Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-04
By Mrs. Leonard M. Thomas.

TROM the day | saw her first along the
= dusty swirl Of Fifth avenue pale, pen.
sive apparition in dark shadowy things
and framed by charming little beige-lined
motor, the ambition came to to paint her
1t was hardly ambition, more OF a vague
wish fraught with the regret of future dis
appointment, for could hardly hope to find
her again or ever to have the chance OF graft
Tying SO wistful an Impression. Two days
htterward. however, she entered my studio
timidly on the arm OF my sister. alphabetically
avoiding the cumbersome bits OF furniture and
also my look OF pleasure and surprise. In fact,
she dld not look at me at all until she was very
near, and then her glance began sidelong, and
orept from my feet up, finally striking my eyes
then falling back again into herself. But her
look was like quick touch in dark room
The door seemed TO close her personality
after that, and she became merely rather
burntup, tagged out little woman OF indis.
criminatc age. with all the brunette's pre-
mature languor.
During our conversation. which was mostly
carried on by my sister and myself, and entirely
interjoctional OH her part. ! thought that oc-
casionaly perceived some talismans OF
beauty, dinple or curve that lent strange
sudden beauty to the mouth and lights-or
we're they waves?-in the cloudy. peculiar hair.
but could never trace them to reality, and
gave il up at last with chagrin and sort Of
interest born of confusion
After she had gone, so quietly that her move.
ments seemed each one to carry some separate
significance. turned to my sister with ques-
tons Il do not know anything of Importance
She is living with her husband in the country
at = They know very few people, and
] met her quite by accident Apparently they
are very rich and her husband has two or three
scientific hobbies which keep him occupied
She admires your work immensely | wonder
what she does with herself. cannot imagine
her keeping house or entertaining anybody,
can you: She seems frightened" My sister
finished abruptly. with pity in her voice.
Frightened she did seem, and not only of ex-
-ternal things. ! began to be glad that | was
to paint her. looking forward, rather dread
Ing. didn't know which. the ten or fourteen
days that would have to spend with her and
her household, but at length. coming to more
cheerful frame OF mind, ! congratulated myself
that at last perfectly strange women sought TO
know my sister with the desire of being
painted by me. ! felt radiantly, exuberantly
happy. and after having assured myself, with
my sisters help. that this really was an order,
no trial TO please. and with troubling rela-
tons endowed with the authority to criticise,
discuss and finally reject my Painting on the
grounds of 4 something which had not caught
or subtlety of charm or expression had not
perceived. surrendered myself entirely to
happy conjectures of golden results. and in the
strength OF my good humor, suggested a holt
day, which we observed by leaving our lunch
OF milk and crackers to Rosa, our Italian
servant. and lunching at Poliani's where in a
small three by six basement could catch
CLEAN Of far bologna and Milan