The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-15
ELLISON'S
MODEL
BY RUTH GRAHAM


that there are more famous pictures IN
the galleries Of Spain than in any other
country. The paintings of the great
Murillo are chiefly to be found In the
Spanish peninsula.
1t was for this reason that Tom El-
hson, American art student when be
went abroad to study chose Spain In
preference to Italy. He was a great
admirer of Murillo, who has left the
world so many beautiful pictures Of
the Madonna and the Christ Child. On
reaching Spain Ellison hunted up the
various pictures by the artist he ad-
mired and became more infatuated
with them than ever. He was seized
With a desire to paint O picture the
central figure of which would be of the
type of one OF Murillo's Madonnas.
For this he must have a model, and
for his model he went up into the
mountains, hoping to find her among
the dark eyed Spanish daughters Of
mountaineers.
One day while walking on a road on
a plateau he came upon a girl tending
q small flock of sheep. AS he came
near her she raised her eyes to his, and
he knew at once he had found his
model. There were in them trustful-
ness, purity, love 1t occurred to EN-
son to paint her as he found her sft-
ting on rock, a crook In her hand.
little lamb In her lap, while the sheep
were nibbling the grass about her.
To call out the expression he do
sired Ellison chatted with her, or, rath-
er, to her, for he did most of the talk
ing. He was handsome fellow, with
q musical voice, and had the faculty
| OF impartlng information attractiveiy,
and the girl listened to him with wrapt
attention. But she said nothing.
| Every day Dolores-that was her
name-was at the place he first saw
her tending the sheep, and every day
Ellison brought his easel, and while
she posed for him on her rock seal he
sat on his camp stool before her with
his canvas set up on his easel. Grad
J ually the picture took shape, but the
artist was long time about his work
| AhC pooAlAOh hC NhOoC AOi thC 6AAi wan
looking straight at him, for he wished
the figure in the picture to appear 10
be looking at whoever gazed upon IL.
Ellison was so absorbed with his
! work that he did not notice what any
one else would have seen plainly-that
the girl was as much absorbed In the
artist as the artist was absorbed I'm
| hiS mir Annthnr ar faotr1VD
is that he got something of her wrspt
expression ON the canvas without BE-
ing aware of what was causing it.
When the painting was finished Ent
son was delighted with it. And he
had cause to be. 1t was a beautiful
picture of a shepherdess-pure, inno-
cent, loving.
Ellison produced a gold piece, which
he handed to his model, for he consid-
cred her well worth the price he paid
for posing. She refused to take II.
Ellison made every effort to induce her
to do so. Failing, he gave her his
heartfelt thanks. She was at the time
looking up into his face with the same
expression as when she had been pos-
ing She looked so sweetly innocent
that he bent down and kissed her a.
he would kiss child.
II go down the mountain tomorrow
he said. Il will come here and BID
you goodby."
Gathering his belongings he walked
away from her. Before passing out Of
sight he turned and threw her kisH.
She was still looking straight at hisa
with those Madonna eyes of hers, but
made no motion.
After he had gone marvellous
change came over her face. If Ellison
had seen her then he would have won
dered how with her for a model he
could have made a picture Of limo
cence. Had the innocence been there
and had it been warped by love. OF.
rather, the prospect of losing the OBJ
ject loved? The only explanation 10
that the lower the scale of humanity
the nearer to the brute creation. The
moods are there, but they have not
been cultivated.
Looking on the ground, Dolores saw
that the artist had left the pipe he
had smoked while working on his pic
ture. She took it up and thrust 1t into
her bosom.
True to his promise, the next morn
ing Ellison appeared to say goOdby to
his model. He gave her another kiss.
which she accepted passively. Ellison
noticed that her lips were cold.
"Senor left his pipe" she said. See,
have filed it with tobacco. Have one
more smoke before you CO."
"No; have only time to give you
another kiss. will smoke 1t tonight
thinking of you"
That evening Ellison at his inn afte'
supper lighted the pipe. There came
tiny flash. He wondered what could
have caused it. The tobacco was very
bad, and he concluded that he could
smoke better of his own weed. Empty
ing the pipe on stone pavement there
came several separate small explosions
Under the outer layer Of tobacco had
been placed a charge Of gunpowder
Had he smoked longer he would prob
a ohIx ha va haan blinded