The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-08-12
SHE WAS HIS MODEL
But Her Picture Was Called sThe
Artists Wife"

Snow" said Richard Lacy, with a
sigh which denoted intense joy, my
chance has come at last"
An old frierd of his, who had made
kreat fame and some money as a novel
list, Edmund Shelton, to wit. had Sc
lected him t illustrate an edition de
luxe of his famous novel. "Claire Inge-
low" which you have no doubt read,
and had offered very liberal terms.
Here was the opportunity for which
Richard Lacy had been waiting ever
since he came to London, a youth of
seventeen, more than ten years ago.
He was a struggling artist, who
painted pictures (which never sold) in
the daytime, and earned his bread and
cheese at night by designing for the
stationery trade, and such black-and-
white work as he could get hold of.
He managed to make about six hun
dred dollars a year, one-third of which
went for the rent of the gaunt, bare
studio in which he worked, and the
little bedroom attached in which he
slept. The purchase of materials ex-
hausted another third, and OIL the re-
manning two hundred dollars he lived,
but did not grow fat.
Unless he could in some way arrest
the attention of the public he would
probably remain all his life an ill-paid
designer.
True, by some freak Of fortune, one
of his pictures had once been exhibited
at the Royal academy. But it had been
''skied," not a single critic noticed it.
and it was reproduced in none of the IL
Illustrated catalogues Even now he
was in debt for its very gorgeous
frame.
A timid rat-tat at the door interrupt
ed his s~oliloquy. Come in"
A tall young girl stood before him.
She was not exactly beautiful, but with
an ar lists instinct he at once noticed
the fine poise of her head and her shape
ly hand. She was meanly dressed, and
she hesitated.
Good morning" he said, at length.
'Model?'
She nodded gravely and handed him a
card. Mary Blackwood" was the name
it bore.
Evidently she was a beginner at the
business. The old hands never called
on him, for they knew his means would
not allow him to engage a model, X
cept very occasionally.
Well, i may be wanting a model
shortly" Lacy said; may ask what
your terms are?"
She stated them They were ridicu-
lousy low.
perhaps you can call tomorrow, and
! could then say whether you would be
likely to suit me-"
When Richard Lacy had had three
sittings with Mary Blackwood he began
to wonder how in the world he would
have got on without her.
Not only had she read claire Inge-
low" but she seemed thoroughly to I'M
derstand the somewhat difficult char
acter of Claire. She was ever ready
with useful suggestions. He admitted
to himself that she really inspired his
pencil.
He looked forward with eagerness to
her visits. Not that they were partic-
ularly lively affairs. Miss Blackwood
spoke only as occasion demanded, and
Lacy was not one of those artists who
can talk and work simultaneously.
One day when she came he was al
most Frustrated by a more than usually
severe headache, a complaint from
which he frequently suffered. In the
middle of the mornings work she sud-
denly jumped up.
why, Mr.. Lacy, you are ILL., she
cried.
only one of my headaches" he said.
and YEARLY. You know, I
often have them. But I think l will sit
down a bit"
Then he tainted.
When he recovered consciousness he
found himself lying on the only couch
the studio boosted, while Mary
stood over him with a bot
tie of smelling salts
Where do you keep the tea?' she
asked, with a smile. 81 must make a
cup at once."
Years afterwards he remembered the
quiet joy with which he watched her
III 40 ShS ~ !
about preparing that tea.
by the way" Lacy said, as he con-
Lentedly slipped the tea, how came 1
On this couch?"
II carried you there" said Mary, with
3 suspicion of red in her cheeks.
'Oh-er-I see!!"
81 nursed my mother for three years
hofo-o che l;a1 ,nA I lr1o- xvbof to do. 1
aren't very heavy"
From that time they were no longer
and model, but close friends.
Richard suddenly discovered that it
vas necessary for Mary to sit four times
} week instead of three.
Then he said he would like to paint
her portrait as Glare Ingelow" for the
academy, which would open in a couple
Of months.
1t was about this time that Richard
that he could talk AMI work as
we'll. They discussed everything; and
The man discovered to his surprise that
all domains of knowledge outside
art, the woman was his equal.
1t was remarkable that their discus
siOhS hCNCi ShuCu Win thC oibtihko- 4
Richard said that perhaps if he took
more exercise he might have less head
,che, and so he fell into the habit of
,scorting her to her rooms. And even
It her door he remembered many things
hat he wanted to say.
During one of these walks Mary re-
marked hat the portrait was nearly
completed.
''Of course you will call it Claire In
she said. /
YES, l suppose l must" wa the re-
,ly, but l could suggest at least two
,etter titles"
Indeed! And may I ask what they
We'll, n is The dea-est girl in the
world and the other, Portrait Of the
wife,"
She was silent. It was dark, and the
Dad was deserted. His arm crept
ound her waist She looked up, and
ler lips met his, descending TO meet
hem |,
And so it was arranged :
Tie picture. being at last finished,
hsp,$ched with much