The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-06

| face, neck, breast and arms of one. and of
the profile. head. arms, shoulders, back
waist and limbs of the other; while their
attitude was one of loving converse.
Behind these, giving three figures TO
| the central group, was another, younger.
/ il not fairer, leaning against a column of
the cOlonnade and softly drumming a
| guitar. To the left, the eldest, still a
rarely beautiful woman, was sitting with
| her side and back to the artists a mon
/ strOus, bare-arL2ed negress, whom they
/ afterWard knew as Eatma, laZily plait-
ing the heavy folds of her sable hair;
while to the right of all, her bare feet
I dabOllng in the spray of Ihe fountain,
aud her bare shoulders like creamy mar
Bile in the sunlight, was the youngest of
the harem, one arm reaching back to the
| floor thing in dainty support ana the
other. stretched outward and upward
toward white and futtering doves, which
| she lured from the roof above to her tiny
finger tips with proffered food.
They had toiled like heroes. fearful of
| the harem's captiousuess or some unfore-
seen ulschance, and not until nearly the
end of the fifth days labor had they felt
/ sufficiently secure for an iustant's com
ment upon their subjects or their extra
ordinary situation.
Great Scott" venUured Nader. sure
| Of their models ignorance of the English
tongue, now if we are ever lucky enough
to marry into the Manley family and the
ladies would only let their limbs out like
these, our fortunes would certainly be
made!"
''Nonsense!" returned his companion
warmly, American and English women
are about as tractable as castiron to an
artist. Finest wives under the sun, but
grand as those Manley ladies are, put
them in poses like these and in ten sec
onds they would be all drawn into the
shape of saw horses with a perfect collie
of assumed modesUy"
Or would shrek in horror and run
away. Confound it, Harry! Let's way
lay the sheik and elope with the entire
outfit"
agreed, Jack. I've noticed more than
one kindly glance already from their
kohl-circled eyes. Ben Lazi would do
away with the old wretch for less than
100 francs. Bring our work right into the
place, Ell? Whew what would Harriet
and Edith say if they could hear us going
on this way2"
"We'd get the sack, snrel But. Harry.
do you know you're painting all those
Manley ladies here, rather than these
| Moorish womenln
Can't help it, Jack. I've tried nv best
to keep their forms and features out of
the composition. I can't do it altogether
What's up now"
The artists were here startled by the
| quick drawing of the curtains, while
smothered laughter from the harem was
distinctly audible.
Never before were artists so thrilled by
canvas or by scene. Never were artists
so ecstatic and impetuous in their work
And never were artists so increasingly
! bewildered as when, coming day after
| day to their hourly sittings-interrupted
| only by drawn curtains for the harem's
rest and their own refreshment of coffee
and violet sherbet. silently served by
| Eatma on seeueeyeh of silver and
koorsee of inlaid mother-of-pearl, in cups
and ttagons of gilt, with spoons of tortoise
shell-to lind every pose. every attitude
| and every accessory reproduced for them
in the most faithful and minute detail.
short shift to-day! Times not nearly
up, either. They can't defeat US now.
You're bound for the Paris salon, Harry,
Edith or no Edith" With which they
withdrew to their workshop on the dis
| tant terrace.
They were promptly at work the next
morning with the flush of victory upon
them, for drawing and detail were now
so perfected that nothing short of COM
plete destruction of Casselearth's canvas
could prevent its successful completion.
In this condition of feeling they were
indulging in further light and airy badi-
mage.
Jack, " insisted Casselearth with some
feeling, "I'm half in love with the entire
harem and wholly in love with that CEN
trail figure facing US. To me she is Edith
| Marley reincarnated in that Moorish
woman. If l lose Edith. I'll return here
for that houri if l have to murder the old
sheik myselfn'
by Jupiter" That's precisely my feel
ing for her companion, the one with her
face half turned this way. Ill make the
same confession about her. Wen be com
,sx,v,- \ I'D
between us!'
The words were no mor3 than spoken
when the Silvery bell again rang and the
curtains closed in upon them.
Our sentiments seem to have an odd
effect upon the machinery of this placep'
exclaimed Casselearth in alarm
Not time for coffee, either!" returned
| Nader impatiently.
They waited for a long time in silence.
Much hurried rustling was heard within
the court. The two men whispered to-
gether in puzzled trepidation. Suddenly
Mahommed Ben LaI appeared, appar-
emily overcome by fright and agitation
"Bismallah! Bismallah!" he groaned.
''The sheik-the sheik!" and then as sud
denly vanished in the direction of the
street entrance.
We're in for it now, Nader viii we
murder him sure enough2"
Murder nothing ~ his companion whis-
pered, as a loud summons was heard
somewhere in the vicinity of the vesti-
bule. IN put up my flyers with the old
rascal, while you get out of here lively
with that wet canvass"
A clang of the grated door was heard.
CALCULATIONS of "Bismallah!" from the
lips of their servant followed. The crouch
ing listeners heard rapid strides past
them in the direction of the center of the
court Casselearth, canvas in hand and
prepared for flight, and Nader in atti-
tude of aggressiveness or defense, stink
ing back against the walls, again heard
the tinkle of the silvery bell
Instantly the curtains were drawn. A
food of light and laughter poured in
upon them. For there they saw, not the
harem being beheaded by cleaning
scimitar in the hands of vengeful sheik,
but the laughing, triumphant, uproarious
faces of their betrotheds. mother, hoyden
sisters and all, in becoming Christian at
tire, with their real sheik beside them, as
fine little Boston business man as ever
gloated over lobster salad or wore side
whiskers, convulsed with merriment and
enjoying the artists discontinue and his
family's brilliant glbes and taunts as the