Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-17
The Last
Flicker .


he crossed over to where the youngster
sat and touched him on the shoulder.
.'You must give it up, Roger" he said,
Eat least for week or So"
"Impossible,' answered Frere, YEARLY,
until have finished"--
(which, yourself or the pictureT'
You don't understand. That picture is
my other self--it lives with me, working
or sleeping-I cannot shake it off. Jack,
that was to have been the work of my life;
instead it is failure"
Don't say that, my boy; it has some
splendid qualities. Very little will put it
right. Come, we will examine the patient
and see where the weakness lies" and
the doctor placed himself before the easel
In the attitude Of a critic, Frere languidly
following. 1T is masterpiece" he con-
tinued, with one exception. The cold
gray dawn across the river makes me
SILVER; the rough faces of the watermen
ache with newborn pity, but the dead girl
is false--as a medical man, l say it is
false! The figure is alive; she is sham
ming, posing for effect. A corpse does not
choose graceful lines and droop its eyelids
to show the lashes; death is rigid, gray,
immutable."
"And yet have spent ha'f the time over
hundred poses to get it realistic"
Eyes, living figure. Why not paint
age from youth, night from day us well as
death from lifeT
"But what am to dop Frere broke out
irritably. "Kill my model before | start?'
II admit the difficulty" NARROW replied,
quietly, ''and vet death is all around us.
have just come from death bed across
the way--a young girl, too, like yours,
nameless. bound for n nameless grave.
Pooh! Such eases are common enough
light-o'-loye in a garrett, a bnrly lover
who wooes with hobnais-a sudden seiz-
urea few hours agony-and the farce is
played"
Frere's manner had undergone a change;
he was alert and eager as he asked:
What are they going to do with her,
Jack?' ...
"They are preparing her for the mortu-
airy now. Tomorrow they will bury
her"
But, Jack, don't you see-it can do nc
harm" Nm
"Eh! what?" .....r.
"They are taking her to the mortuary
let them leave her here for an hour! You
will save my life-it is my only chance
Do, Jack, if you love met
Impossible" cried the doctor, in dis
may; most unprofessional. If it got out
] should he ruined"
But Frere was not to he denied; hi
pleaded hard, using every pretext that hi
eagerness could conjure up. The mai
could be bribed; they could bring her b,
the narrow lane to the back door of tn,
studio and take her to the mortuary late
on. No one would see the men enter h,
that way, and they would be silent fo
their own sakes. MARROW Mt length hega,
to give way; he was anxious about hi
friends health, and the matter was not o
sufficient importance ever to leak out.
I'm have nothing to do with it" he said
shut I'll tell that brute of husband tina
you'll give him a couple of sovereigns
he likes to smuggle the girl in here.
they come, it will be soon; they were NJ
ranging the body when | left When the
knock, admit them quietly and say us lii
tie as possible
Frere was fervent in his thanks. hut II,
doctor would hear none of it. He weI
away, protesting that it was most unpr,
fcssional and that he would have no han
in it. Left to himself. the young arti
commenced his preparations with VOL
derful return of energy. His chance ha
come nj last: with the reality before hin
he would paint such death scene /;
would fill mems mouths with his praise
There should he no lolling, animate dun
my. but the CHASTITY calm of eternal dealt
He was so occupied that he scarcely rea
lied that an hour had passed before thel
was Il knocking ut the door leading on
the lane. He FASTENED TO open it and -four
four-wheeled cab drawn up in the ma
row roadway. Two villainous men we
standing beside it; the taller of the "
s,,;, Il. 4
his nodding an assent mOtioncd to Il
comrade to help him with n heavy bund
which filed the inside of the vehicle. Tn,
carried it into the studio and placed
near the stove as directed, throwing
the heavy Wrappings.
..Comc back in n couple of hours" sa
INrere. as he placed couple of sovcreig
in the big mans hand. The two tn
skunk away, AS though glad to he quit
an unpalatable job, and Roger was Il
alone with the body. For the first time
slight feeling of fear came over him; tho
was something so terribly still about t
figure stretched before him, the very roc
seemed to borrow the airless hush of
vault. But he pulled himself togctl
with hollow laugh and knelt down to
range the drapery.
Poor girl"' he said; "a pretty face, t,
tlOW HlhlN SMILES nave plhyeu over tnt
set lins? How many thoughts of love a
hate have lighted up those unsceing eye
The stove throws quite pink glow o,
the face. The figure is too straight; the
fellows have no sense of art" He co
menced gently to raise the limbs, but
them 60 with hoarse cry.
''Good God! l thought it moved poo
my brain is over-eXcited And time
preeiousr'
He touched her again with trembl
hands. This time the eyes slowly oper
and met his with n dull, expressions
gaze. Frere started to his feet and ste
frozen with horror. But his amazem
had not reached its climax vet, for pr
emily wan smile played about the VII
lips and faint voice said:
81 shall be better soon, Mr.. Frere."
The beating of his heart almost ch0l
the young painter, but at the sound of
name he bent forward and peered inten
into the girls face. Then a flash of rec
milton came to him.
by all that's wonderful" he gasp
sits Anne--my old modelp
The girl looked puzzled at his mann
and then her eyes closed YEARLY again
she passed out of consciousness. But
old intimacy of five years ago had brol
the spell for Frere; he was once m
ready for action. On table were the
mains of meal and n flask of bran
He seized the latter and forced Ii
of the spirit between her lips. 1t t.
effect for the eyes opened again, this Ii
with more life in them.
Il must have tainted" she whisper
a L e. \. n