Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-08

heard OF him? she asked, with q
swift glance. Then her eyes dropped
and a slight flush overspread her
features.
Never heard the chaps name be-
FORE said Jocelyn.
He's a young Italian" said Evelyn,
in some confusion. He's a genius,
a real genius. and he was starving in
a garnet in Washington Square until
some friends of mine found him re-
Gently. And he's the finest painter
in America, the critics say, although
he's hardly known yet You don't
mind being painted by an unknown
genius?"
I'd let a bricklayer paint me II II
would please you, Evie," answered
Lord Jocelyn gayly.
He wondered afterward why this
short interview had left Evelyn so
strangely confused. After some cogi-
tation he set it down to his blunder-
ing remark about Steel.
81 can't see why you want to have
Richards portrait painted by that
Vermicelli man, Evelyn" her mother
lamented You're always SO queer,
and so decided when once you get a
notion into your head. He's cheap,
OF course, but I should think that
you'd want to give Richard the best
there was to be had"
Her protest was not carried to the
ultimatum point. Mrs. Squires was
not a woman Of persistent force of
character, and she always stood rath-
er in awe Of her accomplished daugh-
ter, mingled with pride at the finished
product of her husbands purse. She
had never altogether ceased TO feel
that the up-bringing in her native
village still hampered and confined
her actions; she was never wholly
at home in the magnificent mansion
on Fifth Avenue, or the cottage" at
Newport, and the shameful memories
OF those days when she was a simple
farmers daughter, far more intimate
with setting hens than Persian rugs
and Vatican pictures, were an abid-
ing humiliation. Her mood was still
resentful, however. when, on the fol-
lowing morning, she stepped into her
automobile with Jocelyn and Evelyn
and suffered herself to be borne
southwark into the unfamiliar regions
OF Washington Square She shifted
in disdain when the chauffeur stopped
in front Of the squalid tenement house
in which Torelli had mis- studio.
Evelyn, my dear, if you say it's
chic to come to these places / sup
. pose you're right she said doubt
d ~ NO.
/ body can work IN them, let alone live
In them. II Mr.. Vermicelli's such
, fine painter as you say, why don't he
begin on the outsider"
She seemed terrified by the dark
ness of the hall and OF the stairway
and held tightly to Jocelyn's arm as
they assembled. The artists room.
however, was suffused with light. spa
cious and clean, though bare. Along
the base OF the walls numerous pic
lures. finished and incomplete. were
laid. Jocelyn surveyed them with
agreeable surprise: even his own anna
/ teurish taste told him that these were
/ excellent. The pleasant impression
was not diminished when he turned
to bow TO the painter-a clean-look-
ing, youngish man, with handsome
features and a crop of black hair
brushed back of a high forehead
After the preliminary introductions.
which Mrs. Squires. on her part. dis.
posed Of with the stiffest bow, Lord
Jocelyn suffered himself to be posed
in a chair by the window. and soon
the artist was busy sketching his
preliminary outline.
How much are you goin' to pay
for this. Evelyn -" asked Mrs. SQuires,
breaking the silence.
Hush, mother" said the girl,
flushing in embarrassment
But I want TO know, Evelyn. Five
hundred. did you tell me? Five hun
dredo Why, it won't take more than
four or FIVE si-tings If he goes on
at this rate, and it can be delivered
inside OF a couple OF weeks. Look.
he S finished Richards head. And /
declare, it looks just like himl"
Toreli lost his self-control for a
moment
Madame forgets that the cost Of
paints and varnishes has been in
in a low voice; then bit his lip in
humiliation.
The remark was lost upon his audi
tor.
Well, If Miss Squires is willing, It
amt up TO me- she answered.
But she became aware Of the in
creasing GOODNESS and sense Of embar-
rassment in the studio. Presently
Torelli threw down his brush. NO
more today" he announced. Mrs.
Squires rose stiffy and asked Lord
Jocelyn to assist her down the stairs
TO the automobile
Really. Richard. the smells in
these places are almost unbearable. s.
she said The atmosphere seems
full Of turDentine"
Lord Jocelyn. having assisted his
future mother-in-law into her seat,
finding that Evelyn fingered, went
back in search of her. He had as
cended 10 the head Of the fight on
which Torelli had his studio. when
he was suddenly rendered dumb by
what he saw through the halfopened
door.
For EVELYN Suuires Law like a dead