Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-03-20
THE ARTISTS ANGEL

Anisette had posed all the morning at
the Julian academy. When the clock
struck noon, she had stepped from the
platform with the assumed indii cronce of
an experienced model. 1t had not been
fatigue that had made her tremble with
eagerness to exchange the close studio air
for the sunshine of the Champs Elysoes
1t was Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras in Paris
that is TO say, the sun dazzlcd, the river
CLEANED, the air sparkled with Irresistible
hilarity, the very trees on the bouloVardS
threw out gay little ribbons Of temptation.
Anisette had promised 10 rusc all the
afternoon for George Blackwood, but be-
fore that she would have at least one
glimpse of the revel-satsfy her thirsty
little soul with one hastily anatchcd swal-
low of enjoyment. SO she ran the gauntlet
of the crowded streets, held here, caught
there. cajoled, threatened. pursued, until
she escaped into tho impasse off tho Bonlc-
ward St Michel, where Lakewood lived.
She arrived at the studio flushed, DISNEY
eled and breathless, with her absurd little
hat and her shabby velvet cape all pow
dered with gold and silver dust.
George Blackwood had been pacing up
and down in a rage OF impatience but at
her entrance he threw himself into a chair
with shout of relief.
"Enfln, Anisette, he cried, but 1t is
adorable of you to come today!'
"V'lar' said Anisette proudly. II prom
ised would come l am here. l under
stand how much depends upon me. Be
sides must be in tho Champ de Mars as
we'll as that peacock Ceestine, posing for
your friend at 20. AS for the folly out
side that is all childs play" She waved
her hand with superb disdain, tossed her
hat across the room and began at once to
prepare for her pose.
Selling his palette, Blackwood squeezed
his tubes with an unsteady hand. He was
n young fellow, hut his 20 years had been
all sturm ind drang. He had worn
face with high check bones; his forehead
where it was visible under the thatch of
grayish blond hair was prematurely lined,
and the eyes, which shone under over
hanging brows, blinkcd and stared like
| those of a cat in tho dark. At once I'M
aginativo and critical, he was victim
of that moral hypochondria, morbid sell
analysis; with IL giant physique he com
bined woman's scnsiblities, woman 5
power of concentrated passion. Intensely
preoccupicd with himself, he gave but a
perfunctory attention to the experiences so
|
for his benefit. AS n consequence he could
number his acquaintances on his fingers.
He had no friends He lived alone, drink
| ing innumerablu cups of black coffee,
smoking cigarettes rs unconsciously AS he
| breathed panting early and late, paint
! ING while ne deNuurcd his meals, painting
while he slept He gave himself to his
art wholly and without reserve, but lie
4 would make no concessions To his divinity;
! he would not woo her 10 come To him; Pc
would compel her. Sometimes lac succeed
ed for the time being, but she bore the
marks of the conflict
As he prepared his palette he soothed his
excitement by laughing with Anisette
over her descriptions of the masks she had
seen, rs man speaks gently TO rosllNe
horse he cannot quite control.
When Anisctte sprang to the platform
and assumed her pose, his brows relaxed ;
he was confident, eXultant. She stepped
into the shadow cast by II screen, and she
seemed to him to have ii luminous quality,
like IA streak uf pale light He had paint
ed her in an artificial twilight against IL
piece of purple velvet that had been worn
= into grays as delicate as the mistS over
distant hills at evening. The light brush
ed her shoulders and her outstretched arms
in thread of gold, melted in the diapha-
nous drapery floating about her and burned
like flame in her hair. The wings of a
great sea bird lowered behind her.
The shouts from tine street below reach
ed them family Anisette occupied her
self with fancies MS bizarre as the costumes
of the jewellers, but she neither spoke nor
moved, and the TRANSPORTED purity of her
upturned face was AS changeless as IL mask
in marble To Blackwuod as he painted
she was as incorporeal rs the evening star.
He had thought of calling his picture that
when it WAS completed.
Blackwood talked unconsciously to him.
self as he worked. He painted with shak-
ing fingers, stopping every now and then
TO steady himself, staring Mt her dumbly-
one moment thrilled anew by the beauty
Of his conception, the triumphal sense OF
power, the next chilled with the hopeless
ness of adequate expression, overcome Ivy
a dismal prophetic vision of that moment
when the JOY Of the creation would pass
and leave him with the nauseating Ger
tainty of having failed somewhere, some
how, by IA breath too little or too much.
Anisette filled tho short pausos with hel
chattor-n chatter that relieved the tension
of Blackwood's nerves. He looked at the
little creature with IA softened glance, hi,
face relaxed from the grlmace into which
his nervousness had twisted 1t.
"Anisette," he said, touching her hand
with an impctuous movement, my pic
ture will be IA success. 1t will be you who
have done it. We will celebrate it, What
will you have them
"Half "a dozen patcs with foio gras,
said Anisette promptly, champagne, oys
ters and for solid hunger bil tex as thick
us your hand. "
And something to wear-somethinG
for yuur pretty little head" no added
Tourist, "a paint hrush.
AIMS. .oIoNod Vi,h pleasure. Gallons
Ictt;f,,. D.. t.,o; lo. .- 1.or-l" shocrod
l]l..' ....d D., i1,d lis llctto' For an
h.trt.At nee was uuhrokCn. Aui>ott'
D has TO-. 4, j., cuo " her feet, and hc
a.Ir. i.... . Wl,h to ett"rt Of holding
f.t.. -. '. d staudu
from O. % from III. very nearly
Il.