The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-02-02
THE MODEL At.
vIYON'S ATEL|ER,
An Incident That Ended In Her
Leaving the Sky Parlor.
BY IzoLA |. FORESTER.

1t was In the middle of the morning
sitting, the very apex Of intensity in
the lesson. Little Vivon moved lightly
and restlessly here and there from one
easel to another. his small. black eyes
mere high lights of sparkling eager
ness under their heavy brows. He
smoked his short, thick pipe and glanc-
ed from the charcoal studies to the
slim white figure on the platform.
The sunlight poured full into the
long. bare atelier. Suddenly the model
swayed ever so slightly and sank to
the floor.
Some Of the girls gave quick. fright
ened cries. and Jean Laurier glanced
up with smothered exclamation Of
angry dismay over his unfinished
sketch. From the first easel to the
right Of the platform the American
student. Hal Crane. sprang to the plat
form and raised her head on his arm.
1t was such young head. The loose.
warm tinted hair lay softly against his
shoulder and he noticed for the first
time how thin the small, piquant face
was.
Vivon hoped excitedly the length OF
tho room and waved his small plump
hands for order.
"It is nothing" he said. "She is
fatigued, It is so warm. Can you carry
her, NJ. Crane?"
Could he carry herr Crane smiled
grimly as be raised the slender figure
in his arms. Why. his little sister
Bess, back In wfordsville, Mo-, was
heavier than this. He followed Vivon
from the atelier away from the bat
terry of amused, curious eyes to the
artists private den.
ma fol-" laughed petite Yvette, her
eyes narrowing critically, 'that was
not bad. that last. think shall faint,
too, and let lie gros Crane waltz me on
in his arms"
Laurier leaned lazily over her shout
der and scrawled a rough caricature
on the corner Of her paper.
Like thatT
She boxed his ears soundly and
reached a greedy little hand after the
box of bonbons Elsie Ticot was pass
ing. The model was forgotten.
LAY her there" Vivon nodded to a
corner divan in the inner studio heap
ed high with pillows, sketches and cos
tunes. Crane ruthlessly pushed the
latter Off with his foot to make room
for his burden. He laid her down gen.
tly and held to her lips the glass Of
water vivon brought.
ut is just faintnesss, yes?" asked
Vivon anxiously.
Crane stared thoughtfully at the
white face among the pillows. He had
been hungry once back In the first
days Of the battle. The little home in
| Charlottesville had sent him out to
the great city of his dreams. and only
long afterward had the fight been his
own. He thought he recognized the
look that comes to those who are
tracked by the wolf.
81 think that she's just about starv-
ed" he said biuntly. Get some wine
or something"
vivon obeyed. The American had a
way that made men obey.
"Who is sheT asked Crane when he
had managed to get a few drops OF
wine between the pale lips.
zone of Ribaut's models" Vivon an
swered nervously. The sounds from
the atelier were not conducive TO peace
of mind. Yes, she was q new one. RI
baut had sent her to him yesterday,
and he had engaged her for the poise.
the grace, the turn of the head. that
line from the tip of the ear to the
slope Of the shoulder. She did not pose
for the life classes, merely for drapery
and the poise effective. And the name
1T was in his notebook.
He took it out and read from the
latest entries:
virginia Wade"
American asked Crane, using
more wine as he saw a 6utter OF the
eyelids.
But. yes" vivon shrugged his shout
ders. when they come over and are
poor they must do something. Some
are so proud they hide away and
starve. and some put up the grand
fight"
Where does she liver
Crane glanced up. The little artist
had gone back to the atelier as a fresh
crash sounded. with Yvette's peal OF
laughter ringing above 1t.
When the girls eyelids opened he
smiled down at her In friendly fash
ion.
Feel betterT
81 guess so." She hesitated and add
ed, with a scared look In her dark blue
eyes, ibid faint IN there?"
"Oh, yes; that was nothing! Lots
do" Laurier had said the American
had reduced cheerful lying to an art
Its so hot there In the mornings. yor
know"
There was culver Of hopeless dis
appointment around the curves Of bel
mouth. and he knew what troubled
her. There was Eve franc piece III
his pocket. He laid it unblushinglJ
on the taboret beside her.
"Vivon said that was yours. III
couldn't wait, but he said to come to
morrow. and this is for the two sit
tings."
Her eyes frightened with surprise
and he knew, his surmise had beer