Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-05
Business Generally Flourishing.

not locked nv studio door; in fact, it was
partly open! / hurried into the room, put
there was my lay figure in the corner, gust
as it was yesterday. l examined the black
velvet drapery, which | had carefuliy pm
ned and arranged to paint from II APP
peared to be undisturoed. My mother must
have been dreaming. Still L could not re-
tain the figure if it worried her, that was
clear 1t was veXatious, however, TO part
with such an acquisition, and be left with
out any figure at all for my use; 1t hao
been foolish of me to sell my ola one, IL
was announcement and unpleasant. Yes, the
figure must be sent out of the mousse as II
preyed on my mothers nerves. but neeu
not sell it at present; / would Iend 1t ABOUT
to my artist friends, who had been so anx-
ious to borrow it, So l wrote line tell
ing O'Kelly that l would lend 1t to MIN
first if he would come and fetch IT. y kelly
was of course an Irishman; he had studied
beside me at the academy, and become "a
friend, always good natured ana pleasant,
but rather too lively, being partial to play
ing silly practical jokes. He had private
property, and took his profession easily, re-
siding in handsome apartments in Harley
street, Cavendish square. l had no doubt
that If l ultimately made up my mind to
sell my lay figure should find purchaser
in him. He came over to Kensington d.
rect1y he received my note, only too glad to
| get the loan of 1t. You may as well leave
on the black velvet dress. old fellow. I'm
painting the last days OF Sir THOMAS
Moore and it will do for Margaret Roper.
VERY WELL" l said; only please to re-
member I've hired that dress of Levi Ze
rubbabel. and left ten-pounds deposit
on it,"
"All right" said Okelly. We then rolled
the figure up in a damask curtain, and he
drove away with it in a four-wheeler with
great glee.
NV poor mother watched the departure
from her bedroom window: she thanked me
. most affectonately for acceding to her re-
quest. She had certainly had a great shake
in some way or other, though l could not
reconcile her story with common sense. AT
any rate from that moment she began to
get better. and Jane was as brisk bee,
even asking my permission TO give the stu
do good cleaning, which in her reluctance
to enter it had not received for some time.
Everybody was satisfied except myself,
drapery upon. I even wished for my old
lay figure back again. clumsy though it
was. Thereby hangs moral: DO not part
with a tried friend who has grown old and
shabby for an unknown snowy one
In the course of a few days l received a
note from O'KelIy. He was painting in a
very satisfactory manner, he said, from
Madame" as he called her; but his post
script puzzled me; Ii ran thus: DO you
!. think that lay figure Is all right?"
What on earth did he msan?7It was
neither broken nor out of condition. Could
| it be that there really was something queer
about 1t? My curiosity did not allow me to
rest. so drove over to Harley street to see
about 1t that same evening. My friend was
! at home and smoking his everlasting meer-
schaum beside splendid fire in the spa
| cious drawing room, which he made his
painting room. The lay figure. posed In a
graceful attitude, stood In the center of the
apartment. OKelly was delighted to see