The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-05-16

on one of the lesSer-knOwn English |
painters who had given great promise
at the time il was published but who |
dropped completely out OF notice soon
afterward because OF a mistaken no
ton OF his own Importance. II
Booths memory served him right, the
fellow came a cropper, so to speak, IN
irving to ride rough shod over public
opinion, and went to the dogs. He
, had been painting sensibly up TO that
time, but suddenly went in for the
most violent style of impressionism
| That was the end of him.
There had been reproductions OF his
principal canvases. with sketches and
studies in charcoal One of these pic
lures had made lasting impression
on Booth: The figure of young WON
an in deep meditation standing in the
! shadow of a window easement from
which she looked out upon the world
apparently without thought of 1t. A
slender young woman in vague reds
and browns. whose shadowy face was
positively Illuminated BY pair OF
wonderful blue eyes.
He came upon it at last. For long
time he sat there gazing at the face
of Hetty Castleton. look of half-won-
der, half-triumph in his eyes. There
could be no doubt as to the identity
of the subject. The face was hers:
the velvety, dreamy, soulful eyes that
had haunted him for years. as he now
| l.
ture be described as a portrait. 1t was
study, deliberately arranged and de-
liberately posed for In the artists stu
dio. He was mystified. Why should
she, the daughter of Colonel Castleton.
the grand-niece of an earl. be engaged
in posing for what evidently was
meant to be a commercial product OF
this whilom artist?
Turning from a skilfully colored full
page reproduction. he glanced at hrst
, casually over the dozen or more
, sketches and studies on the succeed
ing pages. Many of them represented
studies of women's heads and figures,
, with little or no attempt to obtain a
likeness. Some were half-draped. show
ing in a sketchy way the long graceful
! lines of the halfnude figure, OF bare
shoulders and breasts, Of gauze-llke
q fabrics that but lily concealed impress
: sive charms. Suddenly his eyes mar
rowed and sharp exclamation fell
from his lips. He bent closer to the
q pages and studied the drawings witt
A redoubled interest.
n Then he whstled softly to himself. 6
token of simple amazement. The heat
of each of these remarkable studio:
suggested in outline the head and fea
lures of Hetty Castleton! She hat
:. been Hawkright's model!
The next morning at ten he was
Southlook, arranging his easel ant
canvas in the north end Of the lonl
>. living room, where the light from tn
tall French windows afforded abur
dant and well-distributed light for tn
q enterprise in hand. Hetty had not we
!, appeared. Sara, attired In a loos
morning gown, was watching him fror
- a comfortable chair in the corner. on
shapely bare arm behind her head; tn
~ free hand was gracefully employed
'r managing a cigarette. He was col
70 scious of the fact that her lazy, hal
alert gaze was upon him all the tim
although she pretended to be entirel
10 Indifferent to the preparations. Dml
VI he could see the faint smile OF int
IN est on her lips.
" Hetty came in. calm. serene an
80 lovelier than ever in the clear NOR
w ing light She was wearing the simp
nc white gown he had CHOSEN the day b
or fore. II she was conscious Of Il
LIS rather intense scrutiny he bestowt
W. upon her as she gave him her hal
in greeting, she did not appear to
70 in the least disturbed.
TX you may go away. Sara" she sa
90 firmly. Il shall be too dreadfully Sc
ao conscious IL you are looking on"
ne Booth looked at her rather sharp
OF Sara indolently abandoned her CO
leo Portable chair and left them alone
the room.
a Shall we try a few effects, Mi
= Castleton?" he inquired, after peri
n of constraint that had its effect
- both Of them.
Il am in your hands," she said 81
y ply.
He made suggestions. She fell ir
~ the position so easily. SO naturally.
the effectively, that he put aside all pre-
on GUS doubts and blurted out:
no You have posed before. Miss c
Teton"
She smiled frankly. But not
really truly portrait" she sa
Such as this is to be-"
ise He hesitated an instant Il thi
Eau I recall a canvas by Maurice Hay
Vs right" he said. and at once experie
icA ed a curious sense of perturbation.
Hs. was not unlike fear
eau Instead of betraying the confus
an or surprise he expected. Miss Cas-
her ton merely raised her eyebrows
20, quiringly.
nao What has that to do with me,
Wy Booth" she asked.
oau He laughed awkwardly.
ieu' Don't you know his work." he
.he quired, with a slight twist Of his Iii
iieS Il may have seen his pictures"
Gle -oonod hor hroU ~