San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-04

lngs, charcoal studies, ana 1lnlsnea
canyases, while piled against them ut
the floor level were dozens OF finished
paintings.
There was a model stand at the end
of the room opposite. the fireplace
and balcony. Mr.. Perry led the way
toward this and the covered easel tnat
vas pulled into the corner where the
north and east walls met.
Want to see what l was doing this
morning?" he asked.
jeanne nodded. 1t seemed to mC
that a shade of formally had crept
into both ,ir. Perry'S manner and
hers. | felt that their acquaintance
had lost its tinge of adventure and
had taken on a different and mort
conventional interest. The artist was
now eager TO show his work. The
visitor was now q sightscer admittc1
to an interesting Sanctum. So | felt
free to dismiss. jeanne and Mr.. Perry
from my active consciousness and Il
enjoy the wonderful studio and II
marvellous treasures,
As Mr.. Perry drew back the GOV,
ering of his easel, / was facing TIL
northeast corner of the studio whCrr
the wall CT windows ended. | hGart
the excited bark of n dog. Again
heard the scufflc of feet. But | saw
nothing, so / turned my attention Il
the picture Mr.. Perry was show
ing us.
On the canvas before US was a Sill
Of girl, tall, slender, Smull-bonct
and without an ounce of flesh on tn
ethereal little body half revealed b!
floating green drapcries. Her hair wa!
soft. dull gold, almost yelling a fac
from which two gray green eyes peer
cd with desperate eagcrness.
"Arlettc Ealleau. the little girl whC
helps Mrs. Cruikshank, sat for this,
said Mr.. Perry, Carelessly.
She's lovely" Jeanie cried
eagerly.
Immature, said the artist, "bu
quite perfect for the dryads | wan
to get for the new forestry building
I'm to decorate.
Can shc-sit for more than on
dryad?" asked Jcanie.
III use her for the figure and d
fanciful portraits" the artist an
swcred.
"FancifuI-not real people," JAM
asked. tcnsely.
I'm careful about that repli1
Mr.. Perry. The figures are haI
drapcd. Naturally it would not do I
paint faces even vaguely suggestive o
people who are known and might b
recognized. There's such silly prcju
dice"
Jcanie giggled. Then she sale
school girlishly:
Imagine Jim's face if one of thes
dryHdS had so much as your nos
Anne"
"Or your eyebrow" l cour
tered.
1T won't" Mr.. Perry said. dryl,
MY dryads may look like Arlctte o
May or even Mrs. Cruikshank, b.
they will not resemble the guests
bid here for tea"
Something made me look up SUI,
denly. Pressed against the windo
was an eager, wistful, childish an
almost dcspairing face. 1t was I'll
little dryad on the easel. But he
expression suggested that she could II,
find her way back to the tree fro
which she had stepped out.
"Arlcttc." exclaimed Mr.. PER-
And looking like the last rose of
thousand summers. / wonder if Be
cian Boy or Prince Aire has refuse
to play with the child, or if Mr.
Cruikshank has chided her for brcaI
ing another plate. But she gives n
another idea for a dryad.'
And that's all that counts with Il
artist" challenged jeanne as NJ
Perry led her on TO another point I
interest in the studio.
But l hurried around to the fro
door and out TO the spot where Il
dcspairing little Arlctte had been b.
a moment before. She had vanish,
completely. Mr.. Perry caught sig
of me and lifted one of the copp,
window sashes with a gay:
"These are very fluid and flucl
windows. Step in, Madame Neig
Dor. Mrs. Cruikshank says her t.
is brewcd and woe betide the perSt
who ignores the call of tea al
scenes.
So stepped back through the gla
wall of the studio, feeling like a pc
son in n dream. I'D. To-.
When we reached the living roo
there was May Valleau helping O
Mrs. Cruikshank serve. ~
"Arlette got headache again
asked Mr.. Perry. with the air of o
used to sudden changes in his hous
hold.
"She is miserable May answer
suddenly.
But all through tea Mays soler
eyes kept running TO JCsnie's faD
And as We were going home lat
jamie voiced my ideas as she Sa
thoughtfully:
81 wonder why that May Vale
should hain me sng"
Ito Be Cohtinued.)