Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-05-20
AN ARTISTS LDYL

dr1ppeu with the light sound OF trick
ling fountain. At distance the path he
was following opened on green glade
The trunks OF the trees were dark, their
branches darker still. and the spreading
foliage Of the chestnuts meeting above
the head Of the young artist, seemed like
the vault Of cathedral at the hour when
the declining sun sends through the
many colored windows q mysterious
light into the obscurity Of the interior.
Maurice loved the hour when the day
dies, when gray tint falls upon all OBJ
jects, confounding their contours, soft
ening their angles and rounding their
outlines. He walked slowly. each mo-
ment discovering in the forest some
beauty he had not seen before, and filed
with that tender admiration for nature
which is part Of genius.
Having reached the glade, he looked
about hiin. The grass was green and
fresh; the delicate leaves Of the trees
glistened under the drops Of rain which
had fallen upon them. He paused that
he might better observe the scene which
seemed more impressive in the gathering
shadows than in the full light Of the SUN.
He saw the pretty slight form of girl
advancing from q clump Of beech trees
She walked with a supple step. without
seeing Maurice. who. as motionless as
the trunk of the tree near which he
stood. looked at her intently. When a
few PAGES from him the girl saw him,
trembled, and let fall small bundle of
fagots she was carrying on her head.
You frightened me, she said, smil-
ing, and her large dark eyes sparkled
gayly under her tangled yellow hair.
He looked at her moment without
replying, Complete harmony, which it
is impossible to describe, existed between
this pretty, smiling girl, the foliage Of
the glade and the tone of the landscape.
Remain where you are," said the
young man; ssI want to sketch YOU"
She was about to brush back the locks
that had fallen over her forehead, but
he stopped her with gesture
"Stand just as you are.
Heseated himself on stone and rapid
" sketched the face and form Of his
young model.
She was-a peasant, but delicate and
slight, as are these young girls before
they complete development, which is
often late. Her eyes were already those
Of q woman; her smile was still that of
child.
"How old are you" asked the artist as
he worked.
II shall be sixteen soon.n
rs It possiblel | thought you
younger.
II am small, she said, with frank
smile. "but / shall grow quickly, and by
Saint Johns Eve / shall have lover"
why on Saint Johns EveG" asked the
young man, pausing in his work and
looking at her.
because then we shall dance around
the bondres'
So soon was this puro brow, these In
nocent eyes, this childish mouth to be
profaned by the caresses OF some stupid
rusticl Maurice experienced vague
feeling Of jealousy.
Would you like to have me for your
lover9' he asked. as he returned to his
work.
"You7 Ahl you are a gentleman, /
am peasant. Honest girls do not listen
to gentlemen"
Such is the code Of virtue among VII
layers. The young man made no reply
to her words, but said:
Il can see no longer. Will you return
here tomorrow a little earlier9''
"For my picturcs'
Eyes.
q win return. Good evening""
She took up her fagots, and, passing
under the arcliing chestnuts, soon disap-
peared in the shades Of evening.
Maurice returned home dreaming Of
the girl with the yellow hair. Although
he had often before seen pretty peasants,
whom he had regarded with an artists
eye, he seemed to look on this girl with
the jealous eyes Of q lover. That night
and the next day seemed long to him,
and some time before the appointed hour
he was in the glade.
He eworked By himself, and when, a little
later, the young girl arrived, looking at
the sketch, she exclaimed with an air Of
coquetry and surprise:
"Ah. il ISL Are you going to give It
to megp
No. win make small picture for
you.
And this one, what are you going to
do with itg
Il IS going to Paris. Il VIII be put fp a
large FRAME il viii b hung In grand
salon and all the world win 60 to see
sAhi yes. know, 1t the exposition.
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