El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-28
ma~o1
The HeraId's
Daily Shert Stery
THE TREAS U r E

What is she like. this friend OF
yours?"
She is fair, with most beautiful
golden hair you have ever seem She
sometimes lets it down just to please
me. when I go in to supper with her
and her mother
A while ago Sir Alfred would have
laughed scornfully at the description
today he only smiled a little skeptical-
~.
We'll, you can bring your friend
with you tomorrow, and III see II she
Akely to be of any use to me-"
Ard, with an eager thank you, the
young ran hurried away.
The next day Sir Alfred realized his
model had not exaggerated or Spoken
too warmly. Ellie Brown was very
lovely young girl of II or Is, with
rich golden hair. ripping. when IN
bound, nearly to her knees, and pa
thetic rather tired face.
II understand you have never sat
TO an artist before. Dc you think you
can do it?'' asked Sir alfred, wonder
ing whether her voice would be as re-
fined as her face
For though her clothes, as he under
stood clothes. were beneath contempt.
being cheap, badly cut and shabby,
her face was the face of a lady,.
He started as she answered, for
something in the ring of her voice
brought back old memories which
were very vivid and living lately
Il am sure I can do it. if you viii
be a little patient at first. / so badly
need to earn some money. that I am
sure could learn to do anything you
told me. If am really pretty enough
to paint!'
IN spite of himself Sir Alfred
smiled.
"Oh, you are pretty enough, and you
look intelligent. Go and stand over
there. and take hold of your friends
hands. and just smile at him as though
you cared for him more than for any
one in the world"
The happy young couple promptly
did so. brilliant blush burned in
the faces Of both. as Willie Davitt
blurted out:
That's just what we dol"
"Oh, Willie" said the girl reproach-
fully, you should not have bothered
this gentleman with our. private af-
fairs"
oh. don't mind me- said Sir Alfred.
caustieally. Although a beginner. Ellie.
by reason of her intelligence, made a
accustomed to the work, and Sir Alfred
was very grateful to young Davitt for
introducing such an ideal model for his
subject.
She came to him four times a week,
earning each day 10 shillings a bigger
sum than she had ever earned before.
But one day she came with redeemed
eyelids, and Sir Alfred, to his own
amazement. found himself asking her
II anything was the matter.
My mother is ILL.," she replied SIM
ply She has been i'll for a long time,
and it is so terrible to see someone
you love just drifting away from you
Tor want OF little money The doc
tors say she ought to go to a warm
for the whole winter. have
good food and wine, every comfort,
and warm clothing. Everyone of these
things is beyond our reach, and-and
Her voice broke off in dry Sob
Come, come, my dear young lady,
let's hope things are not so bad as
that And you are earning very fair
money at present.
know" replied Ellie quickly.
Please don't think me ungratefuI 1
know you pay me well-too well for
what I do. But we owed such a lot Of
money for our rent. But that is an
Did story.
What specially upset me today was
that l had to lie to my own mother,
md have never lied to her before.
She would be terribly upset if she
Knew what I was doing Once before
In artist offered to paint my hair,
when he just met me in the street, and
ny mother said as long as we live she
loped l should never sink to becoming
IN artists model 1 don't know why
she should mind. And 1 so badly
leedeo money for her that when Willie
suggested that you might like to paint
ne, l Jumped at the chance. But to
ny mother, II pretended 1 was going
o lady's house to sew Do you think
was very wrong? If she had known
he truth it would have made her very
Unhappy; and yet she was so i'll, just |
lad to get money for her"
1 think you are quite right" an
wered Sir Alfred. when people are
II, we often have to deceive them for |
heir own sakes."
But 1 shan't be able to deceive her |
much longer. think she is beginning |
o suspect. and she has asked me so |
many questions about the lady 1 am |
working for, and where she lives. /
hall soon have to tell the truth"
Perhaps she wouldn't mind so /
much If she were to see what a re- !
pectable old foggy I am. Do you think !
would make it any easier for you if /
were to go and see your mother. and
xplafn that 1 really could not finish
ny picture without you. and that you
re quite safe in coming to my stu
io?"
I think it might make all the diff
erence, but I don't like to trouble
ou." Ellie answered shyly
Sir Alfred was amazed even at him
elf Trying to make life easier for
roubled damsels, especially when they
elonged to the model" class, was the
lst thing that was in his line. But
here was something about Ellie
rown which attracted him strangely.
nd made him willing to make sacri-
ces of his leisure and usual habits
omething which was constantly
ringing up old memories, striking old
ut never forgotten chords.
Accordingly. the next day, Sir AL
ed called at the address Ellie had
wen him, a dreary, sordid tenement
ouse, and made his way up the dark
.one staircase. AT the number Ellie
adj given him he had knocked and on
lie door being opened by the girl. who
as nervous and i'll at ease, he entered.