The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-25
THE ARTISTS ANGEL.

Anisetto had posed oil the morning at
tho Julian academy. When tho clock
struck noon, she had stepped from tho
platform with tho assumed Indifference of
nm experienced model. 1t had not been
fatigue that had made her tromblo with
ragerness to exchange tho close studio air
Tor the SUNSHINE Of tho Champs Elysees.
1t WINS Mardi Gros Mardi Gras In Paris
that is TO say, the sun dazzled, the river
cleaned, the mir sparkled with Irresistible
hilarity, tho worry trees on tho boulevards
throw out guy little ribbons Of temptation.
Anisotte had promised to pose all tho
afternoon for George Blaokwood, but be-
fore TINT she would have at least ono
glimpse of tho revel-satisfy her thirsty
little soul with ono hastily snatched swal-
low of enjoyment. So shc ran the gantlct
of tho crowded streets, held here, caught
there, cajolcd, threatened, pursued, until
She escaped into tho impasse of the Boule-
ward St. Michel, where Blaokwood lived.
Sho arrived at tho studio flushed, DISNEY
cled and breathless, with her absurd little
hat and her shabby velvet capo all pow
tered with gold and silver dust.
George Blackwood had been pacing up
and down in IA rage of impatience. but at
her entrance no throw himself intoa chair
with Il shout of relief.
'Enfln, Anisottc," no cried, 'but it is
adorable of you to como today
.'V'la!" said Anisotte proudly. 81 prom
ised would come l am here. L under
stand how much depends upon me. Be-
sides l must be in the Champ do Mars rs
well as that peacock Cclostino, posing for
your friend at 20. AS for tho folly out
side. that is nll childs play" She waved
her hand with superb distlain, tossed her
hat across the room and began at once to
prepare for her pose.
Selling his palette, Blacbwood squeezed
his tubes with an unsteady hnnd. He was
q young fellow, but his 20 years had been
all sturm und drang. He had worn
face, with high cheek bones; his forehead
where il was visible under the thatch of
Crayish blond hnir was prematurely lined,
and tho eyes. which shone under over
hanging brows, blinked and stared like
those OF cat in tho dark. AT once i'm
aginaeive and critical no was victim
OF that moral hypochondria, morbid self
analysis; with n giants physique he COM
bined a womans sensibilities, womnn's
power OF concentrated passion. Intensely
preoccupied with himself he gave but
perfunctory attention to the experiences so
many other men werc eager TO dilatc upon
for his benefit AS n consequence he could
number his acQuaintances on his fingers.
He had no friends. He lived alone, drink
ing inuumerable cups OF black coffee,
smoking cigarettes as unoonsciously as he
brea-hcd, painting early and late, paint
ing while he devoured his meals, painting
while he slept. He gave himself to his
ar5 wholly and without reserve, but he
would make no concessions to his divinity;
he would not WOO her TO come to him; he
would compel her Sometimes he succeed
ed for the time being, but she bore the
marks az the conflict.
As be- prepared his palette he soothed his
excitement by laughing with Anisette
oyer her descriptions of the masks she had
seen a. a man speaks gently to FESTIVE
horse he cannot quito control.
When Anisette sprang to the platform
and assumed her pose, his brows relaxed !;
he was confident, ezultant. She stepped
into the shadow cast By a screen, and she
seemed 20 him 20 have 81 luminous quality,
ike streak Of pale light. i;c had paint
ed her in an artificial twilight against n
piece of purple velvet that had been worn
into grays as delicate us the mists over
distant hills at evening. The light brush
ed her shoulders and her outstretchcd arms
in thread Of gold, melted in the diapha-
nous drapery floating about her and burned
like fame IN hcr hair. The wings of Il
The shouts from the street below reach
ed them family. Anisette occupied her
self with fnncies rs bizarre as the costumes
of the jewellers, but she neither spoke nor
moved, and tho transfigured purity of her
upturned face was as changeles5 Us q mask
in marble. To BlGckwood as no painted
she was Us incorporeal rs the evening star.
He had thought Of calling his picture that
when it was completed.
Blackwood talked unconsciously to hin
self as no worked. He painted with shak-
ing fingers, stopping every now and then
TO steady himself, staring at hor dumbly-
one moment thrilled anew by the beauty
of his conception, tho triumphal sense OF
power, the next chilled with the hopeless
ness of adequate expression, overcome by
"A dismal prophetic vision of that moment
when the Joy of the creation would pass
and leave him with tho nauseating GER
tainty of having failed somewhere, some
how, by breath too little or too much.
Anisette filled tho short pauscs with her
chatter-a chatter that relieved the tension
of Blackwood's nerves. He looked at the
little creature with softenod glance, his
face relaxed from the grimaco into which
his nervousness had twisted 1t.
''Anisettc, no said, touching her hand
with an impctuous movement, my pic
ture will be success. 1t will be you who
have done it. We will celebrate it, What
will you have then?"
"Half dozen pates with foie gras, "
said Anisctte promptly, champagne, oys
tiers and for solid hunger n bif tex us thick
as your hand"
"And something to wear-somethinp
for your pretty little head" no added,
fiourishing paint brush.
Anisetto glowcd with pleasure. Gallons
Let us wcrk, then; let us work!' she cried
Blackwood seized his palette. For an
hour tho silence was unbroken. Anisette