Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-06-21


tracted his attention. There was
something in the despairing attitude
that made him pause even In Paris.
the home of waits and fallen human.
ity, there could not be many like this.
And as he hesitated. the girl raised her
head. and the sickly light from one of
the lamps had fallen on her face. In
an instant Emile Blisson knew that
his search was ended, that here was
his outcast, the model OF all others for
whose coming he had patiently waited.
| He had engaged her to sit for him, and
for the last two months she had regu'
| larly attended at his handsome studio
in the Rue Hausmann. He worked
rapidly. and already though not more
than half finished. the figure on the
| canvas gave promise of extraordinary
| power and intensity. The face was
! little more than bare sketch at pres
ent. but every line of the din, shadowy
form which doomed out from back.
ground OF mist and darkness suggested
| the extremes of want and despair. He
was not a man to be carried away by
enthusiasm, or to ovcr.rate the value
of his own work but he knew that
when "The Outcast" was finished II
would entitle him to place among the
| greatest artists in history. AS the
foremost portrait painter in Paris, he
had amassed n fortune, and all he
craved for now was that this picture,
into which he put his whole heart and
soul. should proclaim him to the world
a genius.
On this gray afternoon he worked
steadily for some time, glancing from
the pitiful figure before him to it's
| counterpart on the canvas. and back
again. He had turned away for min.
ute, when a stined moan from the girl
made him look up. She had tainted,
and was huddled, miserable heap, on
the platform on which she had spent
hours of agonizing torture. The man
| frowned-the light was falling, and II
meant further loss of time. Taking
] some brandy, he poured little down
her throat, noticing for the first time
, that she was wet through. Under the
I influence OF the spirit she quickly re.
vived. and, with murmured apology
for her weakness. feebly took her place
on the stool. He did not speak, not
even to ask II she felt better, but took
up his brushes and continued working
where he had left of. At last he stood
back with a sigh. and. laying down his
brushes. looked long and earnestly at
the picture.
That will do" he said shortly, "the
light has gone; you may CO."
You may CO." he repeated; "tomor.
row at this time, and take care you
are not late"
This time she understood, and rls.
Ing, walked stiiily across to the door.
The man did not even bid her good.day,
but was STOPPING over his colors, re.
placing them in the box. She waited
until he had closed the lid, and then
attracted his attention by murmured
"M'sieu."
He faced her impatiently. 81 thought
you had gone what is it?"
She hesitated a minute. "Will
msleu advance me few francs? My
rent Is owing; they will not let me
back unless | pay" There was no
eagerness in her voice, she seemed too
weak and III to care much whether
they" refused to receive her or not.
This Is the second time" he said,
brusquely, Il told you before would
not. II Is not good to borrow"
She did not ask him again, but gave
one appealing glance round the studio,
with its many signs OF luxury. opened
the door and closed II softly after her.
/ The servant was waiting outside. asd
conducted her down the stairs. through
the hall and out into the wind and
! rain.
After the girl left, Blisson drew his
chair and stirred the logs into blaze.
He did not feel particularly happy at
the way in which he had treated his
/ model, but then he reflected that his
harshness was fully justified In the
! by nature. but he was selfish both for
himself and for the profession which
he almost worshiped. Surprising that
he had treated the girl well, paid her
/ high wages, and provided her with the
comforts she so sorely needed what
have lost her starved and hunted look,
The color would have come into her
pale cheeks, the shadows would have