The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-09-11
Ifull on the mouth through the dainty

ohNs 6uNh o NaANOn NdStO Ol u
clay model 1t was not only sim
full extravaganza, but it was an i'm
prudence, because the clay was moist.
After completing this prodigality she
stepped back and stamped her foot
again with an added defiance, and,
in my alteration of her wilful beauty,
| looked at her for long seconds be-
fore glancing at the Athene which
had been thus sanctifed. When ]
did look a sudden bewlderment
seized me, and pirouetted wildly in
front of it, shouting, Eureka, Eu-
reka, found at lasti"
And found it certainly was. It
could have been nothing else but the
light imprint of those delicious liv-
ing lips upon the dead clay which
had given the one touch needed, the
touch for which | had searched and
longed. After all, it was not sur
prising. She could have kissed
smile into the face of a stone tiger.
OF course, ! could not make her
see for herself the miracle that she
had wrought. That would have been
to admit defeat, and she has told me
since that she never under any cir
cumstances allows herself to be con.
tradicted. Indeed, she avows that
she only kissed the handkerchief, and
.!6 not touch the model at all. Even
then the wastfulness would be the
same, but this for the moment !
forgave in view of future amends.
Now, the next quarrel was the very
last one up to date. The Athene had
been triumphantly finished and sent
to the exhibition-room. Marie and |
celebrated its departure with feast
in the studio. We had tea, and, Of
course, as / was not watching her
at the moment, she poured on the wa
ter before it was boiling, and when /
demonstrated she raised her eye
brows petulantly and said something
about such trivialities," and also
that the water certainly was boiling
because it had been on the stove
lever so long" In addition to the
tea we had cakes and pain depices
and those long chocolates rolls with
the mysterious white paste inside.
But, in spite of all these external
marks of festivity, there was unques-
tionably gloom over the studio,
and the vacant place on the work.
table where the Athene had stood
looked at us reproachfully, while the
skull distinctly sneered in the most
unpleasant possible manner.
l began to talk vivaciously about
the next piece of work | should un-
dertake, and Marie suggested head
of Hercules, with an almost imper-
ceptible toss of her own little head,
but l knew that there we're tears in
her voice, although she says now
that it was only my conceit that made
me think so. And then the concierge
came to the door with letter upon
which there was ten centimes to pay.
Because l had no change, Marie paid
it for me, and l said that l would re-
pay her at once, but all the same l
vowed to myself that l never would.
The sight of the contents of the
envelope reminded me of delicious
little pleasantly which l had devised,
and which yet was no more than JUS
tice. 1t was printers proof of the
official catalogue of the Ecole ex-
hibits, and l tossed it across to Ma
rie, and then watched delightedly
while she was finding the entry OF
the Atbene.
She looked at it blankly, and then,
with her round eyes open to the
fullest extent, she said, But what
does it mean, monsieur? Who has
made an error so stupid?"
took the paper from her and read
what expected to read, having my
self supplied the words:
mo. 2. Tete d'Athene, par
Charles Marvin ct Marie Cabot"
She stood up, and for the first time
I saw her really angry. But, mon
sieur," she said, "it is cruel. This
l have not deserved, to be thus ridi-
culed."
But, emoiselle-Marie,"
pleaded, believe me, l meant no jest.
On my honor, the work was your as
much as mine, and without such ac-
acknowledgement l could not exhibit"
But she was not to be comforted.
She covered her face with her hands,
and saw the tears trickling through,
and then, as l Intellectually strove to
make amends, she sobbed, ut is SO
absurd, so ridiculous. Everybody
will know and everybody will laugh,
and wherever go / shall be
ashamed. Two different names to
one little model. 1t is a betise, a
betise."
But, Marie" I expostulated, "it is
but proof, and by stroke of the
pen l will change it. See, will do
it even now"-taking up pencil and
trying to draw her fingers from her
face. Look, dear child, l will put it
right, and whoever laughs shall not
laugh a second time. See, now
and l made her look, but tho little
tear-stained face was almost more
than l could bear.
None the less, took my fate in
both hands, and as she watched me l
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