New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-10

Liz had been nine and a half ever since her sew
enth birthday This was in tribute TO the efficacy
or a rule in force various art schools to meet
any possible interference from philanthropic socf
ues' 1t was well meaning rule. and as potent
as many excellent things. Liz herself regarded it
with favor: it restricted competition. When occa-
sionelly conscientious persons asked her age she
replied with a glibness rendered perfect by four
years habit.
She knew the ways of every art school in the city.
and her small. attenuated body, her red hair and
greenish eyes were familiar to students the
plaster casts In the antique gallery. She had al
most the dignity Of a classic. Her rreckled IN
childlike face held the old fashioned look
which comes early to children who have been
at hand-grips with circumstance. There at
times something uncanny In her gaze 1t was
furtive. dersive. Infinitely experienced. 1t had the
appalling soemnity OF the ages.
She posed for the ight classes at a suburban art
school Every evening. from 70 10. she sat
lengths and angles. shiverng under the glare OF
the electric light She had all the tricks OF the
Cling the pathetic gances toward the clock WHICH
resembled small beetle stuck a pin.
Before her the floor OF the big ugly room was a
poso6 os Of se shaded Electric
bulbs hung like tropical blossoms from sway 1a3
impersonal regard. comparing and criticising She
most contempt. To her these twenty students
were things wooden and unimpoTtant as the
sSs had pI the SUPREME prde Of the indspensabi
The atmosphere OF the classroom was that OF a
hothouse close and vitiated. and filed with the
mingled smell OF varnish and hot air pipes and
had never been known to faint. she had a pro-
found contempt for models who tainted. She held
iii With SOFT Black mist. and the easeis rocked
and sa. Snd TaGots en6 56s S 3a5 e S
quilting stiffness. She could feel the stiffness like
touched her limbs. and she knew that Il she shut
her eyes shs would be swept away. She set her
down her like fierce white sunshine; The
clock licked away interm!nable minutes while she
lutely. till eyes smarted and she could see only
background. 1t shrank and expanded changed to
a hundred menacing shapes drew to sudden huge
from the other side OF black world the monitors
ao6 jerk and slid down un''sA'iy 'n' .s's-o'
The students kind TO her after fashion
the girls of the costume class particularly They
petted her. buttoned her frocks occasionally gave
sponsive gravity the attitude of the worker to-
W To9tb fae set dnd She hd tSe ec at times Of
making them appear infantine; When they GUS
them stolidly They tried to involve her in conf
dence about her. home life. but without success
and she knew that her home life did not bear
Inere was only one student in whom she took
personal interest. He was senior student OF ths
had reputation for taking itself seriously: and
this student In particular emphasized the tendency
head nee ~ aSd 'a tric of Visiting reectivey over
Te 9 TO He sawe Spee oy '6 Of oa 2S %
when Liz arrived, he was there his easel - ad-
over the efforts OF the night before. Ee always
nodded to as she came in quaint sh I,bfoy
was her improvised dressing room Liz came 70
t t2eh for tad aS fs eSsdfRRf "''"
His easel stood among those nearest to the mod,
throne and from her post OF vantage Ldz Goniu
watch him as he worked When her cramped child
h muscles refused b ana sb 5e had oyed
she would catch his brown eyes lifted to her WIN a
Uho ever seemed 20 T6ficed the fororn droop Of
hour and had called the rest two minutes too soon
The second time this happened mere was heI3 his
ground unmoved Liz. listening, felt her heart
know wig Grad f she cae for The tan
student sort Of distant hero worship the laolIZS
attachment of the very small girl for the sro"nup
She lived solely for hoss three hours Of the .I night
She would hold the pose. unwavering. to the last
Canvas If he Smiled at her she dwet in paradise
If as often happened, absorbed IN MS VOTE
he took no notice OF her beyond the impersonaI re-
zero 81 she nursed her alteration IN secret
to strange depths. It was quaint little drama ana
room who remained unconscious was the tall stu
dent himself Dismissed at the end of the class,
its marble staircase and big plaster statues on the
chance of seeing him as he vent out ne passed
pany with others laughing and chatting. and never
easel w" Watching him put out his coiors She stood
by his shoulder while he put in reflective touches
here and there his brOws knitted and his head held
critically on one side; Sometimes Re scarcely Knew
she was there. If he spoke to her beyond the
habtual mechanical greeting, she stood confused
and tongIetied: a small guilty criminal convicted
of her gUilt. Sometimes other students came
early too and then she hated them with deep
and Jealous hatred She recognized in their chance
Intervention between herself and her idol 81 con-
spiraCv Of the universe.
It near the end of her series 81 sIttings and
IL counted evenings by one There were
two lost and desOlate nights when the tall student
never came at all Another student took his place,
and Liz had no heart in her work. She posed Ike
a rag doll and bitter complaint rose from various
quarters Of the classroom. She heard them, and
her grrensh ewes hardened 10 sullen1ess- She was
eli but opeuly reheIious. Her grievance against