Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-15

at being thwarted In his will; instead
he looked at Llama with compelling
tenderness in his eyes, and he spoke
to her in tones that were q more sub
tie music to her ear than any she had
ever heard. 1t was beneath Peyrac to
weigh life in the balance; he scorned
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
tions as the man was familiar and ex-
perienced. She only knew that she sang
these days as she never before had
sung and that she felt the need to sing
continually. She called 1t practicing
when she spoke Of 1t, but 1t seemed
to her as II It were really taking breath.
However, Peyrac was as powerless as
ever to effect the one wish Of his heart;
she would not sit to him. One day he
studiously let fall some words about
his intended departure the following
week. He spoke to LLAMA alone, and
his face looked stolid.
The girls heart bounded, then stood
still. 1t was some seconds before she
felt it beat again. A reckless determi-
nation took possession Of her.
"Why are you going" she said. Her
voice was cold, almost hard.
because I've nothing to paint here"
he answered curtly, nothing that suits
me, at least"
"would you stay If you could paint
me-"
Eyes"
"Then stay" she said in the same
dull tone.
He seized her hands like man be-
side himself with Joy. Bending over
them to drop kiss, he whispered the
one word, "Darling!'
But to himself he said, "Fame and
fortune at the next Salon!'
That night. after. Anna had gone to
sleep, Llama slipped out Of bed and,
leaning her elbows on the sill OF the
open window, she sat for long while
letting the cool air fan her brow. Her
ears were full of Peyrac's infectious
tones, her pulses still throbbed with
his mesmeric touch. She reached over
to the dressing table and, taking up
crimson rose which she had placed
there in tiny vase, she kissed 1t pas.
sionately. Peyrac had given It to her,
and In this wise: His artistic eye had
not liked the magnolia flower which
she had carried about with her that
evening: the milky whiteness had
brought out unpleasant tints In her
smooth skin. "The crimson suits your
Castilian beauty better, senorita." he
had said as he handed her the rose.
"Poor, dear Inocencio" sighed Llama
demurely, recalling this little instance.
"He never found fault with me and
the magnolia" But the sense Of cap
ture was upon her. and even while she
felt indignant and resentful for having
been forced to yield about the picture
there was strange sense Of sweetness
In submission.
shadow Of the trees down below q
small, red spark appeared. moving reg
ularly to and fro, but the foliage was
too thick for her to see It. 1t was Pey-
racs cigar He had just come out from
his studio where he had been choosing
q canvas. placing 1t on an easel and
arranging a model stand preparatory
to the first sitting the next morning.
The appointment was for 9 o'clock.
The early light was the best. "I'u give
her half hours grace" he had said,
but punctually to the minute the han
die of the door turned, and Llama was
on the threshold. He turned quickly
to greet her.
She stood framed In the dark cur
tanned doorway. her long dress caught
up round her In one hand. the other
resting slightly on the portiere. 1t was
an attitude Of grace and beauty. and
she looked upward at him with eyes
that were bewildering in their mani
fold lights. She looked at him appeal
ingly as a child, innocently as girl,
proudly as a woman.
Dearest" he exclaimed, could you
take that pose? Would 1t be too hard
for your?
The gentle beauty Of that first word
peryaded the rest with light Of Its
own.
"Try me and see," she said, with
soft exultation in her voice.
And when at last the picture was fin
ished It was wonderful indeed. Even
those ignorant of the art Of painting
could see that. Peyrac had decided
that his subject should be dressed in
queenly apparel. There were jewels
on the slender shoe. from which the
wind about the door was supposed to
blow the garments back little. and
Jewels on her fingers and at her throat.