Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-10-10
He called loudly, harshly:
"Heinrich, Heinrich!n

1lcllI1Cu nttd AOI nlLn lie ttANtL 0ACco
ing jacket He slipped into it. shook
himself and lighted a cigarette. His
hands shook with nervousness, and he
held them out from him that he might
look at them.
ooh. what a terrible sightr he groan-
ed.
"MonsieurY' Heinrich said inquir-
ingly.
"Has any one been here?" Karl ask
ed.
"No, monsieur; only Ma'm'selle Mimi.
She is waiting In the studio to pose"
With an impatient gesture Karl
walked across the room. picked up a
newspaper, flung himself on a couch
and held the sheet before his eyes. He
did not even see the print, but he per-
sisted, trying to Danish his restless
thoughts.
Heinrich. solicitously brushing and
folding Karls coat waited The artist
looked at him impatiently.
Tell Ma'm'selle Mimi | shall not
need her today. She may CO."
eyes. monsieur" Heinrich said.
The servant stepped to the door Of
the studio and threw it open. He
called out:
"Ma'm'seIle. M. Kari say he will
not need you today. You may 60
home"
Heinrich withdrew. Kari lay at full
length on the couch. holding the paper
before him.
A young woman daintily featured.
with rounded figure. whose lines show
ed through her close fitting costume.
burst into the room
Although conscious OF her presence
and irritated. Karl did not look. He
pretended to be absorbed In his news
paper. Mimi looked at him and wait.
ed, but as he did not speak she ven-
tured timidly:
Aren't you going to paint me to-
dayY'
Emo. not today"
do you not love me any more,
Karl?"
The newspaper ratified with the art
lists Impotence and irritation, but he
did not answer. Mimi approached him.
"You do no love me. You have
you loved me you painted mt every
day! Now you paint nothing but land
scapes"
Karl forced a laugh.
Nonsense" he said. "You talk like
a silly child. Mimi"
"You say that now, but you did not
say such things when you loved me.
Karl. 1t is always the way with us
poor models, At first it is, 'Ah, what
shoulders, what beautiful coloring,
what perfect anklesr Then you paint
us every day And then it is: What
In the world have you done with your
figure? 1t is all angles What on
earth have you put on your face? 1t
Is as yellow as old parchment And
then you paint landscapes"
Mimi burst into tears and vigorously
daubed her eyes with her handkerchief.
She was an extremely pretty girl Of
the bourgeois type, with heavy coils
of straw colored hair pied high on
her head and big blue eyes that were
quick to weep.
Karl arose, threw aside his paper
and essayed to comfort her.
"There. there" he said. patting Lls
shoulder. don't cry, Mimi. You are
full of folly today"
AS quick to smile as she had been to
cry. Mimi unveiled her Eyes and looked
at him eagerly, her lips parting over
her white teeth.
"Then you do love me. Karl? All,
tell me that you love me!w
YES"
"And you will paint me again? If
not today. perhaps tomorrow"
Perhaps, but am very busy"
He turned from her and sat on the
couch again, Minis mood suddenly
turned to anger. and she cried out at
him ~furiously:
IL know that you do not love me,
and I know why. You are going to be
married. Yes, yes" as Karl made an
impatient gesture; II know 1t Is true"
"You are very silly. MIMI" he said.
"Ah, no: ! am not! 1t Is true what
I have said. | have heard all about 1t,
but l did not believe 1t because l was
a fool. You are going to marry Mile.
Elsa Berg. who Is said to be very beau
tiful and who will be a great heiress.
and then you will forget me. as you
would be glad to do now"
"Where In the devil have you heard
all Of this?" Karl demanded, springing
angrily to his feet.
at does not matter. You cannot
deny that 1t Is true"
Then her mood changed swiftly to
contritlon. and she went close to Karl.
But forgive me. | know 1t must
be. I have always known. and 1 must
have annoyed you. We models are
always annoying-in our street clothes
Forgive me, Karl"
She looked appealingly at Karl. and
he was moved.
"Never mind, Mimi. Run along
home now, and I promise to paint
you again. perhaps tomorrow, perhaps
the next day"