The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-10-09
Miss Austin, the Model.
BY ALEX q. SCHMIDT.


smile, but, at the same time her ewes
were swimming You are ye-> sool.
.sh." said she. drew nearer 10 her
and said softly: you a.a mistaken.
In your presence even fool Is
WISE" went on more rapidly and
loudly. ITO me you are divine. perfect,
You are woman, witch" ]
breathed deeply; she had turned away
her eyes. "Oh. you must believe me"
{ finished lamely.
Miss Austin stood still and In the
mellow light OF the moon ! saw her
breast rise and fall. and her yoluptu.
ous figure stood like a beautiful living
statue. Shadow encircled the gold OF
her hair and her hat hid her forehead
out what | saw filled me with a great
iesire and / could do no more than
wish for Il. The streets lay silent be
fore us. behind us. toward the lake
some blocks away, cable car rumbled
occasionally; sparse passers.by looked
at US closely. Why did she not speak,
An. moon. torment and spirit divine
do not look upon me as you did that
Night Your madness. which lulls and
wins the tides. was In my blood and
under the large, fragrant California
trees with your rays flltering through
I stood In utter agony and waited. II
seemed a long time before the blonde
turned TO me and | looked into her
deep, serious eyes. Just now they
seemed so large and compelling that ]
did not see the beautiful contour o.
her face In which the orbs were set
All. heaven and hell for me lay with
her now and she knew Il not.
We'll" / said. with the little com
posure ! had left.
You're a very foolish boy" was all
she said. you've said that before" ]
told her. "and you don't believe IT,"
NO. | know IT,"
There was no hope for me now.
moved closer TO her until our arms
touched. Listen, Florence" / said
ito me you are divine. You are my
queen. For you l could commit muir
der and every other crime. For"
Gould you go home?" "Ah, yor
don't want me TO go-do you, do you?
I pleaded. had called her Florenc,
and she had said nothing. | felt as bis
as a stage lover. Come" said sober
ly, III you want me to go, OF course
I'll CO."
She answered nothing. I'll take II
| may stay" said.
A breeze rustled In the leaves OF the
magnolia tree above us.
do you remember the first time we
saw each other?" she said.
How can forget it? You were al.
vine In your pose OF Venus" I an.
swered.
You should not have seen me-" she
supplemented. THAT makes all the
difference"
why Larring told me he had a
model direct from the gods. ! could
not stay away"
Mr.. LaTring is no gentleman"
why, Miss Austin, what an edict.
Larring would never breathe a word
against you. He's an artist and he
saw the ideal perfection OF your face
and form. That is all. He knew what
a vain search had made for Just
such being as you and he asked me
into his studio"
And when you-saw me?" she asked
and | saw the color rise and food her
face.
When saw you went wild. You
were the divinity of my search"
You are wild yet" she said.
Il am sane" / answered. And
have been since the time we called on
your mother. Only there are times
when lose my control and then | say
things that hurt YOU"
You've never said anything to hurt
me-" she said.
I'm so glad" I answered, conven-
tionally.
But listen to me. can never be
anything to you because Of that after
noon in the studio. You came to see
me, a model because your artist
friend told you 1t would be worth
your while to come and see me. He did
lot say that ! was stunning girl you
could add to your list of acquaint.
inces, that is to your legitimate &C.
Iuaintances."
| tried to say something.
Don't interrupt me, please
Our arms did not touch any more
You came and you saw me. pleased
,ou. There was something about you
hat was different from other men.
But tonight | am afraid of you"
/ took heart again.
81 am not through yet. When you
,ame into the studio / was not ex-
,ecting you. There was no time to
brow any clothing over me. thought
dr. Larring took 1t for granted that
vas posing for him alone and not for
'ou My chaperon told me that such
IN arrangement had been understood.
)h, hate Mr.. Larring!" she ex.
laimed.
There was silence for a space.
IF | had met you in legitimate
way it would have been different"
why do you use the word legiti-
nate? Were we not introduced in the