The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-03
A KISS THAT FAILED.

.Avette was posing. Perehed upon the
models table she disported herself in a
dazzling costume of the regency, her
head erect and smiling under its curly
wig, her left fist poised on her hip, lost
in its falling laces, her right hand thrust
| in her waistcoat and sword touching
her shapely leg.
'Now, Avette," said the artist, "I am
done with you for to-day; change your
clothes and give the key to the con-
cierge. I am going out"
"And Avette," he said, eff you break
| anything or put the manikin at the
door for scarecrow, or write as you
| did yesterday the name of Rothschild
on the slate in the entry, rll-Tll pull
your ears for you tomorrow morning. !"
"Have no fear, monsieur" Avette re-
turned gravely, Il never, as you know,
play the same joke twice"
Left alone in the studio, the young girl
ran into Varnet's room and began to
take off her costume.
"Ughl how hot it was!" She threw
| open the window and leaned out
Below her was what looked like a
broad well, with walls pierced by
thousand windows, arched over by the
blue sky, gilded along the roof line. and
from the depths of which rose the trees
in clumps of fresh verdure.
Through the lazy foliage of the trees
Avette distinguished dress coming
and going along the flower beds, and
once, in an unsheltered spot, the owner
of the dress, an elegant young woman,
strolling about with book in her hand.
At the end of the path she turned to
retrace her steps, by chance raised her
eyes and stopped, amazed by the sudden
appearance of this Louis the Fifteenth
cavalier. Avette, charmed by the read
er's beauty and proud of attracting her
attention, raised her fingers to her lips
and sent an ardent kiss floating down to
the beautiful unknown.
She blushed, ran up the steps of the
house to which the garden belonged and
disappeared.
1t was barely 9 o'clock next morning,
Varnet was charging his palette and
Avette was preparing to pose, when a
peremptory rap sounded upon the
studio door. A gentleman desired to
see M. Varnet at once, in spite of the
excuses of that gentleman that model
was posing.
The young girl picked up bundle in
AH
trpped across the studio.
'Sir, he began, curtly, as Avette
vanished, my presence will not sur
prise you when 1 tell you that am M.
de Lesney. occupant of the adjoining
dwelling-the dwelling facing your
window"
"Ah," murmured the painter, trying
to understand, as his visitor paused ex-
pectantly, "you honor me, pray be
seated"
still do not grasp the object of my visit,
sir, permit me to make it plain Last
evening a young man in a bal masque
costume was at your window. And that
young man addressed, dared to address,
should say, a signal-a kiss, to be ex-
act, sir-to my daughter!"
"a kissP How sir?"
"Why-er-this way, with his hand"
"Your daughter saw himP" stammer-
ed Varnet, more and more mystified.
"She saw him, sir, and herself in
formed me of it. It was a piece OF
thoughtless levity, I know that; but
you must see, you must understand,
sir, that I must prevent recurrence Of
it. Even joke may be carried too far,
sir.
Suddenly thought struck Varnet.
Mile. De Lesney was in the garden
at the time, was she notp"
"Yes. reading, sir, and raising her
eyes by chance she saw"
"Six o'clock It was o'clockp"
"Half-past, at the outside"
Varnet drew long breath of relief.
He began to lasgh.
Pardon me, sir" he said, "you have
made mistake and have been stupid
1t is not who am the culprit, though
believe the guilty one is here. One
moment please" and he hurried to the
door, opened it and bade Avette enter.
She strutted into the studio. The
sight of the visitor even, whom she had
thought gone, did not trouble her. She
was calmly mounting the models table
when Varnet stopped her.
"Avette," said he, sharply, "what did
you do here yesterday after left youP"
"What-did-I-do, monsieurP" she
lowered her eyes in affected shame; Il
resumed my SEX monsieur"
"Pshaw! I mean at the Window"
"Ah-h! I have it! l sent a kiss to
madame, your wife, monsieur. A kiss
is no affront to pretty woman, and,
coming from me, no affront to the most
jealous husband"
NJ. de Lesney laughed-how could he