El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-31
The HeraId's
Daily Shert Story

: up and made lonely without suffering
mentally. I must have companions and
friends with whom I may talk about
the things that interest me. 1 must
know personally the great poets and
artists that 1 admire. Fortunately my
husband CANDLES, but when he goes to
his club he leaves two men to watch
or guard me who are equally devoted
to him and me. Now 1 have bought
this little place outside of Paris and
here I often see my friends. though
know / am taking my life into my
hands in doing so. II you knew who
I am you would try to meet me, so
prefer not to tell you. To you l will
merely be Alexandra Philippovna. And
now tell me If you are not sorry you
came. Would you not prefer to have
seen me only with mask?"
For a month or so Claude met the
unknown lady. twice or three times a
week. She sat for him when they
were alone, but often other artists and
poets were present. She knew every
body, was Intelligent bright, charm
ing and brilliant and he fell madly in
love with her No word of love. how
ever. at any time passed his lips, for
he felt that her heart, in spite of all.
belonged only to her husband of whom
she often spoke.
One evening Claude waited for the
auto at Porte Dauphin, but it did not
come and he went home wondering
what might have happened. greatly
distressed and worried. 4 week pass
ed, at the end of which he received a
letter from Berlin containing only a
few words of regret that she had not
been able to say goodbye.
He never heard anything more of
Alexandra Philoppovna and for long
time was on the verge OF despair. for
no woman had ever made such an i'm
preston on his mind
Years passed. Claude Celere's fame
as a painter grew. An exhibition Of
his paintings and sketches was the
event Of the Paris season and among
the pictures We're about 80 portraits
and sketches of the unknown Russian
lady. The past was dead, so he had
exhibited them with the rest
One evening as he was about to
leave his studio, he received a visit
from a handsome Russian who intro
duced himself as count Feodore Paylo-
witch Semarine. member Of the Russian
legation.
Il was very much impressed with
your paintings" he said. 81 had not
seen any work OF yours before, for ]
left Paris years ago. You may mag
inc therefore how surprised I was to
find "a number of portraits of my wife. -
1t was rather dark in the studio. so
count Samarine did not see how Claude
first blushed and then turned pale.
How have you been able to paint
her picture so true to life. monsieur?
I do not remember ever having seen
you at our house"
In spite of the darkness he tried to
read the painters face. Claude remem-
| bered that Alexandra Philippoyna often
attented the opera, so he said he had
often seen her there and hurriedly
made the sketches without even know
ing the name OF his model
Has the countess Samarine also
seen the portraits?" he asked in a
careless tone
MY wife is dead. monsieur. She
died II years ago. two months after
leaving Paris. When were these por-
traits made?"
In November. 1892" Claude MUIR
INJURED
And we left here in December
said count Samarine
Count Samarine wanted to buy some
of the portraits of his wife. Claude
refused to sell any, but he offered him
some as a present. The count at first
objected. but finally consented with
evident JOY.
Claude sent them to him in st. Pet
ersburg when the exhibition closed.