
| there.
Godfrey was soon busy with his pen
! Gil An artist, his soul was full of art.
To him the animate beauty was only a
| stepping stone to the inanimate, every
| thing lovely created that it might be
| copied on the canvas and immortal
| lied.
Consuelo's sitting was not a long
| one.
| He thought it best not to tire her too
| much the first day. and at the end of
the third hour rose from lis easel and,
| thanking her. dismissed her till the
| morrow.
You will come again, won't you?''
| said Godfrey.
| The girls look answered him.
For the first time that she could re-
| member Consuelo went to her miser-
| able home happy. A new vista had
been opened to her. She had caught
glimpse of another world with which
| she seemed to feel some strange kim
ship.
How gladly those days glided by
| while the angel of sorrow, half real
and half the creation of the artists
superb fancy, grew upon the canvas.
The last sitting came. Artist and
model were to part.
Godfrey, who had grown familiar
with the child, took her hand in his
| own when he babe her adie9. Sud-
denly Consuelo burst into tears
The artist himself felt unexpectedly
and strangely moved. Even to him
the parting seemed painful. Why ?
Blind egotism! unknown to himself he
| had learned to love. Only at this
crisis did the truth dimly dawn upon
him. But why those tears of hers?
Strange infatuation! Then the child
must love him also.
| She then turned away to weep.
''Consuelo," he said, gravely, come
here
| Consuelo came at his bidding.
| Look at me straight in the face"
| Il can not" she sobbed.
"Consuelo, why do you weep?'
The face could be doubted no longer
except by the blind.
| Godfrey folded her tenderly in his
arms. unresisted. The lovely head
rested upon his bosom. His lips were
pressed to the blushing cheek.
| .'Consuelo, would you like to stay
here always-to be my wife?" he said,
rather nervously, half frightened him
self.
The girl looked at him and seemed
to make some sudden resolve.
Withdrawing herself from his en-
brace, she wiped her eyes. and then
| without another word or look fed from
the studio.
.'She is frightened, but I must fol-
low her." said the artist. How soon
she had become infinitely precious to
| him! He fastened to the door, but no
trace of Consuelo could be seen. He
paused to reflect. He did not know
even her address. The Italian had
already called for his money. How
should he find her? What strange i'm
pulse had caused her to turn and fly so
suddenp 1t was inexplicable, but he
must find key to the mystery. How?
Would she not return to her old avoca-
ton, accompanying the organp If he
! searched the streets for a few days he
would soon find he- again.
But days, weeks and months rolled
by; and no trace of Consuelo Or the
Italian rewarded his anxious search.
So his passion died away into a
vague and hopeless regret Noth;E.c
remained of Consuelo but the blend-A,
of her beauty with his own dreams in
the picture. So he devoted himself
with renewed ardor to his favorite
pursuits. The angel of Sorrow" was
completed; eXtravagant offers were
made for it. but the picture was not
for sale. Money could not buy it.
1t was hung in the artists own studio
Ibis greatest achievement-and many
wondered as they gazed upon the sor-
rowful face whence came the inspira-
ton for it.
Godfrey Vail received many visitors
at his studio. Wealthy patrons and
personal friends brought others often
to see the great artists works, often
sadly interrupting him when he wished
to be alone, but always courteously re-
ceived.
Five years had gone by since his