The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-09-11
Monsieur ct Madame.
By SIDNEY G. P. CORYN.

pate in the sunshine and amend his
ways. AS for Athene, it was we'll
nigh impossible to impress that lady's
, martial features upon clay with Ma
rie's dimpling face before me, and |
would tell her so, and then the little
woman would be very stern, threaten
ing to discontinue the sittings un-
less | would pay exclusive attention
to the shape and poise of her head
and forget everything else. OF course,
that was absurdly impossible. Now
and then she would come early and
put the studio to rights, and some
times she would stay after the sit
ting was over and we would have
tea as it should be made, and scolded
her for her obstinate refusal to wait
until the water was boiling. Then
she would pout and sulk so entranc-
ingly that l would have given my
fortune TO be allowed to drive away
the frowns in the only legitimate
way, but | 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 it? Well, It was making
love upon my part, although for a
long time it was only an excess of
camaraderie upon hers. Her pres
ence had become a perfect intoXica-
tion to me, and even when / was
working alone a thought of her would
act like an inspiration down to my
very finger tips. But | never dared
to tell her Sc, never dared to hint
at what she was to me, never ven-
tured to overstep the line which her
goodness and defenselessness had
drawn 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 saw that she was crying.
What had done and how bad | 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. l 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 a ripple on lake. Then knew.
Truly the Athene was nearly fin
ished, and it 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 l
longed to stamp upon the clay eluded
me. l knew that just the pressure
of a finger tip, rightly done, would
give me the picture that was in my
mind, but try as would, it evaded
me. Marie was all concern, all SYM
pathy. To her eyes the work was
already perfect and she would stand
before it, with her head bent, first to
one side and then to the other, smil-
ing deliciously into the impassive and
ungrateful face of the goddess, until
| 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. And
SO there were many little quarrels,
and when | was more insistent than
usual Marie would pout and relapse
into silence, or elso she would inter-
rupt the expression of my gravest
opinions by breaking out into some
entirely frivolous and irrelevant lit
tie song, with ''au clair de la lune"
as refrain at the end of every Sec
ond line. And then, in the secret
place of my heart, knelt and wor-
SHIPPED her, or took her in my arms
and kissed her into silence, but only
in imagination, and that seemed fiat,
stale, and Improbable until l told
myself that it was prophetic.
But one day, after the usual quar-
rel, Marie stamped her little foot in
a manner altogether terrifying, and
with a droop of her eyelids which
was intended to be dignified, but
which was only enhancing. she said
Il will say no more, monsieur. Your