Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-25

ously twisting his unlighted cigarette
in his fingers until it crumbled, his
mouth tight. his eyebrows drawn to-
gether. Then he seized his hat and
overcoat and flung himself out of the
door into the gathering winter storm.
For an hour he plunged through the
snow, the chaos of the storm matching
his mood. Almost exhausted, he turned
back toward his home and entered.
The room glowed warmly. In front of
the inviting fire was the big armchair
with its wide seat, comfortable cush-
| ions and high pulpit BACK AS he laid
aside his greatcoat he stepped toward
the chair, intending to bury himself in
its depth and surrender to his mood.
A shudder ran over him. and he drew
back. staring at the seat,
1t was empty, his eyes assured him.
but he could not rid himself of feel
ing that it was occupied. He pressed
/ Ills hands to his eyes and then flung
them outward with the gesture of one
| diStraught.
81 am going mad" he thought.
He called loudly. harshly:
Heinrich! Heinrich!"
The old man. alarmed at his masters
unwonted violence, fastened into the
room. Karl flung aside his coat, and
Heinrich held for him his velvet dress
ing jacket. He slipped into it. shook
himself and lighted cigarette. His
/, hands shook with nervousness, and he
held them out from him that he might
| look at them.
"Oh, what terrible sightv he groan-
ed.
MONSIEUR" Heinrich said inquir-
ingly.N
'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 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 Karl's coat, waited. The artist
looked at him impatiently.
TELL Ma'm'selle Mimi shall not
need her today. She may CO."
1 Yes. monsieur" Heinrich said.
The servant stepped to the door of
the studio and threw it open. He
called out:
"Ma'm'selle. NJ. Karl says he will
not need you today. You may go
home"
Heinrich withdrew. Karl 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 I'm 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-
day?" :.
Emo, not today"
do you not love me, any more.
Karl?" f
The newspaper ratified with the art
lists impotence and irritation. but he
did not answer. Mimi approached him.
You do not love me. You have
ceased to care for me- All, Karl. when
you loved me you painted me every
day! Now you paint nothing but land
scapes-"
Karl forced a laugh.
Nonsense" he said. "You talk like
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 ankles" 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 or
, earth have you put on your face? II
is as yellow as old parchment And
, then you paint landscapes"
Mini 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 piled high Oh
her head and big blue eyes that were
quick to weep.
8 Karl arose, threw aside his paper
!. and essayed to comfort her.
, There. there he said. patting hel
. shoulder, don't cry, Mimi. You are
: full of folly today"
As quick to smile as she had been t.
cry. Mimi unveiled her eyes and looked
at him eagerly, her lips parting ovel
, her white teeth. -,
!, Then you do love me. Karl? All
. tell me that you love mel"
YES"
!, "And you will paint me again? i
not today, perhaps tomorrow
: Perhaps, but | am very busy"
He turned from her and sat on TIT
couch again. Minis mood suddenl.
turned to anger, and she cried out a
9 him furiously:
: 81 know that you do not love me
:. and know why. You are going to b.
: married Yes. yes" as Karl made al
impatient gesture; II know it Is true.
"You are very silly, Mimi" he said.