The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-10-20
plain and beg ner forgiveness. .

Alas. Poor Eugenes idea was not a
happy one.
The next day when Leonie appeared it
was Jacques who met her at the door.
He was in blouse, cap and carried palette
and brushes.
Can 1 see NJ. Bruhiere?" she asked
with some little surprise.
That is my name, madam" replied
the painter.
"Iou jacques Bruhiere" said she, with
an amused laugh, and she pushed by him
and entered the studio. you the great
painter? No, no.'' and she seated herself
and looked at him defantly.
But if she was at her ease in the studio
he was more so. Her quick woman's eye
noted this, and on the easel there was al
| ready begun n canvas in which she rec
bgnizcd the masters touch. Leonie was
becoming i'll at ease. She picked up u
! little Hindoo god which stood OH the ia
bic beside her and fingered it nervously.
Her hands trembled. the little monster
slipped from them and dashed in pieces
on the floor.
The artist stepped to the wall and rang
the bell. The door opened, and a servant
entered clad in livery and wearing AN
apron, rendered necessary by the fact of
his cleaning brushes.
Did monsieur ring?" he asked.
Leonie stared at him and grew white.
lies. Jean" replied the artist. Cath
er up the fragments of this trife, which
madame has unfortunately broken.
| Now" said he, turning to Leonie, ''if
madame will kindly inform me to what
| owe the honor of this Wis.,
He stopped. Her white, set face. her
staring eyes, frightened him.
"A lackey!" she Kissed, "a base lackey!
And | have loved this heartless, cruel,
| lying wretch"
With sudden impulse of fury she
snatched up pretty toy, silver pom
| lard, which lay upon the table, and
| sprang at Eugene. Quick as u flash the
| artist dashed between them. But quick
! as he was, he was too late. The poniard
| struck Eugene in the side, intlictinS a
! deep wound. At this Leonie uttered a
shrek and tainted away.
| Eugene's comedy had become a trag-
edy.
Truly pretty sight for the studio of
| an honest, Woodworking painter" gHoan-
ed Jacques Bruhiere, as he gazed upon
| the two PROSTATE forms. This comes Of
obliging your friends. Catch me doing it
again."
Three years had passed. Leonie was in
| the brilliant salon Of the Comtesse de
| Sagone, whose house was always filled
with. the literary men of the day, and she
| invariably secured the literary lion. She
was making her way through the bril-
liant throng toward Leonie.
My dear" said she when she reached
her, you have read that novel of which
| nil Paris is talking-'Les Deux Prin-
| cesscs?"
"Yes," said Leonie, "it is a charming
| work"
"Do you know its author?"
Eugene de Lassii No. Is he here
| this evening""
"Yes, and l want to present him to
you. All, there he is. NJ. de Lassi! And
in another moment there stood before Lee
| onie-the false painter.
For a moment he hesitated, but the old
| spell reasserted itself, and she found her.
self listening almost against her will to
his pleas for pardon, and he pleaded his
| cause most cloquently.
Il am half inclined not to forgive you,"
she said at length. You acted abomina-
bly,. You know you did,
Il acted like a fool and knave," said
Eugene, ana you ought never 10 PARDON
me, but you will, won't you?"
'.Well," said the beauty scmireluctant-
ly, ''if you'll be a very good boy
Eyes"
"And never deceive me again.
"Never"
"And never paint any more such
wretched trees?"
"Never."
"Then l forgive you for having played
the servant"
But l want to play it again"
She looked at him inquiringly.
81 want to be your servant forever"
Their first child was boy. He was
called Jacques de Lassi, and Bruhiere
was his odfather.-Adapted For Argo-
naut From the French.