Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-02-03

nave made her fortune IN burleSQue, II
she had but chosen to try her hand
at it. The manager of the Ambiguity
had been heard to express on more
than one occasion the opinion that. as
far as physical gifts went, Mrs. Rost-
revor was the ideal principal boy; he
was even understood to have offered
her, through the medium of that ener-
getic patron Of the lighter forms OF
theatrical art, Lord Westminster, an
engagement at his theatre at salary
only inferior to that which he paid his
principal comedian, with the special
provision thrown In that he would not
trouble her to attend matinees. The
manager of the Ambiguity's opinion in
the matter of form admits, as every
one knows. of no appeal, and though
Mrs. Rostrever declined the ofKer. os-
tensibly with scorn, she was careful TO
mention its terms to all her friends,
thus becoming at once the admiration
more than ever of the men. and the
hopeless envy of the women.
OF all this Claud was aware, and to
lose a chance SO unique as that of Sc
curing such peculiarly suitable sis, er
for the picture he had been contemplate
ing for some time was excessively irri-
tating. 1t was true that she had never
given him to understand that she would
consent to sit, but, on the other hand.
various, as he had thought obvious, in
ferences that he had drawn from time
to time from chance remarks she had
let drop, had established in his mind
the conviction that her consent, though
not likely to be volunteered, was pretty
sure, ii he went discreetly enough about
it, to be eventually procurable Vow
to the annoyance caused by her refu
sal was added the additional annoyance
OF having to confess that he had made
mlscalculation--a thing which he
prided himself he never did.
Still. even now he was loath to admit
that he had failed. He sat his brains
strenuously to work to consider il
there was no possible card that he could
yet play.
And as he sat there trying to puzzle
it out, gradually, amid the curling blue
clouds of smoke, there came to him an
idea. He smiled.
A week passed. One afternoon Mrs.
Rostrevor meeting him in Bond street
on one of her inevitable shopping ex-
was getting on.
To her surprise, and, be it said, an
noyance, for, womanlike, she wished
to imagine that her place could not
easily be filled, he answered, "splend-
idly!"
"Then you have found model?" she
said.
'Oh, yes,' he answered carelessly
Ilxyty ty,<a pnfr ffxyr
| idea of what the picture will be like
now, though, of course, it isn't finished.
l have been working terribly hard at it
to make up for lost time. Will you
! come around to tea and have look at
it?"
She was interested, still wondering
how he managed to do without her,
and came.
He turned up the light as they went
into the studio. The canvas was at
the other end, facing her For a mo-
ment she was SILENT staring.
Then why-you how dare your"
she said. Yes, how dare you?"
The artist smiled. THE Principal
Boy was obviously no other than Mrs
| Rostrevor--it was impossible to get
away from the likeness
"You have not used model at all"
she gasped.
Il found one in my memory" he said
"and-my imagination
She went over to the other end of the
studio. He held lamp behind her
| while she examined the canvas, stand
| ing little way off to gauge the gener-
al effect.
He stole glance at her, sideways,
and smiled. The victory was half won;
it was obvious that she admired herself
in this strange attire.
After all" she murmured, why not
why"
She went closer to the picture, bend
ing down over it, and ScrutiniZing it
in detail.
Suddenly she started back, her face
| flushing.
But it's not true" she exclaimed,
somewhat incoherently, it's not true. u
What isn't true?' he ventured. 1t
was the first time since she had seen
the picture that he had spoken.
"Why that" she said Indignantly.
She pointed to "The Principal Boys
| knees The violet tights seemed to ac-
centuate their very obvious knock"
Il am very sorry" he said, humbly.
"you see, did not know. So many
women are like that. l."
Have you pair of tights here?'.'
she said. The words were low, but he
caught them.
| I'm the dressing room there are sew
eral," he said. LAS matter of fact l
have the exact costume of The Princi-
pal Boy" l had it made at one of the
theatrical shops ON purpose to be sure
that l got the details right
| Without another word she went into
the dressing room The door closed be-
hind her with bang. Ten minutes
later she emerged. 1t was living pic
! ture of The Principal Boy" that ad-
vanced proudly toward him, living
picture, that is, with one exception.
There was not suspicion of imperfec-
| tion about the knees.
| You seei" said Mrs. Restroyer tri-
umphantly.
Il humbly apologize he said; after
all / am not wholly to blame for the
error III one has not the original be-
fore one, one can never be quite sure
about these Details
1T would be pity not to put them
right" said Mrs. Restrover thoughtful
ly.
He crossed the Rubicon.
Gould you come for a sitting to-
morrow morning at 11?' he said
Il say 11:30." said Mrs Rostre-
yor.-Pick- -Me-Up