The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-01-06

E-k2HSk~ "Snh 1Ns 4
cruel in their expression, ,he nose de
sccpdins straight from a low. broad
forehead on Which the crisp. hlue-hlacti
hair grew in q peak.
Wanting in principle he might he, a
~seounirei he possibly was. but theee
WAS something winning IN his pleasant
smile md in the almost child like mau-
ner with which he challenged and ac-
cepted an admiration impossible TO
deny him.
come in, %signor." he said. anu then
fetching The chair which he believed
the firmes. or its legs, he added, and
sir down here"
Much Obliged" remarked Mack
worth. conscious that his manner his
movements, and his phrases lacked the
easy grace which his host possessed.
You are q painter. signor?" said
Pietro. who, used to finding English
artists commonplace in appearance,
and with little trace in their dress
or bearing OF the art they followed.
considered his visitor was II OF that
class.
Mo- answered Mackworth.
~ sculptor them suggested the
model. who haif-unconsc iously fell into
a graceful attitude.
Nor Il sculptor"
What them" asked Pietro. who be-
gan to lose interest i'll a visitor who
was not q probable patron.
Il came here to ask about orr friend
Nezza." M~ackwosth said.
What. Atarco?9 answered the model.
looking Up quickly, ana with something
of surprise in his glance.
The same"
What about him. Pietro asked,
looking shrewdly 1T his questioner.
That is what l want YOU 10 tell
me-
4 have not seen hin for sone time.
lie owes You money"
MacSworth nodded his head, thinking
he might more readily obtain the in
formation he desired if Pietro was all
lowed to remain under u deception for
the present.
There are many like you 1 among
them %,sienor." said The model. rolling
himself a cigarette between his long,
brown fingers.
when did YOU last see him2"
He stayed With me in these rooms
last summer, then he went back again
to Paris"
What month did he leave YOU"
1t was in July. YES, it was just be-
fore the first days OF August. You will
not get your money, signor."
And he stayed here with your"
We We're old friends; we had been
boys together in Naples. Then when L
grew up went to Rome. A French
artist had seen me. and he took me
with him as his model. md remained
with him some years. After that /
went to Paris, where 1 was in great de-
nland," he said smiling -complacently.
Il met many English there. They
taught me their language. l was young
and handsome. l had artists waiting
on mo nv tho tnyan faD.lr ia oi,rn n ~
Price L asked. Look here" he contin-
ued, pointing TO II chalk drawing on the
wall representing n youthful Apollo
with his Tyre. That is what l was
then: the sketch was given me by the
| great Monsieur Julien"
Pietro stepped back in order tina he
might admire this portrait of himself.
a child-like look of pleasure in his dark
eyes.
Very fine, very fine indeed" replied
Mackworth, who. though he had no APP
probation of arr, could not help recog-
niZing The beauty of the figure. 1.-THE
and graceful as a fawn.
Il made money then" Pietro said.
the natural characteristic of greed be
traying itself. for l charged highly
for my sittinss. L lived well. I dressed
handsomely. l associated with artists
whose names l helped to make and
whose pictures l helped to sell: for,
o see, without me they could not
chisel or paint the statues or pictures
their patrons bought, because | was the
subject"
This frank admiration of himself was
expressed With such an air of simplicity
that Mackwortm began to think there
was more of the fool than the knave
in the models nature.
All, how pleasant was that; it was
the midday of my life. for it will never
be so bright again, so happy!" Pietro
said meditatively.
But Mezza?" suggested the in
spector.
Yes; l had forgotten Marco" am
swered the model, whose appreciation
of himself left no room in his mind
for others. One day in Pals he came
to my %atelier. had not seen him for
years, and he had changed much, TO my
eyes at least. for l remembered him
only as l had seen him last. Many
things had happened meantime; he had
become u violinist, who NIGH have
been great if he was not so idle. He
had no ambition. and was satisfied to
remain for years as first fiddle in the
orchestra of La Scala in Milan. Then
he had married"
Pietro paused. shrugged his shoulders
and sent a cloud of cigarette smoke
through his nostrils. Mackworth kept
discreetly silent.
His wife had left him and l was not
surprised at that continued the model,
for Marco always had a temper, was
as jealous as the moor of Venice, and
looked on life darkly. Ask yourself
signor. what must be the life of a wom-
an with such a h~usband?"
Did she run away with someone
else" asked Macllworth suspiciously.
NO; she was virtuous; she went
back to the sister who had reared her"
SO that Mezza had no cause for
jealousy"
NO. but he was jealous all the same.
- 1g-
- lNln,1