Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-09-05

"a cigar quite out Of proportion to his
means, by the way; but. then, Jasper's
income was small, and his tastes were
large, so he did not let one interfere
with the other more than was absolute
ly necessary.
Adrian Stormont lived at Sunbury II
little house with a garden running
down to the river, and he was leaning
back in deck chair idly watching the
boats as they went past with Their
varied freight; the men In white fan
nels, who were taking things easily be-
cause there was girl on the red cush
iOned seat to talk to, and the club men
in sweaters" who gave no thought to
girls as they flew along under the stern
eye of the cOckswain. but only to the
coming race.
II beg your pardon" Adrian said, re-
membering that he had been asked q
question. What am I doing, did you
say? Well, nothing much just at pres
ent, but / am contemplating something
big, though l don't know whether I
shall ever arrive at 1t. have received
communication from the ancient bor-
ough Of Stonehaven making me pro-
posal to paint St Margaret for their
town hall. st. Margaret, you must
know, Is the patron saint Of Stoneha-
ven. and they are very proud of her."
"Well, why do you hesitate? I don't
see much difficulty about that. On the
contrary, you are to be congratulated"
But that isn't quite ALL" said Adrian
little dryly. "St. Margaret is the
type of all that is innocent and beauti-
full in woman. She is pure, ethereal
creature. bearing the martyrs palm
and crown. AS you know, my figure
studies have been chiefly men. l have
rarely employed female model, and
in any case no hired model would an
swer my idea of st. Margaret. So
am at standstill."
"Oh, know you have always fought
shy of women and shut yourself up
here like Diogenes in his tub. You
are almost as innocent Of the world as
a baby, but it is not quite the wicked
place you fancy, and there are st. Mar
garets to be found in it yet"
81 don't know" rejoined Adrian.
"that l have thought Of it as very
wicked, but the few women l have
met have all seemed to me very much
alike, not much better than we are.
Now, l want woman who is as diff
ferent from man as light from dark
ness, whose innate goodness shines In
her beautiful face, making it tender
and pitiful to the sins she could not
commit, but can underestimate saint
to be worshiped and yet" his voice
dropping, "a woman to be loved"
81 am afraid cannot help you. You
want so much. She must be beauty
and pattern Of all the virtues as
well. The two so seldom go together.
you see. Virtue is rightly considered
as the privilege Of the plain. And she
mustn't be model, you say, or
know very nice little girl''-
"Oh, no, not model" interrupted
Adrian impatiently. "Fancy a crea-
ture who shippers to you for so much
an hour posing as st. Margaret"
Jasper shrugged his shoulders. "As
I said before. your notions are little
exaggerated" he remarked. "Why can't
you idealize, like other men? Saints
don't come and sit for their portraits
unfortunately"
81 am not so unreasonable as to eX-
pect my ideal complete in the flesh,
replied Adrian, 'but l must have youth
and innocence at least. l must paint
my saint from one not altogether un-
worthy to stand in her place.
There was no reply. Jasper was
smoking, and his thoughts seemed to
have drifted away. But presently he
reused himself. He blew ring OF
smoke slowly into the air and watched
il fade before he spoke. Then he said:
II think perhaps can help you after
ALL" He spoke very deliberately, as
though he were weighing each word.
Adrian turned to him eagerly. "Rcal
ly? | shall be very much obliged to
you if you can
Il know girl who should suit you
well in every respect If she will con-
sent to sit" he went on, still in the
same deliberate way. "She is beautiful
with the beauty Of saint or an an
gel; there is something almost unearth-
ly about it-and," very slowly, II have
never heard word against her"
but will she come? DO you think
you can persuade her to sit for me? Is
she friend of yours?" Adrian poured
out his questions, too eager and inter
ested to notice the strangeness OF Jas
per's manner.
Il have known her some time, and
will make the proposal to her If you
like. She has a widowed mother to
support-it is astonishing how many
widowed mothers there are In the
world who need supporting-and that
may influence her. 1t won't be such
drudgery as teaching. l suppose may
offer liberal terms?'
Anything you like IL she Will suit.
When can l see her? She Is teaching,
you say, so perhaps it would be con-
venient to her to come down some
evening for an interview
II think not-I mean 1t Ia rather
long way to come so late-she Is living
in London" Jasper replied, with odd
embarrassment. "But IL she will con-
sent to sit for your sweet saint will
tell her to write and make an appoint
ment to see you. have not much fear
but what you will find her all that you
DESIRE
So it was settled. and Jasper shortly
returned to town. He would not listen
to a word of thanks from Adrian, In
terrupting him unceremoniously when
he would have expressed his gratitude.
Adrian waited In some anxiety Tor
the result of his friends negotiations
and breathed q sigh Of relief when he
had a little note saying the writer,
who signed herself 'Bernice Kerr"
would call on him that afternoon.
And when he saw her he was not dis