Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-07-12
ELL[SON'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 FL
lson, American art student, when he
went abroad to study chose Spain in
preference to Italy. He was q 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 a picture the
central figure of which would be of the
type of one of Murillos 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 small h0ck of sheep. AS he came
near her she raised her eyes to his, and
he knew at once he had found his
mcdel There were in them trustful-
ness. purity. love. 1t occurred to Eli
son to pai.. Ter as he found her sit
ting on a "ock. a crook in her hand,
a little lamb in her lap. while the sheep
were nib0ling the grass about her.
TO call cut tile expression he de.
sired Ellison ChatteG with her, or. rath
er, to her. for he did most of the talk.
ing lie was handsome fell wv, with
a musical voice, and had the faculty
of impartlng information attractively,
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 seat he
sat on his camp stool before her with
his canvas set up on his easel. Grad.
ually the picture took shape, but the
artist was long time about his work.
The position he chose for the girl was
looking straight at him, for he wished
the figure in the picture to appear to
be looking at whoever gazed upon it.
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 in
ais picture. Another strange feature
is that be got something of her wrapt
expression on the canvas without be-
ing aware of what was causing it.
When the painting was finished Ell
son was delighted with it. And lie
had cause to be. 1t was a beautiful
picture Of 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 it.
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 as
he would kiss a 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 a kiss.
She was still looking straight at him
with those Madonna eyes of hers, but
made no motion.
After he had gone a 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 picture of inno-
cence. Had the innocence been there
and had it been warped by love. or,
rather, the prospect of losing the OBJ
ject loved? The only explanation is
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 it 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 filled it with tobacco. Have one
more smoke before you CO."
mo; | have only time to give you
another kiss. | will smoke it tonight
thinking of you"
That evening Ellison at his inn after
supper lighted the pipe. There came
tiny fash. 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