The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-03-19

kled She knew that she was doing her
! best.
But evidently the artist had taken no
was only her face that attracted him.
AS they We're getting ready for bed
that night Anna said
!. what have you done to our invul-
nerable painter? He remarked, when
he heard you singing awhile ago, that
he just tingled for his brushes. He
wondered if it would be possible for
you to sing that same song in the same
way, unaccompanied, in his studio"
This seemed little too much. He
not only wished to use her as a model,
but he even wished to have her moods
and expressions subject to his orders!
Llama was perched upon a bedpost.
She was perfectly poised, her slender
limbs dangling floorward, one arm
akimbo, the other behind her back.
Anna was reclining on an ottoman,
smoothing out her ribbon sash.
"Well.'' she said. as Llama made no
reply, but kept Oh dangling her limbs
do you think ou,can oblige' him?"
Lianas only comment was to tap up
on the heel of her right slipper with
the toe of her left.
"He says" pursued Anna mischiev
ously, that you have a great deal Of
scenic effect about you, whatever that
means. | confess Pm not sure of the
term"
''Neither am l." Liana's right slip
per landed many yards off across the
floor.
The next Gay she caught the obnox-
ious, rude man stepping backward sew
eral times to get her in perspective.
Once he actually ventured to make
tube of his hand When he put it to
his eye and turned his head sideways,
screwing up one side of his face. Llama
couldn't help noticing in spite of her
veXation that the corner of the lip
which was thus drawn up exposed
some magnificent white teeth How
ever. she said:
you are extremely impolite," and
then, with sudden fear that he might
compliment her on the effect Of anger
on her face, she turned and left him.
1t was with direct reference to the
advancement of his art that Peyrac set
to work to interest and make friends
with Llama. He found his way beset
with difficulties, and at the end of a
fortnight he had to acknowledge that
he had made no progress at all. He
had come to Twyeffort meaning to do
some landscapes and sea views. But
f,,Ir A II,
was a portrait painter if anything, and
at last the gods had led him to being
who appealed to the power within him
as no one yet ever had done. He must
paint this girl; by Jove, he must!
But, even supposing she consented
there was difficulty. The wonder OF
her face was it's eXpression-the way
the spirit cleaned through her fea
lures. Her expression was so madden
ingly changeable and evanescent. Al
times it was marvelously like shot
silk. To get the effect he wanted she
!, must be strongly moved-moved, fol
instance, as she had been by the sight
of the sunset on the sea the other even
ing. Plainly one could not get sunsets
and seas into the studio. But
Sapristi. He would do it. Why not
He knew himself to possess charm
for women, a charm that was all the
more potent because he had seldom
? cared to use it.
Then it was that he changed his tao
, tics. He ceased Tuning and frettins
at being thwarted in his will; instead
, he looked at Llama With compellin!
+ tenderness in his eyes, and he spok,
, to her in tones that were more sub
, tie music to her ear than any she hat
, ever heard. 1t was beneath Peyrac t,
weigh life in the balance; he scornet
3 the idea that right and wrong SHOULD
enter into mans calculations.
/ AS to the girl, she was as unsophisti
Gated in her comprehension of the emo
@ lions as the man was familiar and eX
b perienced. She only knew that she san
e these days as she never before ha
/ sung and that she felt the need to sin
g continually. She called it practicin
@ to her as if it We're really taking breatl
d However, Peyrae was as powerless 4
d ever to effect the one wish of his hear
she would not sit to him. One day h
:. studiously let fall some words abor
\, his intended departure the followir
:, week. He spoke to Llama alone, an
l. his face looked stolid.
d The girls heart bounded, then stoo
st still. 1t was some seconds before 81
It felt it beat again. A reckless determ
nation took possession Of her.
o. "Why are you going?" she said. HI
}" voice was cold, almost hard.
h Because I've nothing to paint here
III he answered CURLY, nothing that sui
me, at least
lie "Would you stay if you could pail
me?"
is eyes"
e. "Then stay" she said in the san
is dull tone.
Il. He seized her hands like man b
IT side himself with joy. Bending ov
ct them to drop kiss, he whispered Il
% one word, ''Darling!'
P,,t 70 bi,ocoIf ha cold q,