Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-01-06

I cruel In their expression the nose de-
scending straight from IA low. broad
forehead on which the crisp, black
hair srcs IN q peak,
Wanting IN nrincipie he might be, q
seoundrei he possibly was, but there
was something winning In his pleasant
smile and tn the almost child like man
ner with which he challenged and ace
ccpted an admiration impossible TO
deny him.
Come In. signor. he said, and then
fetching the chair which he believed
the frmest on It's legs, he added, and
sit Town 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 a painter, signor2" said
Pietro. who. used 60 finding English
artists commonplace In appearance.
and with little trace IN their dress
or bearing OF the art they followed,
considered mis- visitor was one OF that
class. i.
"No." answered Mackworth.
"A sculptor them suggested the
model. who half-unconsciously fell into
"A graceful attitude.
Nor a sculptor
Nildl AHEH e hHhE tEAAtf VIM ~
gan to lose interest i'm a visitor who
Was not a probable patron.
Il came here 10 ask about your friend
Mezza,' Mackworth said.
What, Marco answered the model.
looking III quickly. and with something
OF surprise in his glance.
THE same"
What about him." Piatro asked,
looking shrewdly 1T his questiener.
That Is what | want you 10 tell
me-"
u have not seen him for some time.
He owes you money
Mackwortn nodded his head, thinking
he might more readily obtain the in
formation he desired il Pietro was al
lowed to remain under a deception for
the present.
There are many like you; / among
them ,signor." aid the model, rolling
himself a cigarette between his long,
brown fingers.
when did you last see him?"
HE stayed with me In these rooms
last summer, then he went back again
20 Paris"
What month did he leave YOU"
1T was iu July; yes, ii was just be-
fore the first days of August. You Will
not get your money. signoT."
And he stayed here with you?"
We were old friends; we had been
boys together in Naples. Then when l
grew up l went to Rome. A French
artist had seen me, and he took me
with him as his model, and / remained
with him some years. After that /
Went 10 Paris, where / was in great de-
mand.' he said smiling complacently.
II met many English there. They
taught me their language. / was young
and handsome. / had artists waiting
on me by the dozen. ready TO give any
Price | asked. Look here" he contin-
ued. pointing 10 a chalk drawing on the
wall representing a 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,
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 art. could not help reeog-
mixing the beauty OF the figure. 1.-THE
and graceful as a fawn.
Il made money them Pietro said.
the natural characteristic of greed be-
traying itself. for / charged highly
for my sittings. / lived we'll, i dressed
handsomely. / associated With artists
names / helped to make and
WHEY RlNNh*tS Il HEtbNh W DELL IOis
see, without me they could not
chiseI 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 Mackworth began TO think there
was more Of the fool thar the knaye
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 Mezga?" suggested the i'm
spector.
Yes: l had forgotten Marco an
swered the model. whose appreciation
for others. zone day in Paris he came
to my atelier. / had not seen him for
years, n ne had changed much, TO my
eyes at least. for l remembered him
only as / had seen him last. Many
things had happened meantime: he had
become q violinist, who might have
been great IL 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"
Ptetro paused, shrugged HIS shoulders
and sent q cloud OF cigarette smoke
through his nostrIls. Mackworth kept
diScreetly silent.
Ills wife had left him and I was no.
surprised at that continued the model.
for Marco always had a temper, was
AS Jealous as the o of Venice, and
looked on life darkly. Ask yourself
signor. what must be the life OF a wom-
an with such a husband"
.Did she run away with someone
else r. asked Mackworth suspiciously.
mo: she was virtuous; she. went
back to the sister who had reared her"
$50 that Mezza had no cause for
jealousyy"
NO. but he was jealous all the same.