Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-08-11

IN'fN hct 70 AoAoW lne same call
ing. He also learnt that his was the
iirst studio in which she had sat.
One day when she came he was al
most Frustrated by more than I'M
usually severe headache. a complaint
From which he frequently suffered. In
The middle Of the mornings work she
suddenly jumped up.
cried.
'only one Of my headaches" he
said, family and YEARLY. You know
often have them. But I think 1 will
sit down a bit"
Then he tainted.
When he recovered consciousness he
found himself lying on the only couch
which the studio boosted, while Mari
Blackwood stood over him with a bod
tie of smelling salts
Where do you keep the tea?" she
asked, with smile. 81 must make
You cup at once.
He pointed to a cupboard.
Years afterwards he remembered
the quiet JOY with which he watched
her quick, graceful movements as she
set about preparing that tea. To a
man accustomed to living alone and
/" doing for himself" nothing is more
delicious than the sight of charming
and sympathetic woman performing
those simple domestic Offices which an
unkind fate has compelled him to do
how clumsily) for himself.
"By the way" Lacy said as he con
tentedly slipped the tea, q how camc 1
on this couch?"
g carried you there, said Mary,
With a suspicion of red in her cheeks.
"Oh er-I seef'
| nursed my mother for three years
before she died, and I know what to
do; and - you aren't very heavy"
Far too heavy for your strength. :"
he said And then he thanked her
quite prettily, and she said that really
it was nothing.
Really it was a very great deal.
From that day they we're no longer
yartist and model, but close friends.
Richard suddenly discovered that it
was necessary for Mary to sit four times
u week instead ofthree. Unexplained
= iiisH z
difficulty in finishing the drawings by
the appointed time. Then he said he
weuld like to paint her portrait as
% Clair Iugelow" for the Academy,
which would open in a couple of
months.
"But how about finishing the draw
ings for the book" she questioned,
with laughing glance from beneath
her long eye-lashes.
"Well, 1 think that painting por-
trait of you would help me considerably
with the black-and- white work. It's
rather difficult to explain" he added,
after a pause, "but Tn sure it would
help"
"Quite SO. 1 think understand,
she replied, sweetly.
No doubt she did.
1t was about this time that Richard
found he could talk and work as well.
They discussed everything; and the
man discovered to his surprise that in
all domains of knowledge outside art,
the woman was his equal. 1t was re-
markable that their discussions never
ended with the sittings. Richard said
that perhaps if he took more exercise
he might have less headaches, and so
he fell into the habit of escorting her
to her rooms, and even at her door he
many things that he want
ed to say. During one of these walks
Mary remarked that the portrait was
nearly completed.
"Of course you will call it Cellar
she said.
-" Yes; 1 suppose 1 must" was the
reply, "but l could suggest at least
two better titles.
"Indeedl And may ask what
they are?'
"Well, one is The Dearest Girl in
the World, and the other: Portrait
of the Artists Wife.
She was silent 1t was dark, and
the road was deserted. His arm crept
round her waist. She looked up, and
her lips met his, descending to meet
them.
And so it was arranged.