Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-03-01
A TIMID GENUS.

balmy breath 10 dwell over all the land.
bad always considered myself
pretty fair artist until | came 10 Paris,
and | had dreamed OF the time when,
freed from the difficulties which beset
me in my native place, | might attain
some ame-might even have a picture
i'm the Salon, that great salon that | had
read of with such intense eagernes, that
! knew by heart the name, OF those
whose pictures year by year hung upon
it, walls
But when came To Paris all, thea
| ii was different matter. All around
me saw work rejected which would
have made the artist famous down in
Aries And how could ! nope to do
better than they?
had "a little room at the top Of
house far back ON the Rue Brezin, and
by degrees ! came to know-that is to
know by name and to exchange the
good morning" and good evening"
Wlth-the other occupants of the house.
All of these were artists like myself,
striving hard all day but merry fellows,
full of jests and laughter who held high
carnival at night after their day work
was done.
one day it was about in the after
noon, some one knocked AZ my door. |
called out To come i'm. thinking it might
be the concierge or the little GIRL who
helped me keep my room in order, but
neither of these did ii prove to be, for
when the door was opened there stood
all five of my fellow-artist- with whom
! was known. Some one-I think il
was Pierre Dmand-announced that,
being unable TO work themselves, they
had come to look at mine.
asked them into my poor little
room-they must have thought it q
drcary place, but did not find it so;
was never lonely, for had companion
there upon the easel my Lucie. The
portrait was nearly finished now, and
she looked out at me with the same
dear eyes that had looked into mine
when we parted in the garden OF the
old chateau. Dear Lucie,
In they dropped. Pierre Durand
Jacques Jamain, Karl Ho,witz, who
was German and the two brothers,
Jean and George Dubois. They nearly
filled my little room, those lively fell
lows, with their rapid motions and loud
| laughter. and then one and all gathered
around the easel. where stood my UNI
finished canvas. and assuming the air
of critics. drew aside the curtain.
Then they fell back a though aston
! ished. with every expression OF eNtrava-
giant admiration and with looks OF pre-
tended wonder they regarded it and
discussed il among themselves:
w hu co,oi. WHAT AN expression"
w rat IcaNcnN face What deli
cacl ol iuUch.
E,GE word was sword at my heart.
.or coUud not bear that they should
lIdIcuc my Lucie.- piclUre. y Tor my
Vor", ! d.d not think much Oi it. but
knew that it was like her sweet face
and hated to hear these frivolous fell
lows amusing themselves over a like
ness, poor though it was, Of Lucie.
Who would have thought" said
Pierre Durand, that we had great
artist in our midst?'
Imagne, said Jean Dubois, "hav-
ing a Raphael in our attic"
Entertaining an angel unawares,
added George.
surely" said Pierre, this is to 90 to
the Salon
"Amuse yourselves. gentlemen" said
|, though | could not prevent my voice
from being husky, and my full heart
would send some drops to my eyes.
"Amuse yourselves at my poor efforts;
but now must ask YOU TO excuse me.
for ii is time that | give my lessons at
the school"
But truly. NornOt. you will send
your picture to the Salon. That heaven
ly face would bring great price. If
] We're a millionaire, | would give few
thousands to possess it myself said
Pierre, with a great laugh.
The picture i not for sale. gentle
men, | said and turned away.
Very sore | felt that afternoon. and
very tedious and hateful seemed the
lessons AT the school for dcmoiselles
where | taught three times a week. 1t
was not much they paid me for their
lessons, but it served 10 keep body and
soul together until | should be better
able to cope with the talent around me
could succeed little. could lay by a
little and send for my Lucie to join me-
| got through somehow though the
young ladies were unusually stupid. il
seemed TO me, and | found that each
day some new duty was cNacted of me-
although my little pay was never in
creased. However, / could not COM
plain. had thought myself very for
tunate indeed TO have secured the posi-
ton. and there were many many 9TH
ers ready and ANXIOUS to take my
place.
As the weeks slipped by my picture
grew and grew, each day adding some
charm TO it in my fond eyes, some deli
cate shade to the face or dress. until
at last | could do nothing more. aud
with sigh | acknowledged to myself
that my picture was finished. my work
done.
Many time had Pierre and the rest
asked as to It's progress. but would
not admit them again with their chat,
which hurt me in spite of myself Per-
haps | am too sensitive | should have
realized that all who would climb must
find it hard. but shrank with all my
nature from again having my picture
the subject of their jokes.
Is your picture ready for the Salon?"
! thpV xvprlI say ~ thpV moi mo iu tho