Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-09-12
P|PETTE
Pretty Models Brief Hours Of
Sunshine Dearly Paid For, as
She Had Foreseen.

Marcel Duprez. the artist. was In
search Of inspiration when chance led
him to the Moulin de la Galette.
He was sitting over q glass Of book
and watching the dancers through q
trellis Of painted green woodwork
entwined with faded artificial wis
taria, when the face OF Pipette smiled
out at him from the whirling crowd,
1t was a vivid. haunting snlile, one
which could not easily be forgotten.
and before the night was old It flashed
at him over the rim Of wine glass
which she held gayly to her scarlet
curving lips.
One day az they wandered. with
arms entwined, among the long ave
nues OF emerald-tinted trees. Pipette
made a confession. g.
"Of course, don't love him any
more. don't think ! ever did love
him-really," she faltered in conclu-
sion. a pink blush dyeing the tip OF
an everted chin. Il thought when he
went away that he had gone forever.
that he would never come back-and
was glad. ! wanted to be free. He
Was 80 violent he frightened me. AND
now he 10 In Paris again. saw him
this morning on the Pont Neuh. Oh.
| am afraid-afraid he will somehow
take me away from you. And love
you so, love you 60! Don't let him
take me away, Marcel!" -
. She chung to him hysterically. her
fingers tightening upon his arm. tears
filling her lashes with quiverins
liquid srystals.
Hush. hush, my love-" he whis-
pered back soothingly. mo one shall
take you from me-that I swear!"
And bending his head he tilted her
face to kiss the glistening drops from
her troubled eyes.
=
THE Brink of Folly" was receiving
the final touches of the brush by the
fading light Of a September afternoon.
Suddenly the sound OF step along
the passage outside sent Pipette spring
Ing to her feet, the soft sunset dreams
OF the past half Tour dropping about
her like the folds Of gossamer VEIL
What was that?"
The humping Of q flst upon tne
wooden panels. accompanied by q de-
mand for entrance in a mans hoarse,
drunken voice. broke sharply In upon
them.
ITS he-Poul. What shall do:
What can l do?" she pleaded wildly,
an agony OF fear in her voice. her eyes
raised beseechingly to those Of her
lover.
For one long paralyztng moment
they stood facing each other In d.
lence. Then, lifting her bodily in his
arms, the man carried her across the
room to where the now finished can
vas stood propped against the easel.
Hide. quickly--behind the picture!"
he commanded and stepped htrriedly
back. ... &,.,s. .,.
The next instant the frail lock OF
the door gave way beneath the pres.
sure OF a heavy, 1urching shoulder.
and the tall figure Of man reeled un-
steadily into the room.
i've got you now. my pretty one.
You'll not escape me this time-you
and your precious lover" he muttered
thickly as he stumbled forward over
the uneven floor, sinister CLEAN
flashing from some object which he
held clasped in his right hand. Then.
catching sight Of the painted lifellke
portrait of Pipette smiling whimsical
ly across the darkened room, he halt
ed abruptly as though hypnotiEed.
The next moment he had sprung for
ward with the snarl Of wild beast
and struck savagely at the canvas
with the sharp blade OF stilletto.
There was a shrill, terrified shrek
as the hidden girl sank wounded to
the ground, one little white arm flung
out upon the floor beyond the edge
of the mutilated picture.
For a while 1t lay quivering In q
pool Of pink sunlight, the same little
arm that Marcel had so often kissed.
Then the fingers curled up like the
petals OF a rose. and were still.-Chi'
cago American.