The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-08-31
The face was delicate, re-

clOthes-a dress OF some soft black stuff
and shawl of the same sable hue
wrapped round her head and shoulders
"You have posed as a model bcforeE
asked Godfrey, noting the artistic eff
fort Of this simple costume.
"No," said The girl, 'ncver before. .
'What is your name:' asked the
artist.
"Consuelo."
"Consuclo," repeated the artist, "and
you look inconsolable."
The girl did not understand his re-
mark, but her large dark eyes were
turned upon him wonderingly.
"Well, Consuelo, we must make the
best of our time said the artist.
"Comc, will arrange you as wish you
TO sit" and he placed a chair for her,
arranging with some care her attitude
and drapcry.
"You IN not feel timid, do you?"
asked Godfrey, kindly.
"Oh, no." answered the girl, looking
at him with wonder again. 1t was in
conceivable to her that she should feel
timid in his presence.
The grave, gentle face of the artist
had won her confidence completely. Ac-
customed to rough looks and sometimes
blows, the child seemed in the atmos-
phere of this elegant studio to breathe
the air of paradise.
Blu: 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 in his art.
To him the animate beauty was only Il
stepping stone to the inanimatc, every
thing lovely created that it might be
copied on the canvas and immOrtalized.
Coasuelo's sitting was no. 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 his easel, and
thanking her, dismissed her till the
morrow.
"You will come again, won't your
said Godfrey.
ha l. l.
For the first time that she could re-
member Consuelo went to her miserable
home happy. A new vista had been
opened to her. She had caught a
glimpse of another world with which
she seemed to feel some strange kin
ship.
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 adieu. Sudden
ly Consuelo burst into tears.
The artist himsslf felt unexpectly and
strangely moved. Even to him the
parting seemed painful. Why Blind
egotist! unknown to himself he had
learned to love. Only at this crisi, did
the truth dimly dawn upon him. But
why these tears of hers' Strange infat-
uationl Then the child must love him
also.
She had turned away to weep.
"Consuslo," he sail gravely. "come
here"
Consuelo came at his bidding.
'Look at me straight in the face"
81 cannot" she .obbed.
"Consuelo, why do you weep'"
The face could be doubted no longer
except by the blind.
Godfrey folded her tenderly in his
arms, unresi'te1. 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 ncrvously, 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 fled from |
the studio.
''She is frightened, hut must follow |
her, said the ar;i>t. How soon she