, 1892-03-11
A STORY FROM PARIS.
AN INTERESTING ROMANCE OF 4
THOuGHTLESs PAINTER.

Neghgent Artist Staid To Accept Hli
Love, and Later His Hand and Heart
A Little Chnd Led Them.
There is a friend of mine, a painter
who has all the talents and no talent OF
his own. He would copy or initiate @
Greuze or a Vatican to perfection. A
Diaz by him only wants the signature
which al INSCRIPTIONS dealer does moi
hesitate to forge. My friend, whom we
will call Durand, is an excellent man
industrious and clever, but too negligent
to take the initiative in anything, even
in painting. Well, he had given notice
to quit his apartment in July, on the
fifteenth day of the month, at noon, &C
cording to h customs of the country.
he had, however. been so absorbed in
hts painting that he had forgotten to re.
tain a wagon to take away his furniture,
and when he did at last concern himself
about the matter he only succeeded in
securing one for the end of the day. But
at noon precisely, just as he was putting
the finishing touches to a copy OF
Greuze's famous "Cruche-C assee, +" there
came an imperious knock at the door.
1t wa the new tenant, escorted by her
furniture. She was furious to find that
Durand was "dawdling over his paint
brushes" while all her furniture was
out in the street exposed to the gaze OF
indiscreet passersby. She aver threat.
ened to send for the police In order to
bring Durand to a sense of his duties as
an outgoing tenant.
Durand, ike many painters, thought
the sea more charming than ever when
agitated by a storm, and concluded that
his fair visitor was rendered more beau
tiful by her anger. She was about
twenty-five years of age. She had dark
hair and blue eyes, a fine, supple figure,
and her pretty nostrils were slightly
dilated by her emotion. She was ac-
companied by a little girl of six years
Of age-a little golden haired fairy.
WHAT" continued the irate lady, "'you
are not going away until 8 o'clock? II
is absurd What am l to do with my
furniture2 Where is the proprietor?
must see the proprietor!" 1t was inn
possible to crafty her last wish. The
concierge alone was available, but the
newcomer was so terrible, so aggressive
and so threatening that Cerberus was
tanned and ran away, leaving his broom
behind him.
INFLUENCE OF A CHILD.
Durand ought, according to his sys-
TEN of imitation, to have become wrath
full, too, but his adversary was a pretty
woman, so he sought an ally. The lit
tie girl was playing with a shepherdess
in porcelain de Sake that adorned one
end Of the chimney piece. "Should you
like itY" ooh, yes; it is 80 prettyl'
Take t." Jeanne" said the mother,
81 forbid you to accept anything" al
it were only to please her." replied
Durand, 81 could understand your pro
hibition, but it is an economy for me
| shall have so much less to move"
Women are ready laughers. The lady
fixed her eyes IN the wall in order to
keep her countenance. "Your name is
Jeanne?" said the painter. "Yes," an.
swered the child. "And your papa
where is he?" HE died two years ago.
And mamm is a widow Eyes, mon.
sieur."
Then turning to the lady, Durand
~apologized for his sins, told her that he
had cleared one room and that he would
go and help her get her furniture in.
Soon the furniture began to find its
| PiaSC"bho "aluloDC, tho lulIIOIt Tile
bookcase. "Oh, madame, without know,
ing you, as look at these books l car
read your mind. Balzac, Hugo, Lamar.
tine "Ta, ia, ta," cried the irate
lady, "you would have done better te
clear put before noon than to be trying
to study my ~characterl' ~ am work
ing all the time, madame. Lookl
have put that console there-here the
statue of the Virgin-this little mirror
opposite the window" 'Oh, it is no
use; you cannot make peace with mel"
WRATH TURNED II Low
There was an interval of twenty min
utes, during which the lady stood at the
window. Durand had remained in his
room with the child. "Are they com
ing today or tomorrow-your men?' she
asked angrily as she came back into the
room; but she stopped in the middle.
Jeanne, motionless and smiling, was
seated on a chair and Durand was paint.
ing her portrait. Mamma" said the
little one suddenly, 81 am hungry. You
have some wine and a pate in the big
basket" "Come, then, and breakfast on
the balcony" murmured the mother
Durand was left alone to finish his
bhOtSAs thCiO "do u AOiN VI bCh iiii
utes. Then the child returned timidly
Mamma has something to ask you
WHAT" "She does not dare" "Sht
wants to turn me out?" mo" 'Wha
Them Mamma would like to know il
you-if you would like a piece of pate
This happened on July Is, and wher
the concierge arrived, all trembling, t.
announce that the men had at last com
to remove Durand's furniture, he fount
him sitting on the balcony at table witt
the mother and danding the child OF
his knees.
Misfortunes, however, never com,
alone. The wagon wa too small. Il
would not hold all Durand's things a
once. Leave your palette, your ease
and your pictures" said Jeanne; 81 will
take care of them, and then you viii
be obliged to come back again ant
finish my picture" He left them. HI,
only came into possession of them OF
Jan. 10, when he brought all his fur
1 I'M .