Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-12-04

the threshold She wore red wooden
Jersey over her bodice that ttted her
tightly aud made her look very slight
and shivering She looked with wide
ouan eyes at the beautiful girl and
dropped a courtesy as she sat in the
seat Millar drew out for her. Elss
nodded 81 her in silence. and Mlllar,
after watching them few seconds
with q smile OF amusement. walked
ont Of the room, whlstling SOFTLY.
Mimi was the first TO break the silence.
squirming under Elsa's direct scrutiny.
"AladaIue Is waiting for the artist"
"Yes." Elsa replied shortly.
$50 am l." Mimi said. adding with
engaging frankness: He went on q
spree last night. When he does that
he always sleeps late"
Elsa was embarrassed. aud there was
another interval of silence. Then Mimi
asked:
lis madame to have her portrait
paintedT
"Yes"
huo" uI NLVsC " hp N'tht ~
DO painted" Mimi went on. This is
quite like home TO me. am bis model.
| don't have TO pay for my portraits.
Madame has a splendid profile"
please do not call Inc madame"
Elsa said impatlently. Il am miss.
like yourself"
II beg your pardon" Mini said. Il
am not madame. either. My name IL
Mimi"
My name Is Elsa"
"Oh. know. | have heard Of you.
You are very rich as well as very beau.
tiful | know what ii means to be
rich Once our family was well OF.
and did not have to work As a
model"
II am sorry you have been unfortu-
nate" Elsa said
But have heard much OF you" the
girl wen, on. She was now tremen-
dously Interested In this beautiful wo.
man whose coming, she believed,
meant that she would no longer he
Karls model. You see, | know all
the things that go on here. look out
for the artists laundry and sew his
buttons on. and almost know his
thoughts"
And do they interest you!"
"Oh, yes. but it will not be 20 any
more"
"Why not?"
Because he Is to be married. be-
cause you have come, and he will not
need me-"
why not? He will still paint. He
must have models"
Yes but II will not be the same,
and | will not come any more"
DO you like NJ. Karl?"
VERY much"
Does he paint you now?"
"Ah. no; nothing but landscapes"
"Then you did not come as a model
today" Elsa asked.
II come always as a model II the
artist does not treat me as such II Is
not my fault"
She noticed that Elsa looked Offend
ell and went on hurriedly. apoiogetic
ally:
please IL ! offend you | will be
quiet. But you seem to be SO nice. II
! were you aud you were the model
should not be angry with you"
Elsa was touched by the pathos In
Minis eyes.
Pardon me. am very. very sorry
| II have hurt you" she cried i'm
pulsively. Let us be friends"
Yes. let's!" Mimi cried. You car
talk to Inc about everything l am no,
bad sort. but have known him TO!
long while. was crying when
! went away yesterday. and he felt sor
ry for me. He came to the house on
his way to the ball last night IN hll
evening clothes, but 1 would not see
him. 1t must be finished"
"Was he fond Of yous'
II liked him very much" Mimi re-
piled simply.
And now?"
"Ah. now it Is different. II 4 mar
wants to have another sweetheart
what can we do? 1t is like the rail
way. The train comes in and goes. and
the little station must wait until an
other train comes"
"And are you going to wait for an
other train? You were fond Of hin
and can speak like that"'
II was fond Of him." Mimi said, but
] am not silly enough to believe 1t will
last just because wanted 1t to last
l knew when 1t started that ! should
have to give him up some day. have
learned that. shall forget him and
hope that he and you will be happy"
Minis tears came unrestrainedly
now. and as she looked for her hand
kerchief Elsa picked up Millar's weep
ing satchel where he had left it on the
table and gave It to the model MINI
dabbed vigorously at her streaming
eyes.
Il am glad that met you here" Nh,
said when she could control her voice
~ shall be clever today and not Sc,
hin a. all. l will 90 away now an,
never come back. What time is itT'
lit is 3 o'clock Elsa said, looking q
her watch.
Then l must Co. Another artist II
the next block expects me to pose To-
him. and his laundress comes at 8
He is very clever"
She stood up and looked around tn,
room at the things on the walls-hel
own pictures. the place that seemet
like home to her. She sobbed 90 sh,
rtarted toward the door.
"Goodby, MISS" she said
Elsa looked after her as she wen,
out. Then she looked around the room