The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-21
By STEPHEN McKEMNA

three OF rs sat down on the divan to refresh
ourselves until Bianca's cavalier came 10
fetch her away. Supported BY an interprs-
ter. Gaunt projected . series Of seemingly
disconnected inquiries about her life and
brsvity conditioned half by reserve and half
by inability to grasp his abstract questions
I cannot pretend that the conversation
amused me. as the only interest lay in
Gaunt,s intellectual infatuation for the girl
or for the mental image Of her which he had
created. and this considered certainly fool
ish and perhaps undesirable. That It even
held seeds Of danger became apparent when
Blanca, relieved Of shyness and suspicion by
the presence Of . third party. began to re-
spond gently to the warming nattery Of
Gaunt's whimsical attention I noticed that
the sullen eyes from time to time raised
themselves for . fleeing glance at him;
stray. attractive words Of English were re-
peated under her breath with q caresstnr
wonder; and. when her sweetheart knocked
denantiy At the studio door. we had charmed
one husky laugh from her and more than
one smile.
Tell her want her to come again to
morrow" said Gaunt. As we surrendered
Blanca to an aggressive youth whose nat
urally unamiable face had been twisted into
. permanent scowi by q shrapnel wound
that had displaced the muscles Of one cheek.
:" And mind you're here" he added when We
her; she interests me-"
Then he went back to his easel, and saw
his narrow. white face lighting to a smile ~
he painted in . A Daughter Of Pam
That was our first meeting. my own first
warning: and. looking back on It all, do not
should act differently, Had Gaunt been q
absolute boy Of twenty might have coun-
selcd him not to lay up trouble for himself or
others; but, In 30 Tar a. I knew him, he was
Q detached and rather cold blooded man Of
more than forty. with . certain sense Of re-
sponsdonity and even stronger instinct for
general ntness Of conduct. That he had any
designs on Blanca was improbable; that he
would try to carry out any designs on
her in the intermittent presence Of her scowl-
ing sweetheart and through the medium Of
an interpreter was inconceivabIe. By day, %
far As I could gather. he subordinated ali
personal interest to the eIgencies Of the sit-
ting: and It was only In the evening, when I
Joined them in their crust and glass Of wine.
that they dropped the relation Of artist and
model for that Of one human being to an.
ether.
Had enjoyed greater opportunities Of OBJ
scrvation I could not look back on those days
so complacently. for can see now that there
were danger signals which ought to have
regarded. Little by little. In voice and man.
ner. Gaunt showed any one who cared to see
that he was falling in love with Blanca: little
by little, in the new concern for her meager
littlc person. in her efforts to learn English,
and-most Of sI-in her trick Of following
him with devoted eyes as he moved about
the studio. Blanca began timidly TO return
his love: and the best excuse that I can mako
for my own blindness Is that the idea Of love
between two such people was 30 fantastic
that refused to contemplate It
might be refusing to this day II ! had not
had the proof forced upon my notice. The
first picture had been followed by . second,
the second by a third-thaf Indifferent unfn-
ished portrait which I carried back to Campi-
= tello from the studio In Mazda Vale Ono
afternoon. as It neared completion. I observed
q change In Marshall Gaunt's demeanor: q
new elation was making him restless, and
the restlessness reacted on Blanca until she.
a ratient sitter made perfect by her loving
desire to please him. moved and fdgeted
beyond the limit Of the most indulgent art
lists liberation.
In my room next to the studio heard him
nrst ask and then ten her to sit still; her
nurmured reply was peevish In tone, and
when next Gaunt spoke there was an un-
pleasing snap In his voice. As Biancas Eng.
hsh was on the primitive level of Gaunt's
italian. felt that they were getting at cross
purposes and was about to volunteer my
services as peacemaker or at least inter
prefer when the fast crumbling endurance Of
the artist was blown away by an explosion
OF Irrational and disproporionate anger.
"Damnation!" heard. For the love Of
God. SIT stiu. can't you?" Whatever the
words conveyed, there was no mistaking the
tone. and 1 caught a pathetic whimper OF
surprise and fear. 1t was followed by a quick
softening Of Gaunt's voice. Here. it's all
right! Don't cry, Blanca I didn't mean IL
It's absolutely all right! I'm not angry with
you. but I expect we're both q bit tired
Let's have bresther."
When came into the studio he was stand