Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-01-13
THE MODEL
AT yIVON'S
BY IzOLA l..
FORE STER
Copyright. 1903. by T. c. Mcclure
The model at vivon's had tainted.

SITTING, tie very apex oi t1ttiisfiy III
the lesson. Little yivon moved lightly
and restiessly here and there from one
easel to another, his small, black eyes
mere high lights of sparkling eager
ness under their heavy brows. He
smoked his short, thick pipe and glanc-
ed from the charcoal studies to the slim
white figure on the platform.
The sunlight poured full into the
long. bare atelier. Suddenly the model
swayed ever so slightly and sank to
the floor.
Some of the girls gave quick, fright
ened cries, and Jean Laurier glanced
up with a smothered exclamation of
angry dismay over his unfinished
sketch From the first easel to the
right of the platform the American
student, Hal Crane. sprang TO the plat
form and raised her head ON his arm.
1t was such young head. The loose,
warm tinted hair lay softly against his
shoulder, and be noticed for the first
time how thin the small piquant face
was.
Vivon hoped exeitedly the length of
the room and waved his small plump
hands for order.
at is nothing" he said "She is
fatigued. Il is so warm. Can you carry
her, NJ. Crane?"
Could he carry her? Crane smiled
grimly as he raised the slender figure
in his arms. Why. his little sister
Bess, back In Charlottesville. Mo, was
heavier than this He followed vivon
from the atelier away from the bat
terry of amused. curious eyes TO the
artists private den.
MA fol" laughed petite Yyette. her
eyes narrowing critically. that was
not bad, that last. think | shall
faint. too. and let lie gros Crane waltz
me of in his arms"
Laurier leaned lazily over her shout
der and serawled a rough caricature
on the corner of her paper
Like that?'
She boxed his ears soundly and
reached a greedy little hand after the
box of bonbons Elsie Ticot was pass
ing. The model was forgotten,
Lay her there" Nivon nodded to a
corner divan in the inner studio heaped
high with pillows. sketches and COS
tunes. Crane ruthlessly pushed the
latter off with his foot to make room
tly and held 10 her lips the glass OF
water Vivon brought.
at is just faintness, yesT' asked VI
Won anXiously.
Crane stared thouahtfully at the
white face among the pillows. T. had
been hungry once back in the first days
of the battle. The little home In Craw-
louisville had sent him out to the great
city of his dreams, and only long after
ward had the fight been his own. He
thought he recognized the look that
comes to those who are tracked by the
wolf
II think that she's just about starv-
ed" he said bluntly. get some wine
or brandy or something"
Vivon obeyed. The Americans had
way that made men obey.
"who is she?" asked Crane when he
had managed to get few drops of
brandy between the pale lips.
Zone OF Ribaut's models" Vivon an
swered nervously. The sounds from
the atelier were not conducive to peace
of mind. Yes, she was a new one. Ri
baut had sent her to him yesterday,
and he had engaged her for the poise,
the grace. the turn of the head. that
line from the tip of the ear TO the slope
of the shoulder. She did not pose for
the life classes. merely for drapery and
the poise effective And the name-it
was in his notebook.
He took Ii out and read from the lat
est entries:
Virginia Wade"
American asked Crane. using
more brandy as he saw fiutter of the
eyelids.
But, yes" Viyon shrugged his shonl-
ders. when they come over and are
poor they must do something. Some
are so proud they hide away and starve,
and some put up the grand fight"
where does she live?'
Crane glanced up. The little artist
had gone back to the atelier as a fresh
crash sounded. with Yvette's peal OF
laughter ringing above it.
w Ath tHS SNt y tgctlnS uptned M
smiled down at her in friendly fash
ion.
Feel betterY'
II guess So" She hesitated and add
ed. with scared look in her dark blue
eyes, IBID | faint in theref'
"Oh, yes; that was nothing. Lots
do" Laurier had said the American
had reduced cheerful lying to an art
Its SO hot there in the mornings. you
know
There was CULVER of hopeless dis
appointment around the curves of her
mouth, and he knew what troubled
her. There was five franc piece in
his pocket. He laid it unblushingIy
on the tabouret beside her.
'Vivon said that was yours. He
couldn't wait but he said to come to-
morrow. and this is for the two sit
-,