Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-24

now lohS ne watched her marvellous, IRE
sistlble dance. She stood before him at
last in one supreme attitude, rivaling all
she had been before, and then, in an in
slant, she was gone.
Leroy sprang to his feet Here was an
inspiration, here was something which
would live forever and bring him !mmor-
tally also His warm southern blood,
which had got so chilled in Paris, danced
again in his veins. He saw the green fields
OF Provence, the flowers, the deep sky, and
the glorious sun flooding everything with
hight. All this beauty and joy should
deck his statue, all this exhilaration of
youth and spring.
1t was dark but Leroy did not stop for
that. Now, while his eyes still burned
with the brightness of their vision, was
the time to work. He hurriedly lit his
end of candle and drew in bold strokes an
outline of the dancing nymph as he had
last seen her. The sketch was rapidly
made, and Leroy threw himself on his mat
tress at once. not TO sleep, but to dream.
Through his uncurtained window he
could see the night lit for him by one star
This time he felt more certain than ever
before. He could recall every feature,
every movement of the spirit; he already
knew exactly how he should immortalize
her. Modest He could not afford to pay
models, but if he could get the best in
Paris he would not have them. Mo-
but he had ever beheld such vision, and
the coarser types of earth would oulr mar
the magic outline he could see so plainly.
The next few days were the great days in
| LerOy's life. Never had his heart and
brain and hand moved so tremendously
together as the clay took form under his
| deXterous fingers. He hardly knew how
he had won such sudden power and
strength. The only fear which stood be-
hind him as he worked was that he should
| fall i'll and be unable to finish his statue
| He pawned the blanket off his mattress
| and there was nothing left to cover him at
night but an old quilt his mother had
| made him. But he felt neither cold nor
hunger; he was peaceful with a great in
ward happiness as hour by hour his Joy be-
| came more tangible.
One morning the sculptor woke TO find
the world all white and deadly chill in
his room. An intense cold had set in, and
! that just as he had reached the most crit
! zeal stage of his work; one more dav and
the clay would stand the frost, but now
cold was his great enemy. He hardly
| dared examine his model lest the night
| should already have undone his labor So
| far, however, all was well; but the room
must be kept up to a good heat, or the clay
| would crack and the figure be spoiled
| Leroy took his bedding and pawned it. 1t
| was so old he got next to nothing for it.
but he spent all he did get on firing, and
rushed back to the garnet fearful of losing
a moment. Very soon he had roaring
fire in the stove, and the concierge who
saw him kneeling before the blaze, noted
the store of coal and wood and concluded
that he had earned some money, and that
g no DaaI moi faa1 tab oh
when she ate her good warm dinner.
All day long Leroy worked almost saw
agely, never stopping for an instant except
| to build up the fire, but when the twilight
came he was content to stop, for he knew
that he had succeeded-the Spirit Of Joy
was imprisoned in clay for him
| He stepped back to look at her with n
| sigh of relief, and she utterly satisfied
him. There was nothing wanting; no sin
| gle grace had been missed; she stood be-
fore him exactly as she had done in his
vision.
How he loved her How beautiful she
was! But he could not look at her long
| he began to shiver and turned to the fire
1t was almost out. Not scrap of wood or
coal was left-he had burned even his
chair. Leroy felt as if some miracle must
happen to save his work; it was impossible
that, after he had given everything, she,
his wonderful, light footed spirit, should
not live. One night more and she would
be safe But what could be done? How
! could she be kept warm? 1t was begin
ming to turn bitterly cold already, and Lee
roy knew too well what a cold night would
mean in that garnet.
The counterpane which his mother had
given him was lying in the corner where
his mattress had been. With sudden
thought he picked it up and wrapped the
ragged patchwork carefully round the
head and shoulders Of the Spirit of Joy.
| COntrive as he would he could not manage
to cover her quite-her dancing feet and
one lovely arm We're still left bare. There
was nothing for it but TO take his coat off
and wrap it tenderly round her knees.
| Her arm must take care of ITSELF" he
said, with a faint smile.
Now that he could no longer see the joy
Gus figure all his elation left him. He
tried to keep warm by walking up and
down the room, but he could hardly move
his legs. He had had no food all day, and
very little for many days; numbness was
fastening on his limbs, and there was moth
| ing for him to do.
IF she and l can only live till tomor-
row." he thought, ''all will be WELL To-
morrow he would make the biggest dealer
dealer who should give him money for the
marble he would chsel himself and later
on at the salon every one would recognize
that a new thing had been born into the
| world.
1t was very lonely and dreary, and he
went to the door and opened it on the
chance of stray comfort; but the staircase
was dark and silent as usual
When the room was full of moonlight he
grew happier again. 1t will soon be over
this cold night" he said, land then we
shall be safe" He took up his chisel and
scratched in Greek letters on the pedestal,
"Ayyaia," and he lifted the covering for d
moment and kissed the little clay feet.
He did not feel cold or hungry any
longer, only very tired, and he sat down on
the floor in n corner of the room and leaned
his back against the wall. He closed his
eyes and his reward came to him. For one
radiant moment his vision cleaned before
him-he saw her! he knew her! Then he