The Republican., 1899-10-19
In Love with a Painter
The Romance of a Portrait.
AZ N N N N N ~ N az N ~ AZ |llS
JACQUES BRUHIERE is an artist

ACNSOI-O DIO Is dh dTIlSl
u whose neurological pictures have
most delightful modern air. Ills
Grecian goddesses look like Pari.
siennes; their wind-blown hair, their
high-heeled sandals and peculiar twirl
to their drapery have captivated the
Partisan ladies. So they crowd jacques
studio and implore him to let them sit
for Dianas and Andromedas. But he is
a most unromantic fellow, and is
swayed by no considerations other
than those of gain. Although he is but
30, he has gained fame and some for
tune; and he is so industrious that he
flies from useless words and time-cop-
sumers-that is to say, women and
bores.
A year ago, just after the art exhibit
closed, Jacques determined to go on
a sketching tour. So he packed his
trunk, assisted by his friend, Eugene
de Lassi, and was bidding adieu to his
studio, when the servant entered with
a note. 1t was "a nice little note, dainti-
ly perfumed, and the address was writ
ten in the most delicate hand imagin-
able. He read it, frowned, and, crump-
ling it up, threw it on the floor.
''Confound the women!" he cried.
whats the matter?" asked his
friend.
'Why, I'm such an unlucky fellow"
replied Jacques. There's always some
woman or other bothering me, writing
about how she admires my paintings,
and how she'd like to see me, and all
that sort of thing. Just as if a man
should say he would like to see my
paintings because he admired the cut
of my beard. Look said he, picking
up the letter, address Nine. Leonie,
such street and number"
But" said Eugene, who was reading
the note, its very well written, as
sure you, full of most delicate wit.
What are you going to do with ~
"Oh, you literary men!" groaned
Jacques. What am l going to do with
it? Why, burn it, of course. What do
you suppose | am going to do with it ?''
'Ill tell you what to do with it," said
Eugene, you're going away"
Yes
Then give it to me-"
'Why, what'll you do with it?" said
jacques, with a stare.
"Well, I'll play painter replied Eu-
gene. Pm not much of one, but can
daub Httle-enough, at all events, to
deceive a woman in love. And I'll find
out who Nine. Leonie' is-that's only
part of her name, I'm sure"
So it was settled. Jacques Bruhiere
painter, set off for Switzerland, and
Eugene de Lassi, man of letters, re-
mained to personate him. But only for
Mime. Leonie. Other visitors were told
the truth-that the master was gone.
AT last she came. Eugene's roman
tic fancy had painted her as young
and beautiful. But she was more than
that-she was divine. She was a bru-
nette, and had the most delightful
nose, the most sparkling eyes, the most
glorious hair and the most adorable
little hands and feet that Eugene had
ever seen. He flattered himself that
he was correctly made up for his role.
His velvet blouse and jaunty cap were
little too clean, perhaps, but that was
a good fault.
Nine. Leonie wanted her portrait
painted and it was very difficult for
her to decide how it should be done.
She wavered long. One day she would
be Omphale; the next she had decided
that to be represented as Salome was
10 Io, ~f, DIT
when Eugene had made his prepara-
tions, his tickle goddess decided that
Delilah was the character that suited
her. And then she would wander
around the studio, and drape herself
with the barbaric stuffs used by long
gone models, and handle the curious
weapons, and examine the porcelains.
And then she would say that she was
weary, and would come the next day.
And she would go, leaving Eugene de
Lassi deeper in love than ever.
As for him, he was in dream. He
had retired from the world. At his own
quarters his door was daily stormed
by publishers, by managers, by print
ers' boys, by creditors and by friends.
But no one knew where he had gone.
He had told his servants he was going
away, but had not told them where.
1t was wrong, decidedly wrong; but he
took a certain ferocious JOY in it when
he thought how he himself had once
pursued these same editors and man
ayers.
Eugene had at last discovered that
his inamorata was a widow, wealthy
and of good family. Her full name
was Leopie de Nores. He had never
told his love, but that she was blind
to it was impossible. Yet she was GER
tainly blind to his painting, for she
expressed her admiration of it with an
enthusiasm that made Eugene vince.
But one day, when he was, as usual,
attempting to transfer her to canvas, a
particularly atrocious tree which he in
troduced in the background attracted
her attention.
Jacques" said she, don't you think
that you are-that you are-well,
you're losing a little of your skill?"
what" shouted Eugene.
81 mean-that is-I'm afraid that ]
keep you from your work so much