The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-06-05
HER MASTERPIECE.
EFrom All the Year Round.l

nothing remained Of his large class of lady
students save the unfinished work on a
couple Of dozen easels and drawing boards.
The work thus displayed was very seldom
ambitious, for Mons. Fusain's class was
fashionable, rather than hard working; as
TO the notics which hung over the stove,
that the studio was free to any student
who cared to avail Lerself Of the light and
the casts between the hours of and any
afternoon, the privilege it offered was
very little appreciated by the young ladies
who assembled there in the morning, and
dispersed punctually as the stroke of noon
sounded from the Porte de Hal.
On this particular afternoon, however,
the studio was neither solitary nor silent.
Some one was working there, and that
some one was not alone. So much was
evident from the sounds which foated now
and then across the courtyard to the YER
anda where M. Fusain sat smoking with a
friend.
'Do you know who that is in the atelerg"
said the artist presently; then without
waiting for an answer, he continued: ct
is my new pupil Miss Methuen, your
COUSIN
The grave face of M Fusain's compan-
Ion did not evince much interesIin this an
nouncement Re pulled once or twice at
his cigar. then, as he removed it from his
lips 10 knock off the ash, he said slowly
Indeed"
"And this" proceeded NJ. Fusain in no
wise rebuffed, sis the third afternoon she
has been here within ten days. She has
begun to model a head Of Nine. Van der
Heyden, the noted beauty you know She
is doing Il in relief it was her own idea"
Indeed said the other again; then he
added, after a pause: "A hsrmeless amuse-
ment for both of them.'
'My dear De Lastrin, began the master,
~ assure you your cousin is not merely
amusing herself"
1t sounds like it, rejoined De Lastrin,
as peal Of silvery laughter reached their
ears
sAh, well. she's seriously at work for all
that She has talent, too-the family tai
ent you know. De Lsstrin, could make
an artist out Of the stuff in that girl
De Lastrin smiled rather contemptu-
ously.
Il doubt il you could he answered,
"eVen granting that she hiss the talent you
give her credit for, which. mind you,
DON'T deny. Tor ! know absolutely nothing
of her powers. Whatever they may be,
however. she has not come here with the
idea Of being schooled into an artist. II is
quite as much the fashion in London as il
BRUSSELS TO 60 in for q little artistic cul-
ture The Methuens are very fashionable
people. OF course, as they are winterIng
in Brussels, my cousin attends your classes:
but when she goes back 10 London next
spring TO De presented at court and 10 mako
her appearance in society, she will have no
room in her home and no time in her day
for easels and modelling boards. She will
carry nothing away from here but u little
s,,-o rof nd
deiusion that she knows something of
studio life. which will make q good show in
conversation whenever such topics are on
the carpet. And that will probably be the
sum total Of my cousin Doras artistic ca
reer.n
M. Fusain looked at his friend for a few
seconds IN silence; there was q humorous
twinkle in his deep-set grey eyes.
"Well.p he said presently | shall survive
the DISAPPOINTMENT. ! only said / could
make an artist of her: / didn't say meant
TO try. Why should !, when / have such a
warning before me as yoursefl BY the
way, mon ami, are you painting now, or
are you not?'
De Lastrin shook his head.
Il thought not" went Cd the master. 81
thought so from the expression of your
face. Yet year ago when you built that
new studio. you were so full Of good reso-
lutions. Remember all you said then and
all you let me say TO you
81 remember it." replied De Lastrin,
''but talking didn't change my nature. Pm
like the king OF Israel in the Bible only,
unfortunately. l have not yet found the
shepherd harpist who eau beguile my mel
ancholy.n
my dear fellow" cried his friend, ''you
have the remedy in yourself"
"Fueain." broke in the other. don't
waste your breath on admonishing me; 1
know eil you can say. You have said it
many times; and co you not think l have
said 1t 10 myself as many more But il is of
NO use: / am as / am. l have the unfortu-
nate disposition TO desire continually new
stimulus; 10 detect convenuonality in
every relation Of life: TO feel the stereo-
typed monotony Of modern society and
modern culture so irksome that long TO
break loose from it all -"
''And because you can't break loose from
II al, " interrupted Fusain. because GER
tain conditions-chiefy your position as
head Of one OF the Oldest families ia Eland-
ers-kcep you in fixed croft, and give you
definite duties, you weakly allow your
energies to be par9lyZed by what you
young fellows call the spleen My dear
De Lastrin, lose patience with you. You
have everything that man might desire
rank, fortune, talents, good looks-and yet,
/ should say, not the poorest gamin in the
streets Of Brussels gets less real pleasure
out Of his life than you do.n
81 told YOU to spare your admonitions,"
said De Lastrin. Il should have thought
you understood my case by this time. Do
YOU think ] encourage my fits of spleen.
DO you think am proud Of The popularity
which makes the whole world dismal to me
and me dismal to the whole worlds Every
thing is old and decrepit. aud I am the old
est don't count by yesrs-snd most de-
crepit thing in existence. II l couldn't
come and growl TO you I should have no
selace left. AS to psinting-how can
paint IN such a moodl"
The artist smiled pityingly.
And when the day comes,n be asked,
that you weary of me, as you weary of ali
thinesl"
1T won't come; selfshness viii stave it
Of. The only quality Of my own l have
faith in is my selhshness.
Then there was a silence, broken only by
the sounds from the studio opposite, where
artist and model had evidently much that
was entertaining to say to one another.
"By the way, Fusain,' said De Lastrin
at length. ~ should rather like 10 have a
look at my cousins work If / may; you
have reused my curiosity. had no idea
YOU would think so well OF her. 1 must
confess have snubbed the child once or
twice when she has tried to give the con
versation an artistic turn"
II can quite believe it" replied the ar
tist. laughing; 'but I think she is young
woman who will survive 8 considerable
amount Of snubbng, even Of snubbing so
unmerciful as yours. Come along"
Meanwhile in the studio, among the
easels and the casts. and the groups OF still
life. the subject Of these remarks stood in
front of her model, the rich afternoon light |
falling on her tall figure and auburn hair; |
her dark eyes were glowing with excite |
ment. and there was smile Of disdain on
her mobile lips as she turned to include in |
q sweeping gesture all the two dozen easels |
nrd eli the unfinished work thew dis |