Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-10-25
Miss Austin, the Model
~ ALEX n. SCHMIDT.

smile, out, NJ the same time hor ewes
we're swimming. you are ve..7 sool'
ish." said she. drew nearer 10 her
and said softly: you are mistaken.
In your presence even fool is
wise," / went on more rapidly and
loudly. ITO me you are divine. perfect.
You are q woman, witch" i
breathed deeply; she had turned away
her eyes. "0h. you must believe me"
I finished lamely.
Miss Austin stood still and In the
mellow light OF the moon saw her
breast rise and fall. and her voluptu.
Gus figure stood like beautiful living
statue. Shadow encircled the gold OF
her hair and her hat hid her forehead.
but what saw filled me with a great
desire and l could do no more than
wish for Il. The streets lay silent be.
fore us. behind us. toward the lake.
some blocks away. q cable car rumbled
occasionally; sparse passers.by looked
at US closely. Why did she not speak?
All, moon. torment and spirit divine,
90 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 altering through
stood In utter agony and waited. II
seemed q long time before the blonde
turned to me and ] looked into her
deep, serious eyes. Just now they
seemed so large and compelling that l
did not see the beautiful contour OF
her face In which the orbs were set.
All, heaven and hell FOR me lay with
her now and she knew II not.
WELL" said. with the little com.
posture had left.
you're very foolish boy" was all
she said. you've said that before" ]
told her. land you don't believe It."
mo. 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"
could You 60 homer" "Ah. you
don't want me to go-do you, do you"
I pleaded. had called her Florence
and she had said nothing. felt as big
as a stage lover. Come" said sober
ly, III you want me to go. Of course.
I'll CO."
She answered nothing. "Ill take Il
I 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 Il? You were di.
vine In your pose OF Venus" an
swered.
"You should not have seen me-" she
supplemented. THAT makes all the
difference"
why Larring told me he had q
model direct from the gods. ! could
not stay away"
''Mr. Larring 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
vain search I 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 I 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 80 glad,' l answered, conven-
tlonally.
"But listen to me. I can never DO
to you because Of that after
noon In the studio. You came to see
me, q model, because your artist
friend told you It would be worth
your while to come and see me. He did
not say that was stunning girl you
could add to your list Of acquaint-
ances. that is to your legitimate &C.
quaintances."
l tried to say something.
Don't interrupt me. please"
Our arms did not touch any more.
you came and you saw me. pleased
you. There was something about you
that was different from other. men.
But tonight am afraid Of YOU"
/ took heart again.
Il am not through yet. When you
came into the studio l was not ex-
pecting you. There was no time to
throw any clothing over me. I thought
Mr.. -Larring took It for granted that l
was posing for him alone and not for
you. My chaperon told me that such
an arrangement had been understood.
Oh, I hate Mr.. Larring!" she ex.
claimed.
There was silence for o space.
III ] had met you In q legitimate
way It would have been different"
why do you use the word legiti-
mate? Were we not introduced In the
proper way? Answer me. Florence"
Ny courage had come back to me.
What Q foolish fight she was making.