Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-01-06
cHAPTE:RIFl...x'''.JlIIl II.
Ayco.lr,pr,o,mise. Z

s5H Inc Gay ~ on WHICH LAS vi Cdme ~
Il Pedro studio for her second pose was
Il not that which had been appointed,
but one nearly 4 week later. During
the Intervening period the young
painter had remained locked in the
{ studio as long as daylight lasted,
emerging only at night, in company
with Leigh. ~ # 7 -
Pedro had given her no explanation
for putting her off, simply sending
j word that he could not have her at
4 present, but would get some work
done on the background of the por-
trait, E;s :. g. O. =. x.
50 Iris had telephoned, several futile in:
vitations, and at last. catching Pedro
on the wire, had arranged for sit
ting. At the hour appointed. she
mounted the stairs slowly, with fast
beating heart, starting and trembling
at every sound within the ancient
building. hill, . ...ss;5' 1. Mp Z
She reached the door unchallenged,
and raped upon it. .as I 5 :
$aS Lady! Most gracious Madonna,
he%cried in greeting: See. here is the
blue robe-Quick, quick! am all inn
: patience to begin. Do you know the
good tidings? OF the ridiculously au-
dacious thing ! am going to do? Elk
hibit my pictures! Y es, me. Pedro!
Ha!Iha! am not unknown. it seems
Read the newspapers I am Pedro, the
great Spanish artist! Y do not know
I how to paint, but it matters not; they
= will say AN impression list Matisse
outdone!' All! ha! your portrait will
!. be the chief gem OF the display: In
two weeks comes the exhibition, SO I
must finish 1t soon, soon! # I: Il
ti5 During the first part OF the pose, he,
contrary to his usual habit, talked rap
idly. j Z 81 II! t}s. ;sEa$ x z
!, ut will be a lovely exhibition" said
he, there will be Leigh's stun beau
i tiful marbles. rich in form, and with
such textures and high lights. You
!, know! And the virginia. white bas-re-
Z liefs--the Joyous one of the ladies'
dancing. sAnd around the walls, be-
tween these things VIII hang many
4 gorgeous paintings by that great Span
fish painter-myself." 4
5SS Iris could not but laugh with him.
And of all these fine pictures" he
I continued, the most lovely will be a
Madonna with hair that is red-gold,
like ioy!" w ~ 's5 4 & ,..7 &. +
Then there was silence and he
worked fiercely, cruelty, for, as usual,
he forgot the rests, and it grew late
\ before either; spoke. 5s,,s n I
3E AT last, exhausted by the long pose,
1 by his Indifference, by her own; emo
tons, she could bear it no longer, but
\ holding out, her arms toward him, she
5Sswayed slightly, and said his name in
broken voice. IT. .s35. 'y 5'' 1.
i Pedro! ".ei33gA@ '2 ..S,t S. ,5i,' q.
r. Then he saw how white and drawn
her face had become. and with little
cry he dropped his palette and sprang
to her. side. s4s - (. { .-,EE.'' '.''
.''Madonna!" he said, forgive me!
Come down! So! Let me help you.
Lie here upon this couch. Oh, am
cruel and thoughtless!" r.
M Whimpering little, she chung to his
arm, burying her face in the crotch OF
his elbow. fondling his hand,
y Pedro, Pedro, I am so ,tired!" she
said over and over again.
s. ~ Il know! A little sherry" he ex
claimed. 90 "A bite Of luncheon! You
will see now what a splendid house
s wife can really be, at need. We will
/, have charming meal Directly
He poured wine into an antique
Venetian glass, and brought it to her
clasping both her hands about the
fragile thing as one would clasp q
,child's unframed fingers around 9
precious toy. ,e {, .:s <5ss$ss KS.
Drink" he commanded, land lie
quite still with your lovely head
among the caressing pillows You are
an eastern queen now, and your
humble serving slave. See! Like
magic the feast shall appear!"
z Then he drew up a little round table
before the hearth, stirred the dying
embers with fresh wood, threw an
Arabian cloth over the table and pro
ceeded to lay, the feast.
i She sat up. and allowed him to feed
her. The solitary fork. gave them
much cause for mirth, for she insisted
that they share it, and before the meal
was finished they were playing like
children. IT. T.
Pedro's moods were generally ire
sistible, and he was determined that
she forget and forgive his thoughtless
ness. AS he sat opposite, seeing her