The state herald., 1920-06-08
CHARMING studio, In the Lat

~ in quarter of Paris, sheltered
4 IA ''Three Musketeers OF the
Brush;" Talbot wynne, or Tafry, a
big, fair blue-eyed young Yorkshire
man, who had been soldier, but was
at last following his wish 10 be an art
ist; then Sandy AfcNllster, or the
Laird, as his friends called him, In
tgnded by his parents for solicitor
but who was In Paris painting Torea-
dors and singing French ballads. with
q decided Scotch accehi.
"The third he was Little Billie" or
William BagoG 4 pleasing young Eng
lishmau from London To live and
work In Paris had been Bulie's dream,
md at last II was reality. he and his
two friends having taken The studio
together He often looked at these
friends and wondered Il anyone. liv-
ing OF dend. ever had two such glori-
GUS chums His absolute belief in all
they said and did touched them cx-
ceedingly. aod they In turn loved him
for his af'ectionate disposition and
lively ways; and recognizing his
qulekncss. keenness and delicacy In all
matters Of form and color. they had
also a great.adfniratlon for him.
On a showcry April day the three
friends were In the studio. each occu-
pied to his taste, Tafty vigorously
swinging n pair OF Indian clubs. the
Laird sitting before his ensci painting.
md Billie lncclinc on the broad dlvan
before the great studio window was
gazing ont over the rofs of Paris
spcculatlne upou the future of himself
and his freuds.
These pcculahons were ruiely in'
terup.r1 hy a loud knocking nc tho
door and two men entered; iirt tan
bony individual OF any age between
thirty and forty-hve, Of Jewish aspect
well-featurod, but sinister He had
hold, brilliant black eyes, with long
heavy lids He went by the name OF
Svengall. spoke fluent French. bu
with German accent. His companion
was n little. swarthy young man. pos
slbly gypsy: under his arm he car
rled fiddle and bow.
Svengali at once suggested that the,
have some music and. seating himself
at the piano. ran his fingers up nn'
down the keys with the easy power o
master. Then he fell to playini
Chopln's Impromptu In A aat. 81
beautifully that Little Billie's hear
was nigh to bursting with emotion m,
delight He never forgot that I'm
promptu. which he was destined +
hear again one day In very strnng
circumstances.
Then the two, Svcngnll and his com
panion 0ecko. made music together 8
dlvinciy. indeed. that even Taffy an
the Laird were almost ms wild In thei
enthusiasm ns Billie. but with an er
thustnsm too deep for words.
Suddenly there cnme another Intel
ruption. n loud knuckie-rnpping at tn
outer door. and n voice Of grent vo
ume. thnt might belong to any sex. q
even nm Rngcl. uttered the Britis
miikmnn's yodel. milk below" nm
before anyone could say "cntrex."
strange figure appeared framed In IN
gloom Of the antechamber: the flgur
Of very taIl nnd fully dcvelope
young girl. clad In the grny ovcrcont {
French infantry soldier; below TIL
there showed a short striped petticoa
and beneath II were visible her bar
white ankles. the toes losing then
: selves In huge pair Of mems III
= slippers.
While not strictly beautiful. the gi
hnd great charm she was really niue
like healthy young English bo
Closing the door behind her she sai
wls,fuly: "yc'rc ull English, no'
ar.ui YET heard the music mn
thought I'd Jnsi come IN for bit M
pms he time of day; yon don't mine