Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-09-18
A MYSTERIOUS MODEL.

He was the handsomest man among
the crowd that thronged the Artists
Quarter. But who he was, or where he
came from, no one knew.
He painted exquisite pictures, which
sold at sight.
We soon grew to love the blonde
giant, as one would sweetheart He
was so kindly courte, rs, so truly agentle-
man. He seldom smiled, and his eyes,
of deepest violet, h Id always woeful
expression in their depths.
That there was something strange
about him, we realized from the first.
At times he was the life of the party,
and anon plunged into gloom from
which nothing could arouse him. At
such times he would lock himself in his
studio, and no word of entreaty from
any of us could call him forth till the
fit passed.
After these long seclusions he would
come among us pale and enfeebled, and
with an undefinal lie something about
him which impressed us all, but to
which none gave expression save the
irrepressible Martineau.
@Ugh!" he said one day with shiver,
%you look as if you had been commun-
ing with the dead" The handsome face
of Valette underwent strange change
as he replied in his low sweet voice:
Would communing with the dead
leave its imprint on mans face 2"
"Unquestionably.
valette sighed d ply, and turned
away.
In the course Of the next six months
there were to be three distinct art ex-
hibitions, and nearly every occupant OF
the Quarter was engaged upon picture
which he fondly hoped would secure the
prize, or at least be hung. Such rush
ing about for models, such grumbling
and fault finding you never heard of.
vaiette, however, maintained his
usual quiet, and when questioned as to
his success in model hunting, assured us
he had secured one in every way satis-
factory. Yet my studio was squarely
opposite his, and watch as closely as
might, never caught glimpse of any
model coming or going.
MY own picture was a court scene,
where a young and lovely wife was
pleading for the life of her husband,
who had been sentenced to death. Every
thing was completed save the face of
the pleader, and was unable to find
any model capable of assuming the ex-
preston / was desirous of securing.
One day while lounging in Valette's
roon Incidentally mentioned my diff
culty. Lifting the lid of a great desk
he handed me square of canvas.
@will that be of any user" was all he
said.
/ uttered an involuntary cry of de-
light
The picture was painted with mastery
skill, and represented woman kneeling,
with clasped hands and upturned face,
at the foot Of q wreath crowned cross.
But the woman's face made one give
small heed to the details of the picture.
Such agonized entreaty, such almost
hopeless despair in the dark eyes; my
own involuntarily filed with tears as
gazed.
/ saw Valette was regarding me
closely, as raised my eyes from the
picture, and caught the same look OF
hopeless sadness IN his own beaut1ful
eyes ere he turned them away.
You are welcome TO make use of the
face, and he began painting as II moth
ing had happened.
After that we grew to be close friends
Tine spedaons One after another of our
set finished their pictures and sent them
into the committees. Some were raised
to the seventh heaven by speedy ac-
ceptance. while others were plunged
into deepest despair BY a rejection.
was one Of the fortunate, and Va
Iette informed me that all three Of his
were hung. He had not allowed even
me- to sse them, and was curiously
anxious for the time to come when !
could do 90.
was early upon opening day. but Is /
examined picture after picture, I found