Evening journal., 1891-07-06

young sne inlGOJ almost De called child
Her hair was bound with flowers and
laugh was in her eyes; she seemed the very
spirit Of youth and joy. He did not know
how long he watched her marvellous. ire
sistible dance. She stood before him at
last in one supreme attitude, rivaling all
she had been before, and then, in an in-
stant, she was gone.
Leroy sprang to his feet. Here was an
inspiration, here was something which
would live forever and bring him immor-
tality 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
light. All this beauty and Joy should
deck his statue all this exhilaration of
youth and spring.
IL 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 nncurtained 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. Models He could not afford TO pay
models but If he could get the best in
Paris he would not have them. No one
but he had ever beheld such vision and
the coarser types Of earth would only 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 harmoniously
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
ical stage Of his work; one more day 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 we'll; 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 garrett 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
she need not feel uncomfortable about him
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 a
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 herl How beautiful she
wasl But he could not look at her long
he began to shiver and turned to the fire.
1t was almost out. Not a scrap Of wood OF
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, shoul(
not live One night more and she woulC
be safe. But what could be done2 How
could she be kept warm? It was begin
ming to turn bitterly cold already, and lie
roy knew too well what cold night woulC
mean in that garret.
The counterpane which his mother hat
given him was lying in the corner wher
his mattress had been. With a suddeI
thought he picked it up and wrapped th'
ragged patchwork carefully round th'
head and shoulders of the Spirit of Joy
Contrive as he would he could not manag
to cover her quite-her dancing feet ans
one lovely arm were still left bare. Their
was nothing for it but TO take his coat OF
and wrap it tenderly round her knees.
'Her arm must take care Of ITSELF" b
said, with a faint smile,
Now that he could no longer see the joy
GUS figure all his elation left him. II
tried to keep warm by walking up ant
down the room, but he could hardly NOV
! his legs. He had had no food all day, ant
very little for many days; a numbness wa
| fastening on his limbs, and there was moth
/ ing for him to do
"If she and / can only live till tomol
row. he thought, "all win be we'll" TC
morrow he would make the biggest deale
in Paris come and look at his statue
dealer who should give him money for tn
marble be would chisel himself and late
on at the salon every one would recogniz
that new thing had been born into th
world.
It was very lonely and dreary, and h
went to the door and opened it on ii
chance of stray comfort; but the staircas
was dark and silent as usual.
When the room was full of moonlight /
grew happier again. 1T will soon be over
this cold night" he said, 'and then v
shall be safe" He took up his chisel an
scratched in Greek letters on the pedesta
| "Ayyaia,n = and he lifted the covering for
moment and kissed the little clay feet.
He did not feel cold or hungry an
longer, only very tired, and he sat down {
the floor in corner Of the room and leans
his back against the wall. He closed
eyes and his reward came to him. For o.
radiant moment his vision CLEANED befo
him-he saw herl he knew herl Then
fell asleep.
And the cold crept farther and farth
into the silent garrett, and cracked the /
! tie bits Of clay lying about on the flo
| and frosted the window panes. But
breathed lightly on the draped figure, /
J most passing it by, and found man lea