The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-01-06

artists. commonplace In appearance,
and With littr trace IN their dress
or bearing of the art they followed.
considered mis- visitor vas one of that
class. %.
no" answered MnckworIh.
IA sculptor them suggested the
model, who half-unoonsclously fell into
graceful attitude.
Nor Il sculptor"
~ hat them" asItei Pictro who be-
gan To lose interest IN visitor who
was moi q probable patron.
Il came here To ask about your friend
MeIZa," MaCkWo ia said.
What. Marco" answered the model
looking W quickly, ana with something
of surprise in his glance.
"Thc same"
"Whnt about him@" Pictro asked,
looking shrewdly N his questioner.
THAT IS what / want you to tell
me-
Il have not seen him for some lime.
He owes you money"
Mackworth nodded his head. thinking
he might more readily obtain the in
formation he desired if Pietro was al
lowed 10 remain under a deception for
the present.
There are many like you; | among
them ,signor," said the model. rolling
himself cigarette between his long
brown fingers.
when did sou last soc him?"
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, 1t was just be-
fore the first days OF August. You VIII
not get your money. signo"."
hp = Ns,4I t,sI 1 IA
We were Old friends; we had been
boys together in Naples. Then when |
grew up | went to Rome. A French
artist had seen me, ana he took me
with lin as his model, and | remained
with him some years. After that |
went to Paris. whore WAS in great de-
mnnd." he said smiling complaccntly.
Il met many English there. They
taught me- their language. | was young
ana handsome. ! had artists waiting
ON me by the dozen, ready To give amy
Price ! asked. Look here" he contn-
ued. pointing to II chalk d"awiug on the
wall representing y youthful Apollo
with his Tyre, THAT is what | was
then; the sketch was given me by the
great Monsieur Julien"
Pietro stepped back in order that he
might admire this portrait of himself.
hili-liHe look Of pleasure in his dark
eyes.
Very fine, very fine iudcclM replied
MackWorth, who though he had no APP
probation OF art could not help rccog-
MIXING the beauty Of the figure, 1.-the
and graceful as u fGwM.
Il made money then" Pictro said
the natura! characteristic of greed be-
traying ITSELF, FOR ! charged highly
for my sittngs | lived well, | dressed
handsomely, 1 associated With artists
whose names | helped to make and
Il, al. "A. .
YOU see without me they could not
chiscl 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 Mnckworth began to think there
was more of the fool than the knave
IN the models nature
"Ah, how pleasant was that: 1t was
the midday of my life, for 1t will never
be so bright again. SO happy!" pie:ro
said meditauvcly
But Mezaa" suggested the in
spcctor.
Yes; 7 had forgotten Marco" an
swered the model, whose apprecia ion
OF himself left no room In his mind
for others. One day In Paris he came
to my otelicr | had not seen him for
years, and he had changed much, to my
eyes a least, for | remembered him
only as | had seen him last. Many
things had happened meantime; he had
become a violinst, who might have
been great if he was not so Idle. He
had no ambition, and was satisfied to
remain for years rs first fiddle in the
orchestra of La Scala in Milan Then
| he had married..
| Pietro paused, shrugged his shoulders
and sent II cloud OF cigarette smoke
| through his nnstrils. Mackworth kept
| discreetly silent.
His wife Fad left him ana was not
surprised ut that" continued the model
| FOR Marco always had n temper, was
as jealous as the moor of Venice. anC
looked on life darkly. Ask yourself
signo", what must be the life of WON.
an With such a husband?"
did she run away With someoa,
else?" asked Macllworth suspiciously.
mo; she was virtuous she Wen
back to the sister who had reared her
80 that Mczza had no cause fo1
| jealousy"
mo, but he was jealous all the same