Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-19


is a refined work, only comparatively
few of us women have become eminent
in that field. But this has nothing to
do with my story. When child | was
given drawing lessons. and when |
grew older l went abroad to study. l
suppose should have remained
abroad Most American artists do.
They paint pictures where there is a
market for them. came home 10
America, where think there are as
fine landscapes as there are in the
world, and we have one scenic effect
that is the grandeSt in the world. the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado.
l was sketchiug one morning in a
wood beside Il road. 1t was Springtime.
and the buds on the trees were opening
with that pale green one sees but for Il
few days in each year. l was trying to
get it on my canvas.
Down the road came n man whose
clothes were shabby. hut whose person,
even in shabby attire. bore evidence Of
the gentleman. He had the light hair
and blue eyes that indicate northern
races. and his features were Of the
Saxon type Seeing me sitting there
sketching. he paused. his hand went mp
TO his cap slowly and doubtfully. Il
. pleasant. deferentia smile lighting his
face, and he said with the accent of a
German:
You have very beautiful subject
for your painting"
There was nothing whatever to be
afraid of in this deferential gentleman;
! besides, during my sojourn abroad
had made many such acquaintance
all travellers do eXceI. the English. and
even they sometimes break through
their observation-disclosures | received
the mans salute as it was intended.
+ He stood behind me and looked at any
/ sketch, first giving me, as well bred
! person should. Il compliment, then max
ing certain criticisms and suggestions
that ut once struck me as being of
/ value
As | looked at his 1.-THE figure. his
genial face bearing every evidence of
refinement and contrasting with his
shabby genteei clothes. it struck me
drawing of him.
Have you half an hour to spare?"
asked
Half an hour? I have half a cen
fury | am a vaGraut-what you call
in America a tramp. At any rate, l
am that at present. | am one of those
persons one reads about in stories who
become involved in some unfortunate
episode the truth of which cannot he
unraveIed. For that reason | left my
native country and went to France
where served for awhile in that
corps Of the French army called the
Foreign legion. Do you know what
that is:"
Il do not" I replied, surprised and
at the same time charmed at his frank
ness with an utter stranger.
The Foreign legion is composed oi
men of all nations. but largely of gen
tlemen who have either diSgraceC
themselves or been disgraced by somt
one else. You will find there Rus
sian colonel who has been cashiereC
for cowardice. an English younger sor
so dissolute that he has been ignored
10y his family, an Austrian count whC
has been ruined at the gambling table
Surely | said, you have not com
mitted a Crirne:"
'Yes-that is to say. circumstance:
made it appear that | committed {
crime. But let us not talk Of that
4 shadow passed over his honest face
Il am here honored by your reques
that shall serve as your model. VIVA
pose will you give me:'
please seat Yourself on that log"
He sat down on the log, light cant
: that he had cut himself in his hands
his position easy and graceful / saw
no necessity for posing him anew.
Just as YOU are" | added
in what direction shall / ook?"
considered for "A moment. then tolt
mini TO look straight at me. An homes
face i never SO honest as when it i
looking You in the eyes. ROgnes ma!
exhibit assurance. but they can neye
, counterfeit honesty. at any rate not It
me | wished to get that frank expires
sion of his. which would win any jar!
and n woman every time.
| made a sketch. but was diSsatisfe,
, with 1t and. tearing it up. made an
other This was better. but was onl.
bis face and figure without his ex
: preston | laid it aside and tried one
more. Meanwh iie | engaged my mode
in conversation with view to dra win
ont what | wished to get on paper
though am free to confess my objec
was partly to detain nim. for he ma
suddenly walked into my life. and
p felt that when be walked ont of It a.
, impression would be left akin 10 lone
illness
/ kept him till had made four at
tempts at sketching him. and the fourtl
time. 10y accident. | suppose. caugh
something of the expression | was try
= Ing for. Then he arose thanked M
J. for the honor | had conferred upo
him and was about to depart when
{ said:
Il must insist upon your receivin
compensation for the sitting. III
sure Won are. gentleman. but there
: Tothing degrading in gentleman
q posing as a model even when he doc
e not need money. which you evidentl