El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-17
BY Francois Dupre-

n AURICE REGNIER was stand
IS " ing in front of his mirror,
A'A critically examining his own
short hair is decidedly becoming to
me" he thought II wonder what
makes people think ali artists must
year their hair long. l swear l won't
let mine grow, even if she keeps on
asking me to do so from now until the
day of the last Judgment"
She was Mile. Yvonne Dubonnet in
whose home he was to dine today
Maurice. who was just 20 years old,
had come to Paris nine months ago
He was the son of a wealthy silk man
ufacturer at Lyons. His parents were
liberal minded people and did not OBJ
iect to their only son becoming an ar
fist When Maurice had expressed a
wish to go to Paris to study art, MS
father had said: by all means, go to
Paris, my boy, if you feel like it; but
1 want you to learn the value OF mon
ey. so / will not pay all your expenses,
but will make you an allowance OF 10
francs a month
Maurice had found it impossible TO
exist ION this, even in the Quarter
Latin, but he succeeded in getting
some work from the art department Of
francs week to his income By ma
ture an optimist, he considered himself
one of the most fortunate young men
in Paris. Life always seems bright
when you are young, healthy and have
the temperament of true artist
He had been in Paris about two
months when he met Mile. Ivonne
Dubcnnet, who was the daughter of a
rich merchant He did not fall in love
with her, or at least he did not think
his feelings had anything to do with
love, though he liked her immensely
and thought her the most charming
girl he had ever met. Mile. Yvonne' S
behavior towards him was motherly.
She nearly poisoned him with cough
medicine. when he had cold, and gave
him a salve for his lips to prevent them
from cracking in cold weather, and
she could not understand why his par
ents allowed him to be alone in Paris.
Maurice was in the best of humor,
freshened by struggle on foot through
wind and sleet all the way from Rue
du Senat to Avenue Kleber. While he
was taking off his coat in the hall, he
heard merry laugh from above and
when he looked up he saw Mile. Yvonne
in white evening gown sliding down
the banister with the agility Of school
boy. He jumped forward and the
young lady landed in his arms all
bushes and confusion.
"Oh, Maurice, 1 did not know you
were here already" she laughed
NO, am pretty sure you did not
or you would probably not have made
your entry in such an unconventional
manner. 1 am quite surprised that you
have not yet got beyond the stage OF
sliding down banisters.''
We'll, 1 don't do it very often, but
tonight l felt so full of spirits that
1 would not be afraid to do it over
again. even when know you are here. ]
have some good news for you. You
know there are to be four people for
dinner here tonight?'
Yes"
We'll, father had invited a fifth
guest Guess who it is, but only one
guess. His name begins with an NJ.
''Mephistopholes," he answered, with a
smile.
mo. it is Paul Melum.''
You don't say so. Why, here is my
Chance
And it was indeed his chance. for
Melum was the art editor of La France
Illustree," the. finest illustrated paper
in Paris.
You may thank me, them said
Yvonne, her eyes beaming. 81 found