The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-05
THE SIREN MODEL.
BY EARLE MARBLE.


 (Copyright, 1905, Daily Story Pub. Col
 Thank heaven! He seems to be ra tional at last"
 I seemed to have awakened suddenly, and those were the words I heard.
 endeavored to turn slightly in my bed, to see my sister, whose voice recognized as speaking. But I was very weak and could not turn.
 There, dear" continued the voice Of my sister which sounded so far away, so unnaturally. you must not exert yourself at all"
 What is it, Marie asked. Why am here, and what Is the matter?"
 And you must not talk either, not even think. if possible to avoid it. You have been very sick and the doctor has just succeeded in pulling you through Keep perfectly still. and try and get little natural sleep for a while, which will be more restful than this unnatural drowsiness. I must go downstairs for a while and by the time you awake will be back. Then, If you are refresh ed we will talk about it.
 But I could not go to sleep. I knew, by the pressure on my eyes, that they were staring like a crazy mans, trying to penetrate the mystery which seemed enveloping me This staring made my eyes tired, and I felt dozy for few moments when suddenly I began to remember. I was in my studio, trying to pose my model. to the best effect for an interesting composition. when l made that terrible discovery. Then all seemed jumbled and confused, and I remembered nothing till l heard my sis ter's voice.
 The memory of the horrible discov- cry stirred me so, in my exceedingly weak state, that I cried out in mix ture of agony and terror
 The door opened suddenly.
 What is it, dear?'
 It was my sisters voice again.
 Then I seemed to be losing myself and slowly drifted away to unconscious ness.
 When I came to myself again 1t was as though I was wakened from a sound and refreshing sleep, and l felt much stronger.
 Do you feel better now, dear? asked my sister.
 Yes. dearest of all nurses. But just tell me this please: How long have I been here in this condition?"
 Nearly a month. The doctor says that you will be in better health than ever before if you are careful in get ting up and around again .-~*
 T am glad. because I must have been puny indeed to have toppled over like this"
 I had always been. physically, the weak and puny member of the family. had been obliged to leave college be- fore graduating, and could take little part in the sports. The athletes looked down on me, and even the professors neglected me. I had predilection for art, and began the study of it. devoting more time to outdoor practice than studio work. which helped me some what, so that by the time l began to gain recognition was considerably better in health, but far from being strong. as was shown by my mishap, from which I was recovering.
 Somehow the artists who are weak physically, in many instances. have most virile ideas a s to what they would like to paint. I wanted to do a canvas with a life-size figure on it--a study of a siren sitting on a seaweed-strewn rock, just off shore. playing on a rude harp, either to a mariner approaching fin a boat. or awaiting, cat-like. the ap- proach of some one, the composition not being settled yet in my own mind. I