The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-08-29
Monsieur ct Madame.
By SIDNEY G. P. CORYN.

ting was over and we would have
tea as It should be made, and scolded
her for her obstinate refusal to walt
/. until the water was boiling. Then
she would pout and sulk so entranc-
ingly that 1 would have given my
| fortune to be allowed to drive away
the frowns In the only legitimate
way, but l should indeed have been
bold to attempt that with Marie. All
the same, believed she liked to be
scolded.
1t was very much like making
love, wasn't 1t? Well, 1t was making
love upon my part, although for a
long time 1t was only an excess of
camaraderie upon hers. Her pres
ence had become a perfect intoxica-
ton to me, and even when l was
working alone thought of her would
act like an inspiration down to my
very finger tips. But I never dared
to tell her so, never dared to hint
at what she was to me, never ven
| tured to overstep the line which her
| goodness and defenselessness had
J orawn around her. Once asked her
to accompany me on a half-holiday
trip to st. Cloud. 1t may me that
something in my manner was more
ardent than my words, for she hesi-
tated and flushed under my gaze,
and then she said, But l have not
the time, monsieur, and to take walks
is not to work"
But, mademoiselle, one half day
only, and the Athene Is nearly fin
ished."
She suddenly turned from me as
though half-petulantly, and then in
a moment l saw that she was crying
What had done and how bad l hurt
her? Apologies for every conceiv-
able offense rushed to my lips, but
she interrupted
"Ah, monsieur, it is not that.
Never has your heart been more kind
than now, but when the Athene is
finished. then I, too" and she
covered her face with her hands and
ran from the studio. / did not see
her again for two days, and then she
! came back Just as though nothing
had happened, apparently as care free
as sunbeam, except once, when she
interpreted the meaning and the mes
sage of a glance, and raised warn
ing finger with a Not one word,
monsieur, not one word,' and the
half sad laughter on her face was
like ripple on lake. Then l knew.
Truly the Athene was nearly fin
ished, and 1t would be none too soon
for the exhibition. Maries interest
in the work was boundless, her ad-
miration and praise unstinted. But
myself was far from satisfied. Work
as | would, the expression which ]
longed to stamp upon the clay eluded
me. l knew that just the pressure
OF finger tip, rightly done, would
give me the picture that was in my
mind, but try as l would. it evaded
me. Marie was all concern, all sym
pathy. To her eyes the work was
already perfect and she would stand
before 1t, with her head bent, first tc
one side and then to the other, smil.
ing deliciously into the impassive and
, ungrateful face of the goddess, unit
/, | wondered how even moist clay could
| be so irresponsive. tried to explain
to her the imperfection which baf
fed me, but it was of no avail and
she resented my criticism as though
she herself had been the artist Anc
so there were many little quarrels
) and when l was more insistent thar
7 usual Marie would pout and relaps,
1 into silence, or else she would inter
= rupt the expression of my graves
I opinions by breaking out into sor~
G entirely frivolous and irrelevant lit
{ tie song, with "au clair de la lune'
e as refrain at the end of every sec
e ond line. And then, in the sec~e
e place of my heart, | knelt and wor
e SHIPPED her, or took her in my arm
n and kissed her into silence, but onl,
e in imagination. and that seemed fiat
e stale, and Improbable until | tolt
f myself that it was prophetic.
i But one day, after the usual guar
e rel, Marie stamped her little foot il
Il a manner altogether terrifying, and
e with a droop of her eyelids whicl
;. was intended to be dlgnified, bu
n which was only enhancing, she said
l. VIII say NJ llOlc, luOnoicul. lOu
If Athene Is perfect, absolutely and en-
tirely. Your disputations prove I
l. me that YOU are wrong" And, wit
e that display OF feminine logic, sh
k suddenly held her little handkerchie
a in front of the Athene and kissed
e full on the mouth through the daint
N cambric.
10 Fancy such wanton waste on
clay model 1t was not only a sir
1t full extrayagaQce. but it was an in
Ie prudence, because the clay was mois
IN After completing this prodigality sh
Or stepped back and stamped her for
Id again with an added defiance, an,
le in my alteration OF her wllful beaut
as | looked at her for long seconds b.
a fore glancing at the Athene whic
ie had been thus sanctiHed. When
to did look sudden bewildermei
A. seized me, and pirouetted wildly
Is front OF it, shouting, Eureka, e,
IL reka, found at lastr'
,s And found 1t certainly was.
a. could have been nothing else but IL
I light imprint of those delicious Il
lie Ing lips upon the dead clay whit
n had given the one touch needed, II
n touch for which l had searched al
On longed After all, 1t was not su
.<..t.f..a~ Gbo. oo..Il I,x.. t~l,r.I