Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-06-08

The strong sunshine which poured
through the skylight OF the big studio
was tempered and diffused by white
muslin screen painted with blue dreg-
ons, while tall vases, plaster has re.
liefs, bits Of odd tapestry, palm tree
or two, a brass tea urn and q luxuri.
Gus divan with pillows three deep
gave the room an air at once artistic
and feminine. Five young women
were sitting or standing at the easels,
some hourishing charcoal sticks, others
with paillettes on their thumbs, all in.
tent on mastering the difficulties OF
perspective values" or "planes,"
while sixth, with her hair unbound
and wearing flowing red robe, rep
resented their idea OF Moorish hero.
inc. Outside the buzz and roar OF
New York throbbed on the afternoon
air., elevated trains shrieked and
whizzed by, street calls rose and fell,
and hurdy gurdy on the next corner
ground out once popular tune, but
no one noticed these noises any more
than the country plowboy notices the
wind signing all day through the
pines on the hill.
"Time to rest, Nora" announced
Miss Hayiland, and while the wor.
shippers of art relaxed their tired
muscles aud exchanged theories, praise
and criticism with the frankness OF
the cult, Honora also stepped down
aud took curious look at the semi
circle Of more or less realistic like.
nesses. What she saw was a young,
dark haired woman with wistful gray
eyes, hands clasped before her and q
sad and almost careworn expression.
This Moorish girl was clearly cap
tive. pining for home, and, uncon-
sciously, a flash other old spirit caine
back into Honora's face. "GoodnAss,
do I look like that 2" she thought,
slightly strengthening herself. "Dick.
dear Dick What would you say II
you knew"
"You pose very we'll; you've done
1t before, no doubt" observed one Of
the girls in tone Of serene patron
age, but Miss Haviland broke in kind.
ly, before Honora had time to reply (:
"Oh, no." she said, "Nora isn't q
regular model. She Just came to
obliss us. didn't you, Nora q"
"Pose T" cried Grace Hunt in q
clear, high voice, consulting her
watch the captives dimple disap-
peared she hastily resumed her sta.
ton and attitude. and the sorrowful
look again crept over her face. The
young ladies returned to their stools,
and for some moments nothing was
heard but the squeaking Of charcoal
and the scraping Of palette knives
"The line of the neck 10 good, but
she's distinctly too thin, and her arms
are unsatisfactory" declared Mrs.
Tremaine, selecting fat brush and
squeezing some raw sienna out of
tube. She was q young widow, ma.
tronized the apartment and spoke ex.
.actly as il the girl had been o lay fig
ure or block of wood.
"Your nose Is too long and you are
an i'll hammered iceberg also, thought
Honora, vindictively, with such rush
of blood to her cheeks that severely
heightened the tint of their portraits
with touch Of rose madden.
Honora went home that night with
so in her pocket aud insulted pride in
her heart. Home for her now was O
mere closet under the roof of neigh.
boring apartment house.
"Who is she, anyway ?" asked
Grace, carelessly, as the friends com.
pared canvases after the models de.
parture. "She has q stunning head
of hair. You say she is not O profes.
.sional 2"
ooh, no; she's a girl who has done
plain sewing for Mrs. Lawrence, on
the fifth floor. happened to see her
there and thought she looked paint
able. She needed the money, guess,
by the look OF her hollow eyes," an
swered Miss Haviland, remorsefully.
A month passed after the pictures
were finished, and The fair students
of the Iverness did not see Honora -
never thought of her Early one
January morning, however, the pri-
vate bell rang and Elizabeth went to
the door.
"Why, how do You do-ah-Katy,
no, Nora, isn't it?'' she said, with
her kindly smile. $50 You want to
pose for us again, do you But you
look thin. Have you been i'll 2"
"No, thank you; I'm quite we'll. ]
would rather not pose, but / thought
you might have some sewing for me -
possibly one Of you ladies'" STAN
mered Honora
''Well, sit down and I'll speak to