The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-10
PAINTER AND WIDOW

rooms whether large OF small. The same
rule applies to the dogs of visitors, which,
If they are permitted to call. must climb
the back stairs. Certain proprietors, to
the great disgust of old maids, forbid tho
presence of cats in house. But this is
not the end of the chapter. Some bar5a-
rous proprietors go so far in tyranny as to
exclude children below years of age.
There are again proprietors who prescribe
dancing. Tea parties and quiet music
are, however, permitted, though grand
pianos and chamber organs are looked at
as ance.
The four termes, or rent days, are on
the 10Th of January, April, July and Oc-
tober, but the last terme mentioned is the
most Important of the year, on which day
the streets of Paris are filled with all man.
ner of vehicles, from huge, lun1 bering
wagons drawn by six or eight horses to
the modest handcart carrying off the 1ares
and penates of some poor workman, the
greater number of the last class having
been turned out of their abode.
There is friend Of mine painter, who
has all the talents and no talent of his own.
He would copy or initiate a Greuze or a
Vatican to perfection. A Diaz by him
only wants the signature, which an I'M
scrupulous dealer does not hesitate to
forge. My friend, whom we will call Du-
rand, is an excellent man, industrious
and clever, but too negligent to take the
initiative in anything, even in painting.
Well, he had given notice to leave his
apartment last July, on the 18th of the
month, at noon, according to the custom
of the country. He had, however, been
SO absorbed in his painting that he had
forgotten to retain wagon to take away
his furniture, End when he did at last
concern himself about the matter he only
succeeded in securing one for the end of
the day.
But at noon precisely, just as he was
putting the finishing touches to a copy of
Greuze's famous ''Cruche Cassee,'' there
came an impecious knock at the door. 1t
was the new tenant, escorted by her fur
niture. She was furious to find that Du-
rand was "dawdling over his paint brush
es, - while all her furniture was out in the
street exposed to the gaze of indiscreet
passers. She even threatened to call the
police.
Durand, like many painters, thinks tho
sea mora charming than ever when agi-
tated by storm. He found some resem-
blance between this woman and the sea
and concluded that his fair visitor was
rendered more charming by her anger.
She was about 25 years of age. She had
dark hair and blue eyes, fine, nervous
figure, and her rosy nostrils were slightly
dilated by her emotion. She was accom-
panied by a little girl of 6 years of age-a
tinued the irate lady, ''you are not going
away until 5 O'Clock? It is absurdl What
am to do with my furniture2 Where is
the proprietor? must see the proprietor. -
Durand sought an ally. The little girl
was playing with shepherdess in porce-
lain that stood on table. 'Would you
like it?''
ooh, yesl 1t IS so droll."
sTake it,"
Jeanne said the mother, IT forbid
you to accept anything
"Only to please her, - replied Durand.
81 could quite understand your prohibit
ton, but it is an economy for me. shall
have SO much less to move"
Women are easily disarmed. The lady
fixed her eyes on the tapestry in order to
keep her coHntenance.
"Your name is Jeanne?" said the paint
er.
Eyes," answered the child.
"And you papa. Where is he?''
HE died two years ago, and mamma is
a widow
Then, turning to the lady, Durand apol-
ogized for his sins, told her he had clear
ed one room, and that he would go and
help to get her furniture in. Soon the
furniture began to find it's plaoe-the
wardrobe, the mirror, the bookcase. "Oh,
madame, without knowing you, can read
your 1nind-Montesqui BalZac, Bos-
suet, Hugo, Lamartine''-
HLa, la, la!'' cried the angry lady.
"You would have done better to leave be-
fore 10 O'Clock than to be trying to study
my character.
81 am working all the time, madame.
Look! L have placed the console there
here the statue of the Virgin-this little
mirror opposite the window
sob, it is no usel You cannot make
peace with me.''
There was an interval Of 90 minutes,
during which the lady stood at the salon
window. Durand had remained in his
room with the child. care they coming
today or tomorrow, your men?' she asked
angrily as she came back into the room.
But she stopped in the middle. Jeanne,
motionless and smiling, was seated on
chair, and Durand was painting her por-
trait.
Mamma said the little one sudden
ly, 81 am hungry. You have a pate and
some wine in the big basket"
-'tCome, then, and breakfast on the bal
cony," replied the mother. Durand was
left alone to finish his sketch. There was
a silence of ten minutes. Then the child
returned timidly:
Mamma has something to ask you"
ftShe wants to turn me outf''
ssNo,"
''What them"
"Mamma wants to know-if you-if
you would like a piece of pate?"
This happened on July Is, and when
the porter arrived to announce that the
men had at last come to remove Durand' 3
furniture he found him sitting on the bal
cony at table with the mother and dam
ding the child on his knees.
Misfortunes, however, meyer come sin
gly. The wagon was too small. It would
not hold all Durand's things at once.
leave your pictures, your easel and your
palette said Jeanne. ST will take care
of them, and then you will be obliged to
come back again and finish my portrait. I"
He left them. He came into possession
of them only on the 18th, when he took
all his furnitura back to bis old rooms.