The morning call., 1890-08-03

and have made a contract with her, 500 francs
month until the painting is finished. All no
wonder you turn pale, dear bOy A cold per-
SEPARATION starts out on my brow when / get
thinking about this picture. But it will make
the world talkl My Diana VIII be neither the
savage huntress destroying the foolhardy
Aeteon, Bor yet the languOrOus-eyed goddess
with thoughts upon the faithful Endymion. nor
vet the virgin OF EpheSus whose imDlacable re-
sentiment visited death upon those shIpwrecked
on the coast. She VIII be the naturalization OF
that divine essence OF absolute beauty which the
Greeks deemed worthy 10 make cult or See,
here are some OF my preliminary studies OF her
face and head"
A. my gaze fell upon the largest and most fin
lshed OF these studies the blood rushed 10 my
brain, with soughing and surging noise in my
ears. 1 pressed my hand 10 my mead and fell
back halfsenseless.
In heavens name, what's the matter,
Etenne?" cried DupOrtail.
ION, nothing; little vertigo, that's ALL" l
this wonderful woman llve?'
"Ha, ha" laughed the artist, cit was very
funny. | discovered her in a creamery. and had
great trouble to capture her for she Is as shy as
she is beautiful, but succeeded at last have
her here now"
Here ?" l almost shreiked.
Calm yourself, my dear boy, don't mean IN
th- room, but ID a lodging on tile opposite side
OF The street. Let me see" he continued, taking
out his watch, 'lps almost time for her to ap-
pear. Don't, beg OF you don't give those sud
den starts; you'll get my nerves unslrung Ia
few minutes. Here, drink little absiDthe, then
Wen take a look at her."
W lth uncertain steps l followed DupOrtail 10
the window. He drew the curtain.
Eyes, she's on the balcony" be half whis-
pered, "but don't let her see you, she might take
fright; she Is a tlmorous creature"
Although | had made strcng effort 10 get my
feelings under control, dared not open my eyes,
dar ed not look upon the woman who would, 1
felt only TOO sure, prove 10 be liza the beautL
full and mysterious Ilka, whom | had so fondly
hoped in time to attach 10 me by bonds of
pure and unalterable affection, now about to
enter upon the wretched career of an artists
model wild storm Of Jealousy was raging IN
my q an GA hfpu f,.r
me 10 strike DuporJail dead at that instant.
His "Wel what do you think OF ?n called
me 10 my senses.
Beautiful, beautiful" murmured. as | gave
a glance at that fair hgure upon the balcony.
upon whose mysterious charm aud loneliness my
eyes had so often rested In 4 sort OF mute wor-
ship, speechless bliss!
As quickly as / dared made excuses for re-
turning TO my work-room, and took leave Of Du-
portal.
called after me.
once in the open air my blood began to cool
bit; but Sill my temples were thrObblng with n
feyeriSh energy. rushed hither aud thither Tor
hall an hour, mutterlng 10 myself, 1T must not
be, IL must not be.'
significantly as | joslled them. Somewhat OF
peace came at last as caught sight OF florists
sign. Inc odor oil The flowers, the resi- got
while he was putting up the white roses restored
me somewhat.
When 1 knocked at Ikas door was quite
myself again.
''Ah, mon ami, is it you ?" she said softly az
she took The roses and buried her face In Them,
as was her won't "Pve not seen you Tor a long
WHILE"
eliza" began, in a tone of injured feeling.
"you have been cruel to me-a needless and re-
fined cruelty. have not deserved 1t at your
hands"
Don't blame me, mon ANIL" she replied
quietly. =" You know l am rs good as / know
how 10 be-; do my best. what more eau you
expect? You yourself once told Inc that women
were only grown-up children, pleased with every
new toy. and that those who came last and
brought The prettiest toy was the one they liked
best"
81 mpore you, Ilka," exclaimed with tears
In my eyes. "dont make merry over my suffer-
ing. You know how l love you-how willing
was TO crafty your every wish, to live only for
you, TO make your life bright and beautiful. You
led me TO believe that nothing should separate
us. when suddenly you disappear from the very
earth Ike the dead not word or a line to COM
Tort me; leaving me with my sorrow, my lonell.
ness, my despair
llka's eyes clouded up and she looked at me as
II she were waking from dream and hardly
knew whether the words she had Just heard
reached her ears from this world or the one she
had that moment come from.
"llka," continued, taking step forward aud
passing an arm gently around her waist, ''how
could you abandon mo SO and worse than ali,
when you knew that my purse was at your COM
mand, how could you for such a paliry sum as
500 francs month make choice OF such a
calling as an artists model? It's Infamous in
famous. say"
Ika opened wide her beautiful eyes and fixing
them on me with puzzled look, repeated the
Ttl-
bend me.
Eyes, you have betrayed me-" cried fast los
Ing control of my feelings, "betrayed meD
betrayed you ?' she echoed wouderinply
but II Is not too late to reraee your steps NV
loved llka," whispered Tightening my hold
upon her waist.
She made no reply, but struggled to free her.
sell. ms maddened me and burst out with;
This thing must not, shall not 20 on Before
III consent for you 10 act as model for thls
picture I'll XIII you as would a -
WIN wild shrek OF terror Ilka broke awav
from NE ana crouched down In corner OF the
room like some beautiful animal hunted 10 me
very reach OF death. For an instant / stood
tfansflxed at the thought OF lie terrible aprrjsh
i was causing her; but there was no PRAYER for
mercy In those eyes, no look that pleaded for
LIE. Ii did not seem 10 occur to her as IL does
even 10 many animals when oyertaken in the
race by some fell pursuer or overpowered In ine
struggle by some savage Zoe, that upturned mill
ful eyes and ouistretcEed trembling limbs was
natures cry Tor mercy. She looked so beautiful
crouching there IN the dim light, While from her
eyes Il dashed CLEAN OF nameless hue that INV
nIst thought was TO kneel and pick her up. But
no. sudden ana unexpected strength cauIe 10
me. The words Farewell, Ilka" were irem-
ping on my lips when peculiar snappInp
SOUND Tell upon my ears. Ii was one of her
hateful pets, which bad climbed unon tie edge
oil tile aquarium. l had already reached for INV
cane ana az SIGHT OF tins vile reptile shuddgr
crept over ME and the flame OF my anger hurst
forth again with redoubled violence Ilka diyined
my intent and spraBg toward me with beseeeb-
Ing look upon her beauti ful face, her While arms
outstreteled In an attitude that would have
charmed Nl0be attempting to shield her babes
from death. what danger 10 her own life had
been powerless lka's strange love for This
creeping thing had no difficulty in ACCOMPLISH
Ing. NOW she could plead aud cry for mercy like