The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-04

because yOu0 nave SAID yes 10 my
question II he had" Cassie replied.
Iris arose In indignation. but reseat-
ed herself, biting her lips.
by the way, what have you come
here for?" asked Cassie, watching her
closely. IF you amt engaged to him,
visit by your lonesome is little"
Il came to pose" said Iris breath
lessly. "Signor Pedro is going to
paint my portrait"
Even so, your kind don't generally
come alone, do they?" said the elder
girl gently.
Iris. 1T Is sufficiently customary. You
said just now that knew nothing of
the life of the studios. Well, again
| you are mistaken. / do. am in them
constantly. That l am not an artist
does not prove that l am not a b.
hemian, and utterly accustomed to
freedom of thought and action!"
Now listen to me, and don't cry"
said Cassie. There's nothing to weep
over. What I'm going to tell you is
the straight goods, see? I'm not ex-
actly lady myself, but l know the
real thing when see 1t, and this time
it's you, with no mistake!"
They seated themselves before the
fire now, side by side, Iris submitting
meekly to being placed as Cassie indi-
Gated
Now, I'm not a SWELL" began Cas-
sic; land probably you'll say l amt
mt to advise you. And so l amt, but l
do know something more about this
world than you do. That's pretty clear,
and want to slip you tip. It's this:
You carefully brought up girls think
it's great lark to come into 'Bohe-
mia, as you call 1t, and do crazy
things, as though you was in foreign
country where you didn't expect to be
seen. It's that queer notion, that what
people are told not to do, is fun to do,
that's brought you here. You came
alone because 1t made you feel like a
real devil to do 80.
And there's another thing" said
Cassie. They are all alike in one
thing, the men are. The harder a
thing is to get, the worse they want
it. Oh, don't mistake! There's no
sense in being offish. But there's no
use running after them, believe me!
You'll only scare 'em to DEATH"
But I'm not" began Iris, painfully
conscious of having come alone for
the express purpose Of giving Pedro
the greater opportunity for sentiment.
Then mind you don't!" said Cassie,
rising as the door flew back to admit
Pedro.
Madonna" he cried, throwing the
parcel that he carried upon the table
and going to Iris with outstretched
hands. II entreat your forgiveness, but
there was no paint with which to make
the divine blue-see, like this!" He
swooped down upon length of silk
which lay near by and flung 1t upon
her shoulder. II have it now, and you
will not be angry because l was alb
sent, chr
~"Oh, no." she answered, beaming
at the sound Of his voice.
He next turned to Cassie, the sight
Of whom did not discomfort him in the
least, fact which Iris noted with re-
lief.
1.-THE cakes were wonderful" he ex-
claimed to the model. mot until a
moment ago did l realize that you
must have made them yourself. l
thank you'll" He kissed her hand.
you know this lady, Miss Wander
pool?" he asked, taking her to Iris.
This is friend who has been so
good to mel"
"She has been kind to me, ALSO"
said Iris.
"Ah! she Is your friend, Madonna ?
That is good! l did not know. How
ever, we will get to work now If you
are willing. Step upon the platform,
sol"
Cassie, having gathered up the re-
mains of the little cakes, to which Pc
dro had evidently referred, was about
to take a reluctant departure, when
Iris, turning around under Pedro's
guidance, stopped her with a gesture.
Don't go away she said shyly,
moved by an impulse she could not
have defined. "If you are not too
busy, won't you sit in here? You will
give me confidence"
"All right, I'd just as soon," she re-
marked nonchalantly.
The elder girl went silently to the
bookcase and stood covertly watching
the painter, who already seemed to
have forgotten the women.
|, Before many minutes had passed
Iris herself became aware of Pedro's
detachment, and knew that she need.
ed no guardian to protect her from
this distracted spirit, who, with ear.
nest brow, labored so devoutly at the
rudiments Of his work; knew, also
that the smaller conventions of life
had no existence In his mind, and that
he had noted her request to Cassie as
little as he had noted the fact Of her
originally having come alone.
The merning wore on very quietly
and in tbs rests little was said.