The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-09-02


ture. Real inspiration should never
die"
His own eyes lighted in their sombre
depths. with you for my model it
would not! II beg your pardon" he
stammered. 81 had no right to suggest
such thing; it would be asking too
much"
Elizabeth put down her pen and looked
across at her sister "If the spark is real
ly there ?" she murmured doubtfully in
the peasants dress you would make a
fine 'Wally," she said aloud. you real
~ have the young mountaineers ply
sique, though not her face"
'But the face is averted-toward the
cliff, said Melville, eagerly.
"Madge. with all that yon are do
ing, could you possibly spare the time :"
EGzabcth's voice had note of warning
in it now.
"Of course | could" said Margaret
with a triumphant laugh. ''if the very
early morning hours would do. Though
| never dreamed of posing for 'Wally'
when l suggested it. But the time is
short, and if you are going to do it you
must begin at once"
as it worth while :" Elizabeth asked,
doubtfully when Melville had gone
when the world will be my debtor -
Margaret cried, confidently. at will be
amasterpiece; the spark is already glow
ing, and the picture will be superb"
but where will this leave us? AT the
end of the month
Bah! We shall be just where we are
now, and the man will be as much Of a
stranger to us. You will see He will
understand that as much as YOU or l."
Melville's studio proved a desolate
place and Margaret posing there day
after day in her striking but difficult pc.
sition thought that these miserable sur
! roundings were enough to quench the
fire of any mans genius, and she hardly
wondered at the lack of inspiration in
his previous work.
But her enthusiasm was electric, and
Melville, responding to it, worked with
feverish energy. Under her vigorous criti-
cisms and encouragement his spirits
never tagged and the picture grew with
marvellous rapiditv and power.
| But the time had been short, and the
! final touch was hardly given when the
men were at the door to carry the pic
ture away. They even had to wait while
Margaret, Melville and Elizabeth took
last critical look at the "Nulture Maiden"
before she left the studio.
The girls figure suspended on the face
of the cliff was intense with life and en-
ergy Of purpose, the coloring was bold,
the technique was perfect. 1t was a pic
ture which, once seen, would linger in
ones memory forever.
Margaret turned TO Melville with an
air of triumph and held out her hand.
ut is success. You are great artist"
she said.
THE flame burns clear at last" Eliza
| beth murmured.
Then the carriers bore it away and
Margaret and Elizabeth left the studio.
But as they were crossing the hallway
they heard sound like a falling body,
and, fastening back, found Melville
stretched senseless on the floor.
He soon revived and would not hear of
seeing physician. at is the excitement
and overwork." he said YEARLY 81 shall
be all right soon"
"A poor specimen of man. Marga-
ret said of him cOntemptuously, and after
a day or two Elizabeth's conscientious
visits and bowls of nourishing broth
came to an end together, for Melville
was again able to get around as usual.
He went out for the first time on the
day that the exhibition opened, but he
did not visit the gallery.
Margaret was there, however, when
the doors opened, and on her return she
stopped at Melville's door to give him
news of his success.
"Oh, but you should have been there :"
she cried. They have given the 'Nulturc
Maiden the place of honor in the north
gallery-what did predict And there
was crowd before it all the time. There
is nothing else to approach it-What is
the matter? You are not strong yet.
Come, sit down"
at is nothing" Melville said. striving
to shake off the feeling of 2iddiness which
oppressed him. And your flower piece
where is that"
"Skyed," she said. with an odd gri-
mace, but, no matter. the rest OF us are
nowhere this year. No one gives us a
second look. You must go and see for
yourself"
But Melville did not go. And when the
day came upon which the awards We're
to be made known he did not leave his
bed.
The blaze which YOU wantonly kin
died seems to he consuming him." said
Elizabeth.
Am responsible :" said Margaret,
with uplittcd brows. RS a pity, though,
that so good an artist should prove SO
weak a man"
But, really, he is too i'll to he left
alone" Elizabeth said, seriously. 81
wish he had friends hcre-some of his
own people. But will stay with him
until the doctor comes. On your way to
the gallery stop and ask him TO come at
once.