The Tupelo journal., 1917-10-12
been educated, and had known

1t was Rickett that suggested to
Jerry to go to a night school. The boy
jumped at it, AUD was soon getting
along finely, though he suffered much
modification in starting In so far be-
hind the others, and in appearing in
ragged clothes. He never knew till
long afterward the pang ii cost the old
man to let him go from him those
evenings while he sat alone, for Rick
EFT had begun to love the boy.
One day, as they stood at a street
/, corner a gentleman who paused to drop
some money in the blind mans hand
stared with a kind of fascination at the
boy.
"Will you come and pose~for me?"
he asked. Il am an artist. ! will pay
you fifty cents an hour"
Poser queried the boy. "NNhat
should | do?"
"Only stand still while l paint your
picture"
ASK him if l may?" He pointed to
the blind man.
After the artist had repeated his re-
quest to Rickett, the old man asked:
"Is he q handsome boy, them"
Gle would be perfect for my young
st. John. Do you know from that how
he looks?"
'Yes-I understand. The face is
sensitive"
The artist stared at this expression
from an ordinary menaicanr, then he
saw that the nan was not Ordinary"
SO Jerry became an artists model.
With contributions of money and
clothes he vas always now well
dressed. He went less and less on the
street with Rlckett, for the posing was
more prosjable for the cid man, and
the IN came no more for her
money,
When the est. John" was exhibited
In the academy. it at nee created q
great demand for the model, and Jerry
had ail he could do. At seventeen the
handsome youth had lost no demand
for his services, but he still chung to
old Rickett, and when the old man de-
parted from the little shanty and this
world, cared for him to the last and
mOUfneu MN as Il rather.
One day Jerry was sent for by q new
patron, LEIGH Tarbelr already famous
though still under thirty. Jerry posed
for weeks for Tarbell, who monopo-
lied his services to such an extent
that the older patrons who felt they
had a prior right began to blame Tar
bell, and express their mind rather
freely to the model. But always Jerry
had some excuse He could not leave
Taroell with a picture just begun, or
something of the sort.
Then Ii day came the first unpleas-
ant experience in Tarbell's studio. The
artist had concluded to do a picture OF
the young Endymion, and told Jerry to
go in the robing room, and put on the
costume he had laid out for him. In
a few minutes Jerry returned in his
street clothes, white of face but deter
mined.
II cannot wear those SKINS" he
said.
"Why not?" demanded Tarbell.
'"They are the right thing. You will be
j stunning"
For the past four years the boy had
never been called upon to wear any
costume that did not cover him from
neck to knees. He refused firmly to
wear the skins.
"Well," said Tarbell, "then I must
give up the 'Endymion' or get another
model"
"You will have to get another
model" said the boy in low, tense
ones. And he took up his hat to go.
Look here, Jerry! Don't desert me
this way! I've some more work on
that Recruit You'll stay and help
me out on that won't you?"
"Of COURSE" said Jerry. And he
went in to don his khaki uniforIa.
However Tarbell may have wondered
at Jerry's behavior he said nothing. 1t
was weeks before the other picture
was finished. One day he asked Jerry
to 60 with him to his camp in the
AdirOndacks for a our weeks vaca-
ton. His fondness for the boy seemed
something deeper than an artists for
his model. Jerry refused, pleading his
pressure of engagements.
NO." said Tarbell. at isn't that, and
you know it. Don't you care enough
for me to tell me the truth?'
"Then you know!"
jerry, white and swaying, collapsed
weakly into a chair.
"Tve known for a long time" said
Tarbell gently.
And knowing, you asked me to go
with you to that camp" she said
Eyes, that is why l asked you," he
said.
"The old woman, when she sent me
to live with Rickett. made me wear
boys clothes, because She said he
wanted a boy, and would lever know
| was a girl. 1t IA safer for me too,
living as would So kent nv Sacrat