Middletown transcript., 1893-08-12

az AoPIuicS viii tu0 placo, anu
!. agreed with her that it was paradise
as indeed it seemed to me on tina
August night. l remember the moor
snlnlng over the bay, the fleet of boa
Standing out to sea, the lights from thu
town and villages scattered along The
coast, OF amidst the sloping hills. ]
dld not wonder she was charmed; we
all have felt that charm here, and il
DOESN'T lessen with time; we all have
acknowledged that also. But !
must hurry on. When Trenoweth
heard of the new artists sex he was
rather put out. I could not see why
myself, and l agreed that the mistake
was our own. NJ might stand for
Mary, or Magdalen, or Marietta, just
as well as for Maurice or Malcolm or
mortimer. However. when he came
down and saw M. Delaporte here, L
heard no more about the disadvantages
OF sex. She was essentially woman
Tor companionship, cultured, brilliant,
artist to her fiinger-tips, yet with all
her beauty and fascination holding
certain proud reserve between herself.
and ourselves, marking line We dared
not overstep. AT the end of a month
we knew little more about her than
we did on that first evening. l opined
That she WAS a widow, but no hint,
however skillful or trap however bait
ed, could force her into confidence or
elf-betrayal. We called her Mrs.
Delaporte. Her name was Musette,
she told me. Her mother had been a
Frenchwoman; of her father she never
spoke. She worked very hard, often
putting me to shame, but still she
would not let me see the picture, al
ways skilfully turning the easel so that |
the canvas was hidden whenever JAS
per or myself entered the studio. We
were never permitted to do so in work. |
ing hours, but when the daylight faded |
and the well known little tea-table was
set out. we often dropped in for cup
of tea and chat. The studio, with it's
draperies and its bowls of flowers, its
plants and books and feminine trifles.
II wonder how it is some
women seem to lend individuality to
heir surroundings. The studio
has never looked the same since she
leIG. ="
He paused and laid down the sketch
The usual gayety and brightness of his
face was subdued and shadowed.
"I-well, it's no good to dwell on it
all ,now,' he said abruptly. "Of course
fell madly in love with her. Who
could help it2 bet any of you fellows
here would have done the same.
neglected work. 1 could only moon
ind dream and follow her about, when
The let me, which am bound to say
was not very often. I'm sure used
% bore Trenoweth considerably at that
ime, though he was very patient. And
he was just the same always; calm,
riendly, gracious, absorbed in her
work., and to all appearance uncon- ,
cious of what mischief her presence !,
ad wrought. AS the third month \.
rev near to its end / grew desperate.
thought she avoided me; she never let
ne into the studio now, and l must
onfess | had areat curiosity. to see
be picture. But she laughingly evaded :.
II my hints, and would only receive
le at the farmhouse. believe Treno-
'eth was equally unsuccessful. At
Ist l could stand it no longer. / spoke I.
ut and told her the whole truth. Of
purse" and he laughed somewhat Bit
erly, lit was no use. If she had been
~ mother or my sister she could not
ave been more serenely gracious, more
itful or more surprised. II had II
ade fool of myself, as we men call =
, and all to no purpose. 1t was mad ?
E .
ening, but I knew it was hopeless.
I'D almost known. it before my des- .
crate, confession. couldn't bear to u
e her again. / felt hated the place,
was so full of memories. So, sud- y
emily without word to Trenoweth or ''
erself, I packed up my traps and q
arted off on sketching tour through q
ornwaH. When l came back the stu Il
o was closed, and Trenoweth had d
,ne away. The man left in charge u
Id who made the arrangements for a.
tting them, told me that new rule
I'd been made by the landlord. They L
ere never to be let to women artists. II
hat is all my part of the story. This IL
this sketch is only the figure remem- "
r. She was standing once just like u
at, looking at the wall of the studio, ="
if to her it was peopled with life, II
I'd form, and color. IL was fancy
G myself at the Academy she said cl
me, as asked her at what she was W
zing, at the Academy and my pic c;
re on the line.' do not know if she h'
er attained her AMBITION" be added. b
have never seen or heard of her N
nce."
He glanced at Jasper Trenoweth,
ho silently held out his hand for the So
etch. b;
For a moment silence reigned
the room. The eyes of all S
ere on the bent head and sad, grave
ce of the man who sat there before
EN-, his thoughts apparently far
7ay so far that he seemed to have for