The San Francisco call., 1897-03-14

"Yes, couldl" promptly.
"Could you come for the next two
weeks? ?''
"Yes." with increased cheerfulness.
"But l thought you were so busyf
What will Tadema and Herkomer and
Velasquez do without your"
"Ho (gayly). I don't care: they can
come for me, they can. if they wants me.
| Will you tyke me for two weeks? What
will you pye mel"
A red spot had appeared in either cheek.
She had put her two gioved hands to-
gether and spoke in quick, strained
voice. There was something almost
fercely eager in ner expression. Her ra-
pacitv was SO extraordinary that I an
swersd rather brutally, with some dis
| gust:
| for Velasquezp'
She looked at me with her big, soft eyes,
suddenly suffused with tears, and was
| silent. After a moment she said almost
inaudibly:
Hi never posed for Mr.. Belaskuss."
"Weli, you did for Titan. and that's as
bad! To say nothing OF Ho!bein and
Herkomei and the rest"
She was quite shaken at this rebuff and
began to feel sorry for the child. Her
effrontery had been amusing and her at
titude bold and gay. Now she stood star
ing at me in utter detection. Her bril-
liant little falsehoods, that were as her
stock in trade, had suddenly armed them
selves against her. She held her head up
In q m moment however, and put her lips
together aud her expression breatheu
hatred and defiance. Unconsciously had
set trap for her and she walked in, and
as she submitted with inward rage and
outward courage l found my admiration
and very sympathies enlisted for my cap
tive.
''I'll take you for four or five hours next
Monday. II find you pose we'll I'll take
you for week.
She looked at me with incredulous eyes
and drew long breath.
"All right" she said, without adding
word of gratitude.
When the pose was over she approached
me.
my father is dead" she said, 'my
mother sews herself blind, l have five sis
ters and b,others younger than me. Most
people laughs when lies about the great
hartists I've posed for; but I'd lie thou
sand times more; I'd fight and I'd steal, II
wasn't afraid, to make money; I'd steal;
yes, would"
The child was an old woman in a mo-
ment, with a passionate little face. all
lined and scanned with fear and dread and
terror of the battle she faced as a rule
with such a snow of bravery.
1t occurred to me as she left, protesting
her Joy and gratitude. that psychology
was likely to be more. absorbing study
and more expensive one than an artist
could afford. thought OF the common-
place types that had presented them-
selves, the brute behind King Jymes, the
woman behind the Burne- Jones angels,
the martyred child behind probably half
dozen spirits of Joy or Peace or wood.
nvmphs or mere school studies for which
| Hazel Linden had probably posed, with
| her intrepid little manner and her beauti-
| full eyes, shining in her hard little face
| and there passed through my mind some
| familiar lines:
And truly reiterate no things small.
No iify-muff1ed hum a summer bee
Eut hnds sGme cOuplin with Inc spin ming stars,
| No pebble at your foot hut pr.ves a sphere,
! No chaffinch nut implies the cherubim
= Eartl'S heaven
And every common bush afire with God
But only lie who lakes off his shoes:
The rest sit round 1t and pluck black berries.
VAN DYcK Brown