The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-12-08

the studio, just three days before, Adele
had watched the young man very Gu
riously.
His behavior interested her. He
seldom spoke, but worked at his pic
! ture with quiet pertinacity. Presently
the young fellow dropped his brush and
walked silently from the room. Adele
turned her eyes upon her companion.
Who is your friend, monsieur" she
asked abruptly.
The artist, deeply engaged in his
work, failed at first to notice her ques-
ton.
who is he?" she asked again.
"He?"
| yes; the young man who works al
ways and never speaks"
"He is friend"
Naturally, monsieur, since he shares
your studio. But where does he come
| from?'
The artist smiled.
you seem curious about him, made
moiselle," he said. What do you wish
| to know concerning him.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
Wish TO know" she exclaimed. "Ma
| fol! / have no wish to know. mon
| sieur.'
Then l don't mind telling you. He
| is countryman of mine. He was
| born in village near where | was
| born. | knew him when he was a boy;
and when he came tc Paris a few
4 he
and compelled to live on slender means,
| | offered to share my studio with him,
and he is here. There, you have lost
| your fierce look and got quite tame
| one into your eyes. You are no longer
wild creature of the Revolution. You
are also stiff, / perceive. Take few
turns about the rooms, mademoiselle,
then we will go on"
The artist walked over to a table 1T
tered with all kinds of debris, filled
well-colored briar-root pipe, and began
to smoke.
He was tall man, slight in build,
rather goodlooking, but very careless
ly dressed; when he walked, he did so
| with a slight limp, though he appeared
to have well-knit limbs; and when he
spoke French, he did so with very
| strong insular accentuation. From
himself Adele had learned nothing of
his personal history, for he was chary
of giving that kind Of information,
and at times more inclined to work
than talk.
Having received permission to rest,
| Adele shook herself like young PAN
ther, and leaped lightly from the ros-
| trum, while her employer, having lit
| his pipe, strolled off and left her in
| sole possession of the studio. She
stood for a moment TO stretch her
| limbs, already cramped with posing,
then strolled thoughtfully to the fur
| Their end of the studio, where the
| younger of the two men had been
working There stood the picture at
which he worked so assiduously, COW
| cred with a green fold of baize. Adele
| lOnged to have a peep at it. She lis
| tened; returned to the door; there was
no sound; then she ran lightly across
| the room, lifted the loose baize and
exposed the picture to full view.
Holy Mothery' she exclaimed,
starting back with raised eyebrows
and hands.
you are startled, mademoiselle,"
said voice. do you consider the
picture bad one?"
| Adele turned and saw her employer
gazing at her from the threshold OF
the room.
IF you please" he continued, adj
vancing, 1--WE will return to our work.
Your face has got some expression
now; the rest has done you good"
Without word she turned from the
picture, mounted her rostrum and fell
into her accustomed pose.
For a time the artist worked again
silently, and Adele, glancirg from him
to the picture, seemed celebrating as
to what she should do.
Presently she spoke.
How long has he been in Paris ?"
she said, indicating by sidelong
movement of her head the person who
usually occupied the other end Of the
room.
Several months, as | Informed
YOU" returned the artist, without look
ing up from his work.
who is his model?"
(Which one?"
For that picture
mo one. He paints from memory"
"Ah, then, he has known her? He
is compatriot OF madame?"
"Of whom"
| tho nriuinnl Of that nirflrp-