The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-10-08
APAR

AS S"A "SNA WY VA 4nA
itate a Greuze or a Vatican to perfec-
ton. A Diaz by him only wants the sig
nature, which an INSCRIPTIONS dealer
does not hesitate to forge. My friend,
whom we will call Durand, is an excel
lent man, Industrious and clever, but
too negligent to take the initiative in
anything, ven in painting. Well, he
had given notice to leave his apart
ment last July, on the 18th of the
month, at noon, according to the GUS
tom of the country. he had, however,
been so absorbed in his painting that
he had forgotten to retain a wagon
to take away his furniture, and when
he did at last concern himself about
the matter he only succeeded in secur-
ing one for the end of the day.
But at noon precisely, just as he was
putting the finishing touches to a copy
of Greuze's famous "Cruche Cassee,"
door. 1t was the new tenant, escorted
by her furniture. She vas furious to
find that Durand was "dawdling" over
his paint brush while all her furnf-
ture was out in the street exposed to
the gaze of indiscreet passers. She
even threatened to call the police.
Durand, like many painters, thinks
the sea more charming than v when
agitated by a storm. He found some
resemblance between this woman and
the sea and concluded that his fair
visitor was rendered more charming by
her anger. She was about 25 years
Of age. She had dark hair and blue
eyes, a fine, nervous figure, and her
rosy nostrils were slightly dilated by
her emotion. She was accompanied by
a little girl of 6 years Of age, a little
golden haired fairy. what" continu-
ed the irate lady, you are not going
away until 5 o'clock? 1t is absurd!
What am. L to do with my furniture?
Where is the proprietor? l must see
the proprietor"
Durand sought an ally. The little
girl was playing with a shepherdess
in porcelain that stood on a table.
would you like itY
"Oh, yes! 1t is SO droll.'
"Take it."
Jeanne said the mother, II forbid
you to accept anything"
"Only to please her," replied Durand.
81 could quite understand your pro-
hibition, but it is an economy for me.
l shall have so much less to move"
Women are eaily disarmed. The lady
fixed her eyes on the tapestry in order
to keep her countenance.
"Your name is JeanneY" said the
painter.
eyes," answered the child.
"And your ~papa-where is he?
"He died two years ago. and mamma
is a widow"
Then, turning to the lady, Durand
apologized for his sins. told her he had
cleared one room and that he would
60 and help to get her furniture In.
Soon the furniture began to find its
place-the wardrobe, the mirror, the
bookcase. "Oh, madame, without
knowing you l can read your mind
M~ontesquieu, Balzac, Bossuet, Hugo,
Lamartine"-
LA, la, lap cried the angry lady.
"You would have done better to leave
before u O'Clock than to be trying to
study my character"
IT am working all the time, madame.
Look! l have placed the console there
here the statue of the Virgin-this little
mirror opposite the window
"Oh, it is no use! You cannot make
peace with me-"
There was an interval Of 20 minutes,
during which the lady stood at the sa-
lon window. Durand had remained in
his room with the child. Are they COM
ing today or tomorrow, your men?"
she asked angrily as she came back in
to the room.
But she stopped in the middle.
Jeanne, motionless and smiling. vas
seated on a chair, and Durand was
painting her portrait.
Mamma" said the little one sudden
~, II am hungry. You have a pate and
some wine in the big basket"
"Come, then, and breakfast on the
balcony" replied the mother. Durand
was left alone to finish his sketch.
There was q silence of ten minutes.
Then the child returned timidly.
Mamma has something to ask you"
"She wants to turn me QUIZ"
mo"
"What then?'
Mamma wants to know-if you-if
you would like a piece of pateY'
This happened on July Is, and when
the porter arrived to announce that the
men had at last come to remove Du-
rand's furniture he found him sitting
on the balcony at table with the mother
and dandling the child on his knees.
M~isfortunes, however, never come
singly. The wagon was too small. 1t
would not hold all Durand's things at
once. leave your pictures, your easel
and your palette" said Jeanne. II will
take care Of them, and then you will be
obliged to come back again and finish
my portrait"
He left them. He came into posses
sion Of them when he took all his fur
niture back to his old rooms. This time,
however, there was no difficulty about
the outgoing tenant, for before that
date she became Durand's wife, and