Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 28, 7 December 1910 — Page 2

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ACNAIR rnm to the Btudlo on afterJT II noon about four. iVl II " wnt a model r be asked. ualr." '' "I'm looklnjt for one," I admitted. "I remember Sbennan aimke of you." Without more word the boy got out of hla clothea. IS VII .',o0d,,, 1 M,d- ''Toa',, do adm,r I 4 II The boy had not been long In the elon nod aclf-noNfWNiftion one might hare Imagined that we were comrades shar- . I off one atelier. And yet he waa abrewd In finding out Biy eroiuj hnbltx, , wlshrn. mood: tfaeite be nerer vlln ted rather. In acorot w.-iya that he thought I CM not rtetert. be nougbt to prntlfy them. . rrrarutly hla nipple flujjrra twik to Idle' amuseIn stray llla of rlny. In the reata from postntc t!"p loy dlrrrtwl hlmaclf by forming, with conalderT ! (tefUTouniir?'-. fnmlllnr nnltnala cnta, dogs, and I'.rCH, -r.M r;i ocr!-!:uI htrunn flxure. These be tvruld b'jow with ru cmbarrasred laugh, then civi! tluni luto.a rlny :v. "Your flnrrr rre v ry levor,' aald I one day. 'ITnre yon ny rrrl notion tunt you'd like to do that rrrt of thins "rrtn!-lr? The world is full of foo! V.'IHi dpft KKjrerf you've gt to hare tuoro than that. "I don't knT.' b nn-wrrel tngnely. "I'd bird of ll:e to dr It If I cot n pood oh-nre." Ister 01 In the dny he wf erred to tho mnt'c rgaln. "It takes n good denl stndylur to be nn nrtlt. don't Ut I'd like to go to Pari. It' n 8iortv I Ince. They boose n lot tbere, don't tbeyr . "It depend-. Yon ran do as yon like. JtiHt a yor. mil wnywhere else.' "Yon fnn't pl.iy foothall and bosetnll and hh.?.c yrn're down and rut If yon iK I don't Itooie any. iHm't rno!co b'U ne or two r lea rcttes a dny. Do tbry play football r.nd baseball Jn I'nr!-?" "It lau't the bert tltln thry do. I ronfor-rd. "Tbcy mnnnge to hnve gKid time iinfwltfc-tiinilliis." lie nodded, bis ryia rlert with Ibp new hl . "You'd better atb-k to football.' Yi)ii think I'd go to hell In I'nr Is." he (Trlmicd. "Kverybcxly r:iya I'm toln;; to So to bell. Wonder whyr -One day. nit tins naked on the high C'.-'d by tb tire, hi kmvu drnwa up i: r'cr hla ihln, hia ftt on the top I :v. be mnomiml that he'wns got i tr 1le-i. "Colng to flx It m J ? n dny r twK There's two Ifybe three rolloires tbnt wnnt me I Join. It's like this: two or three f. 'lends of in I lie for;;e boys have t'NMt ine piny and they're bot for bnvlr.g me po to their college and pet on the trams. See? One fellow Is from Marlow nr.d another from Ward. The Idea la that yon sort of co la and pick our, a fool stunt to i an art course, maybe, or fsrmlag. or oh; -1 don't know. These fellows have got It all fixed up for me. I tbluk I'll go to Ward. It' more anorty there, and awful rood tthtetlea. My Ward friend aayi I ran set In right away lu the art course if. I atudy up a little stuff. At the end Of a fortnight Macnalr Suddenly sh r entered Warn College. lie rime . mre more before be left, to say good-by. lie wore new clotbea of a highly collegiate fashion and a jaunty blue cap on the back of bla bead. , "flo-long," be auilled. "I won't forget yon. Tbanka awfully for the. boxing and the aword practlre. And I gueaa you'll win . that competition all right, all rlfbt. Me for. the art course now. So-long." !It waa during Christmas week of the following year that I next 'saw Macnalr. . Toward midnight I httd dropped Into one of the Mg restaurants on nroadway for a bit of supper. I waa too. tired to choose n more subdued resort. Tho tablet, were nearly all crowded. Next me were a cross, red-chopped, diamond-studded creature and a shrewd-eyed, iert. pretty girl. Beyond waa a boisterous table unmistakably of college boys. They were evidently out to make a nlgbt of It; In fact, the manager bad frequently to calm their lusty desire for song and lillartty. which seemed a pity since It ' was tbe most genuine note in the room. To my mind a far greater cause for apprehension vne the fst beast lielt me. 'What do I spend my money on yon forT" he andfleuly bellowed. -IIuh?" He proceeded to answer thla embarrassing demand: "Because I'm a fool. Tbat'a why.' You treat me like a dog. Oh. yes you do! You run away from me. Yon laugb at me. It'a funny for you. It ain't funny for me. Huhr The girl whispered something "No. I won't keep still. vociferated her outraged host. "You keen still. . - The college boys by this time bad turned their en- ' tlrt attention to thla new phase of the evening. And lu the group I observed now. for the first time. Mactmtr. I taw that he bad been drinking; hla tanned cheeka were flushed, bla eyes sparkled, his Hps aboue aa red as popples. Tbe girl beckoned to a waiter and gathered hei furs about her as If she would go. a hairy lump of a band Jumped ocross tbe table, upsetting wineglasses, and caught her wrist. "No, yon don't, my lady." . With a nervous cry, more of anger than of pain I fancy, ah Jerked herself free. "You hurt me. IXm't. Her eyes agonisingly besought the waiter, but be m1 not appear. " - "," he atonned. "yon alwaya want to run away lrojn me. And I love yon more when you're mat ". Her black, slightly almond-shaped eyes struck sparks. "I bate yon. You're a beast. sbe threw at htm. rising to her feet With a qnlckneaa surprising and Caconcertlng. her companion seised his glass of

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wine and flung tbe contents straight at her. It struck her bare throat and ran down, dismally soaking tbe chiffon and pale silk of ber gown. "Ob !' she gasped. It waa Macnalr who acted. He rushed over to the young woman and with one hand began mopping ber tbroat with his napkin, tbe other, In fist form, be shook under tbe retreating nose of the beast "You dirty coward.' he stuttered, "you big I stepped to Macnalr's side. "Put ber in a cab and send ber home," I said. In a low tone. His face softened In momentary recognition of me. "Dut this bla slob " he began. "Don't talk! Do -what I tell you!" He hesitated, then put bla urtn through the girl's and led her away, past the staring eyes. I went home and Macnalr's companions also departed, but Macnalr himself did not return. I ratherexpected tbnt tbe encounter would bring a visit from the boy. but It was not until a week later that be appeared. "Halloo. Mac," said I, "I'm glad to see you. I've rather expected you'd be turning up." "I'd have been around before, only I've been he stumbled over the phrase "sort of busy." "Playing knight-errant?", "Wbatr "Protector of tbe Ill-treated female?" , "Sbe'a on the Stage, in The Whittling Girl. That waa the manager of the company sbe was with. She says he's bothered her to death banging around her. , He's a swine all right. Say. It s awful what girls have to take from chape like that, ain't It? And they stand to lose their Jobs if they try to resent It It makes yon sick." "Aa you didn't come back that night, I suppose you drove the lady " Uantd over and touched Mocnair on the arm. "Her name Is Heleen Beauvoir. Sbe'a part French, .she says." . "Miss Beauvoir then borne?" " " ' "She was all to the bad In the .nerves. I couldn't leave ber, could I?" "Don't you believe she ain't all right, he said, cbailengingly. "'Cause sbe Is. "My dear chap. I don't know the girl. What should I think of ber one way or the other?" "Well, there's a lot of folks." he went on doggedly, j'wbo Jhlnk that because a girl is on the stage she "Oh. nonsense. Mac," I laughed. "Tell me about yourself. How's the art course? And football and baneball?" He grinned, more like his old self than he had been that day. "I'd bate to tell you about the art course." be replied. "The Prof, has got you stung to death. He talks about it perfectly lovely and you write down what he says In a foolish little book. Oh, lfa great: I love art. But I got on the teams, pitched last spring and played end on tbe eleven this fall. I was the main tsqueeze. Marlow College tried to get me disqualified because they said I was a professional, but they couldn't prove anything." He laughed remlnlscently. "We had some awful good games. Oh. I was the candy rah. rah kid. "It's vacation now. I take it" He gave me a droll look. "College begun again day before yesterday." "Oh ! Anl " , "I guess I won't go back. I know enough art now. They are all right, those Ward boys, but It's pretty dull there for me. They seem kin of young. I'm not much on the collere end of it. I like the athletics, but the rest Oh. I don't know. It's too tame for my business. I guess I'll stay In New York and get a chance here." He did not care to pursue the subject, for be rose, lighted a fresh cigarette, and strolled about tbe studio. "What's new? be asked. "Oot any more prizes? I'd like to see that one of me finished." ' I showed him a bronxe casting of tbe figure, ne scrutinized it In silence. After a time he made his only comment "It's bully, bnt It it's different from me. Looks as If it bad something Inside It that I haven't got." As he was leaving he saU. "I'd like to bring my friend up to see that ono of me. Do you mind?" r "No. not at all. What friend? . "Miss Beauvoir." . "I should be delighted. I soberly replied. "Thanks. So-long. Good-by."

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Toward the end of January I bad a note from him. "If 'you are going to be In to-morrow," he briefly wrote, "I'd like to bring my friend around to see the fturtio." At four they arrived. "It is Miss Beauvoir. isn't It?" I said, taking ber hand, and smiling at Macnalr to save him tbe words of introduction which I saw were sticking embarrassed ly in his throat. "It's good of you to come to see tbe studio." , "I simply love to visit studios !" sbe returned, with a brilliant accent. "It Is too sweet of you to let me come." "Mac knows the place very well," I laughed. "I suspect he owns part of it." "He's always kidding." said Macnalr laboriously, whereupon Miss Beauvoir filled tbe room with ripples of pleasant laughter. "Isn't he the awful boy?" she demanded. We soon. got more at our ease. I took ber about

the place, iointlng out what I thought might most amuse her. and Macnalr followed behind, silently. The thing for which Mac had posed I kept until the last. "This will probably interest you as much as anything." Miss Beauvoir put up her lorgnette to look at the bronze. She encountered Macnalr's eyes and giggled. "Mac, I do believe !" sbe protested. Then thoy both giggled, . "Excuse me, won't you?" she turned to me with an effort of seriousness "It's perfectly divine, I think, but I might aa well be frank, I don't think It Is quite so nice-looking as Mac." ; ; . ;. My laugh dispelled her nervous fear of having offended me. "It waa not meant for a portrait" I explained. "Ah. yes." she murmured, ber gaze furtively on Macnalr. "Art ia o Interesting." When it was evident that we were in tbe friendliest possible relation to one another. Macnalr turned to ' Miss Beauvoir "and said bluntly, "Heleen, let's tell him." "Mac, aren't you dreadful! . Wel. tell him then." Macnalr grinned. "We got married last night" He reached out for her hand. "Isn't it too awful that I should have this for a husband?" abe demanded, as they were departing. "What am I golnr to do with him?" : "I can't Imagine," I replied. V It happened to be another year before I saw Macnalr again. This was not remarkable, for he was a . creatsre to .whom absences and silences meant nothing. ' One gray, dismal, autumnal afternoon I ran across him. In Central Park. . He sat on a bench staring indifferently at a little girl, .with ber nurse, throwing nuts to a squirrel. "O Mac!" I smiled. "You? Halloo! How are you?" "Halloo?" he responded listlessly. "Where'd you come from?" I noticed that he was shabby, shabbier than I had ever seen him. "His eyes were lusterless, bis face pale and without its usual tan. Tbe note of bis whole personality waa dejection. On bis sleeve a black band accentuated his despondency. "You have had a loser' I said, touching the mourning badge. "I'm sorry." . . He nodded. "My mother four months ago. "I'm very sorry. And your wife?" I went on. "I hope she's all right I have been away In Europe or I'd have looked you up before this. I " Macnalr raised his eyes with a gleam of sardonic amusement. "I guess 'she's all right : I haven't seen her for six month. We've busted. That's all right" he interposed, as I stammered an apology. "You didn't know." To my suggestion that he walk over to the studio with me, he complied without a sign of interest In the matter one way or another. Once In tbe studio . he slipped down morosely into a chair by the fire and lapsed into silence. We smoked on. the two of us. neither yet at tbe talking point Occasionally I shot a glance .at him, but never caught bis eyes. It was hardly believable that this prematurely experienced young man in the slovenly suit of summer gray too sadly thin for the autumn worn-out unpolished boots, soiled linen, bis face rough with a three days beard and marred with sleeplessness, boredom, dissipation, was the boy who bad once sat on that high stool by this very fire, warming his naked, unspoiled, victorious body. "She chucked me." said he, abruptly "Said I was lazy and wouldn't work." "Did you go on the stage?" "Uh huh ! for a while. Had a little Johnny part, walking' on and off and saying, 'Here comes the Duchess, boys ! " A flicker of a smile lighted the corners of bis mouth. "It was too good for me. I couldn't stand the excitement of putting on a dress suit every night and painting my face and running out gayly, sort of holding hands with a bunch of lizzie-boys, and then waving my little cane and getting rid of that 'Here comes the Duchess, boytt She : was the Duchess, you know. It made me sore to see the fish-faced chump who bad to make love to her In tbe piece. One night I punched the fish-faced boy's eye because he got too gay with her. And there was a row and he got me fired. And she said I wss lazy and wouldn't work. After a while the piece went on the road. I ain't seen her since." "Well. Mac," said I, sympathetically, after a long panse. "what are you doing now?" "Nothing much. A fellow wanted me to learn to be a chauffeur.- It was a good chance. He bad a garage and rented automobiles. But after I'd learned the thing burned up. I've been chaufflng around a little since, but I don't like It much. I reflected for a moment "I've been married since I saw you last, Mac, and " "Many happy returns of the day," he put In. with a touch of his old Impudence. "I'm married myself." "Well. I don't live in the studio now. We have an apartment outside. There's a bed here and the rest of the things you need. You can atay here if you like. I'd be glad if you'd pose for me, too. I've some work to do and you are pretty well adapted for one of tbe figures. I don't know what you have been doing and It Is none of my business. I suppose. But If I were you I'd take a brace. You're young and sound. Get together. Mac Will you come?" "Will I? Ton won't see me coming for Onst," he answered. "You've always been white to me. I don't know why. Ill come and be glad of it It's a tine chance. I've been a little on the loose lately, but I give' you my word 111 pull up sharp." Unexpectedly. Macnalr began in his spare moments to return to his earlier amusement of modeling In clay. He was most successful with animate, for which be had a genuine love. One afternoon we were loth in the studio. I engaged on some work of ray own. -and be putting tbe finishing touches to a decidedly amusing mmqueUe of a little cur dog be had picked up in the streets and adopted. "It isn't bad, Mac," I commented.

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He laughed, bnt made no other reply. At that moment the bell rang and 'young Mrs. Granville came In. "I've been Intending to come all Winter," she explained In ber debonair, enthusiastic voice, cutting short my greetings. "I really wanted to see your work, not to come to one of your menagerie teas. So to-day I happened to be passing and I made the man stop. I hope you're not going to turn me out." '"I'm too delighted," I assured her, following her about the studio iu the flight which she immediately -began. Young Mrs. Granville is very well known in New York. She is a patroness of every art Including the art of society. In the midst of it she asked abruptly, in a lowered tone, "Who is that handsome creature over there? A pupil of yours?" "I cannot characterize him in half a dozen words," I replied. "I'll tell you about him some day." "What's he doing? May I seer - We went over to Macnalr and I presented him to Mrs. Granville. "It's too dear," she . said at once when she had seen bis dog. "Do come some day and do my darling little lupetto, will you, Mr. Macnalr? She's such a love." ; Macnalr's poise was undisturbed. He smiled, and I suddenly was aware of tbe fascination that smile could have for women. "I'd like to very much," he answered readily.' "How perfectly charming of you. Come to-morrow. No, I'm busy then. Come the next day at half after eleven. Can you?" "Yes, I think so. Thank you." Mrs. Granville chatted good-naturedly with him a moment longer, and then, with a farewell word to me, went away. Her departure left a flatness in tbe atmosphere, as of a fresh breeze suddenly dying out "You seem to have made a home-run with Mrs. Granville." "She's a wonder, isn't she? ! I've heard about her Mac answered. "I gather you are going into art as a business. He winked. ; - T ' ' ' The upshot of the visit of Mrs. Granville was Macnalr's sketch of her dog. He showed It to me silently when It waa finished. It was clever and had signs of life. . With a quizzical smile, I nodded, also in silence. Nothing more- was eaid about tbe matter. Evidently his acquaintance with Mrs. Granville did not cease with the completion of tbe sketch. Her ' footman r was occasionally at, the door with a note for Mr. Macnalr. which I gathered meant luncheon or dinner. I did not question, and Macnalr was reticent ' A persistent cold that had laid hold of. ray wife suddenly decided me to take her to the South, and .we 'set off without delay In the middle of Decem ber, leaving Macnair to hla pet dogs and the care of the studio. I had Intended to nav a visit tn mrs. uranvnie ana nna out her conception of him, and also his conception of himself, or at least the conception that he managed to palm off on her and ber friends. We had been some six weeks In Florida when a letter came from Macnalr. It was of a length unusual for him. It ran: Dea Fbiehu: By the time you get this letter I shall be on the briny. In fact I'm going abroad to Paris to study sculpture. It's this way. Mrs. Granville has got stuck on my stuff and she's got some folks interested and they are going to give me a thousand a year between them to study. It's a peach of a chance " 77 too dear the said at once when she had seen for me. and although I know yon don't believe I've got n darned artistic thing In me I sort of think 111 fool you one day and show you that your little friend Mac isn't so much of a fathead as you think. I'm mighty grateful to yoa for all your kindness for you have stood by me and helped me out of a rotten bole this falL , 1 Was pretty much on the bum and I thank you a lot and shall always consider you my best friend. When I get there 111 let you know how things are going In gay Paree. , I've fixed the studio all O. K. and the Janitor has the key. . My regards to the missis and regards and thanks to you. So long and don't forget Yours very sincerely, Mac"

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T L The Cafe da Home on the Boulevard Montparnass has nothing In its outer aspect that Is distinctive. In fact, the Dome ia a refuge for young men who seen to find Paris rather more French in character than pleases tbem..:-; '':'.:-?- In a half-hearted search for two ; young cousiasj of mine, I dropped into tbe Dome late one afternoon iu early June. , The boulevards were ablossom with) life warm, lazy, amorous life. Every tcrraitm was full. Oue could not decide whether the : day waa as gay as Tarls, or Paris as gay as the day. As for the cousins, I did not find them. I was content enough) to sit with a glass of coffee before me and to stara amiably, at. the world. :: :-" -'.;.i' Presently I became aware of a familiar voice In tbe rear room devoted to billiards. I smiled, for It was the voice of Macnalr, a voice I bad not heard, for a year and a half. "Did you see me take that chance?" he was saying. "Pretty neat, n'rat paaf Well that's all for you! Let's go out and flancr around a little." Macnalr and hla companions came out Into th larger room. I bad the brief Impression of a complacent young man. much stouter than in the other days, dressed in vivid striped brown, a note of bright red at his throat. At his heels trotted a French bulldog. He was talking loudly, Importantly, diffusing; an air of being tremendously accustomed to the place. As he pushed by my table I looked up and put out my hand. - "Halloo, Mac". "Well, I'll be what you doing here?" he exclaimed with an enthusiasm I could not quite assay as real. "Say. old man, I've got to go on with my friends. They're waiting. When can I see you again? Tonight, eh? On the Boat Micht Let's say Cafe d llarcourt or no, I cant do It to-night To-morrow afternoon, here. Can you? At four? Au rtvotr! Mighty glad to have seen you. To-morrow ! Come along. Skeets. Great dog that eh? So-long." At my rooms I found a petit bleu awaiting me. After I had. read It the comedy seemed almost conv plete. It wai from Macnalr's wife. "Will you please come to see me to-night," It said.' "at my hotel the Grand about half past eight or nine? , I have something important I want to ask you. Dont let me put yon out at all, but if yon" come it will be a' great favor to your sincere friend, Uelene Beauvoir (Maa nalr)." Macnalr's wife was waiting for me In the corrldot of tbe hotel when I arrived. "I have not seen you for a long time." t said, per functorlly. "No, not since Mae and me were married." she said frankly. "Lots has happened si ace then. I've got on. I've done awfully welt in my profession. - Feldtman . ia starring me now, and, well. Feldtman is Feldtman 1 Yes, I've bit It off." "To begin with, I'm a fool,! she continued. "Yea, I am. That's why I sent for you. Not that I need advice, or not that I'd take It. Mv mind ia mad mi I may as well tell you. I want Mac back. Now what do you think of that !" "Frankly, I think he'd be much better off being a , husband than an artist or maybe you could combine the two." , She laughed. "lie was a husband model once, 1 can't say he ever was a model husband. No, he's dear, Mac is, and he needn't work at all If be doesn't want to. I don't mind. I want him back. And I'm.' going to get him. I came all the way to Paris to do It. I don't know hia address, and If I bad I wouldn't have written to him. I want to ere him. I want to have him see me, rather, in my good clothes and; . well, then we'll see what happens; I guess I know Mac. That's why 1 asked you here to-night I got yout , address from an art dealer in Amer- . tea and I Just wrote to you, even If you are married. Now, can yoa tell me bow I can see Mac, sort of accidentally? Can we do It t nigbtr I watched her for a moment In Silence. She was alert esger. earnest I was suddenly aware that I liked ber exceedingly, that I wanted to help ber play out her comedy. "See here," said I at last, "do you want to come with me now. Just as you are, to tbe Boulevard St Michel, where all sorts and conditions of students and their girls walk or sit about in cafes? Maybe we may find Mac there. I don't know. It Is Just a chance." "I'm game." she answered promptly. "Wait till I get a wrap and well . go." - Sbe was back In a moment and we took a taxlmetre to tbe other Side of the river. When I helped her out we began our stroll. "Look, there he Is," sbe whispered sharply. "Just ahead of us. j With the two girls." She was right Macnalr was Just In front, arm In arm with two women. They were In, tbe extreme of hilarity, all three, sauntering along, indulging in ; good-natured hlaavo at tbe expense of every type who caught their fancy. Presently they baited at the crowded terra $e of tbe Cafe d'Hareourt ' Half a dozen or more of their friends shouted out all sorts of disgraceful and amusing greetings, to which they vivaciously responded as tbey sat down at a little table. "We'll go there, too," Macnalr's wife said, calmly. 'There's a table Just behind them. Don't let him V see us." Suddenly she leaned over and touched Macnair on tbe arm. He turned abruntlr and looked straight his dog.' Into her eyes; The red waved tumultuously over his ; face. Into bis very hair. For a moment he kept his i gaze on ber; than his whole fiber seemed to weaken -and collapse. He did not say a wcrd. Ills wife let ' ber hand rest on his arm. Sbe herself did not speak. ' but she smiled, smiled rather wonderfully. "Helene," be stammered at last "You --': "You little, little fool," sbe answered, and her voice i was more tender than If she bad whispered a love poem. She stood up and put out her hand. "Come along. Mac. I want you." Macnalr rose to his feet abruptly. "All right; honey; I'm ready If you are." he said. And they went away together, with only a nod for me. - - ' - Comrrifht, mo, v MetnpWI r-frr TysTfsaFa

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