The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-08-17
SHE WAS HIS MODEL.
But Her Picture Was Called "The
Artists Wife"

Artists Wife,"
Now" said Richard Lacy, with
sigh which denoted intense joy, 'my
chance has come at lastr
An old friend of his, who had made
great fame and some money as q novel
1st, Edmund Shelton, to wit. had Sc
lected him to 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, youth OF
seventeen, more than ten years ago.
He was 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 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 on the re-
naming 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 1t had been
'skied," not single critic noticed it.
and it was reproduced in none Of the IL
lustratsd catalogues. Even now he
was ia debt tor It's very gorgeous
frame.
A tirnid rat-tet at the door interrupt
ed his soliloquy. Come in"
A tall young girl stood before him.
She was not exactly beautiful, but with
an artists instinct he at once noticed
the fine po!se of her head and her shape
ly hand. She was meanly dressed, and
she hesitatAd.
"Good morning. he said, at length.
"Model?''
Shcncdded gravely and handed him a
card. MARY Hiackwood" was the name
it bore.
Evidently she was beginner at the
business. The old hands never called
Oh him, for they knew his means would
not allow him to engage model, ex-
cept very occasionally.
"Well, may be wanting model
shortly" Lacy said; ''may ask what
your terms are?"
She stated them. They were ridicu-
lousy low.
perhaps you can call tomorrow, and
Icould then say whether you would be
likely to suit me-"
When Richard Lacy had had three
sittings with Mary Blaclwood 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 un-
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 We're 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 prostrated by 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,
family and wearily. "You know, 1
often have them. But think will sit
down bit"
Then he tainted
When he recovered consciousness he
found himself lying on the only couch
which the studio boasted, while Mary
Blackwood stood over him with bot
tie of smelling salts.
"Where do you keep the tea?" she
asked, with smile. 81 must make a
cup at once"
Years afterwards he remembered the
quick, graceful movements as she set
about preparing that tea.
by the way" Lacy said, as he con-
tentedly slipped the tea, show came l
on this couch?"
81 carried you there" said Mary, with
a suspicion of red in her cheeks.
"Oh--er--I seer
81 nursed my mother for three years
before she died, and I know what to do;
and--you aren't very heavy"
From that time they were no longer
artist and model, but close friends.
Richard suddenly discovered that it
was necessary for Mary to sit four times
q week instea ad of three
Then he said he would like to paint
her portrait as "Clare Ingelow" for the
academy, which would open in a couple