Show II E THE COMMON LA LAW W WI I Y ROB ROBERT E R T W W. CHAMBERS C H A IV B E s I w INSTALMENT INSTALMENTS 3 Sh She began to cry silently he saw the drops fall shining on on the white wool robe and leaned one elbow on the ladder watching them After awhile they ceased but she sho still held her head low and her face was b bent nt In Inthe Inthe inthe the warm shadow of ot her hair How could I 1 understand 7 he asked very very- gently I should I should have told you I was afraid SHe S He said Im terribly sorry It t must have been perfect torture for tor you rou to undress undress undress-to to come Into the studio If It you'd only given me an Idea of how matt matters rs bLood I 1 could have made It a little easier Im I'm afraid I was brusque bUsque taking taking It for granted that you were a model and knew y your ur business Im I'm terribly sorry She lifted her head looked at him with the tears still clinging to her lashes lashe You Toil have been very nice to me It ItIs ItIs ItIs Is all my my own fault tault He lie smiled Then Its It's all right now that we understand Isn't It Yes You make a stunning model he said frankly Do I Then you will let me come again agal n Let you youl I He laughed Ill bemore be bemore bemore more likely to beg yu you Oh you wont won't have to she said Ill Til come as long as you want me That is simply angelic of you Tell me rue do you wish to descend to terra firma She glanced below doubtfully N no N no thank you If It I could only stretch my legs my legs Stretch away he said much amused but dont don't tumble off oft and break Into pieces I 1 like you better as you are than as an antique and limbless limbless limb limb- less Venus She Sho cautiously and daintily daintily- extended first one ono leg then the other under the wool robe then eased the cramped muscles of ot her her back back straightening her body and flexing her arms with a little sigh of ot relief As her shy sidelong gaze reverted to him she saw to her relief that he was not noticing her A A slight alight sense of ot warmth suffused her body and she stretched herself herselt again more confidently and ventured to tc glance around Speaking of terms he said In an as I absent way apparently preoccupied with the palette which he was carefully care care- fully scraping do you happen to know P what is the usual recompense for r a amodel's amodel's models model's service She said that she had heard and added with quick diffidence that she i could not flot expect so much being only p pa a beginner He polished the surface of ot the S palette with a a. handful of ot cheesecloth Dont you think that you are worth wont 1 It How now can I be until I know how te to pose for tor you 1 You will never have to learn how hov to pose Miss l West I dont don't know exactly what hat you yot I mean I mean that some models models' never neve r learn Some know how already you already you for tor example She flushed slightly Do you rean really mean that Oh I wouldn't say so 80 If I didn't It Its It's a merely necessary for tor you to accustom i yourself to holding a pose the rca rest t you already know Instinctively What Is the rest nest she ventured ti to a aask ask I r dont don't quite understand what wha t you see in me me- me Well he said placidly you are ar S beautifully made That Is tenths nine S of ot the matter Your head Is ig set log log- on your our neck and your neck i is a correctly placed on your our spine and an ci your legs and arms are properly at attached attached at- at to your torso your torso your entire body r anatomically anatomical speaking Is hinged hung huni supported developed as the Ideal bod body y should be Its It's unmarred i. i unspoiled and that's partly luck part part- ly Inheritance and mostly dece decent t habits habits hab- hab its and digestion She was listening Intently Interested interested interested inter inter- ested surprised her pink lips Ups slightly parted panted Another point he continued you seem unable to move or rest fully tully Few women are so built that an ungraceful motion is impossible for them You are one of the few Its It's all alla a matter of anatomy She remained silent watching him curiously He lie s said ld But the final clincher cincher to your qualifications Is that you are In Intelligent intelligent In- In I have known pretty women women wom worn en he added with sarcasm who were not what learned men would call calf precisely precisely pre pro Intelligent But you are 1 showed yo YOU you my sketch Indicated in a general way what I 1 wanted and Instinctively in instinctively In- In and intelligently you assumed as assumed as- as the proper attitude I didn't have to take y you u by the chin and twist 1 your head as though you were a a. lay figure I 1 didn't have to pull you about I and flex and bend and twist you You I knew that I wanted you to look like Uke I Isome some sort of an ethereal immortality deliciously relaxed adrift In sunset clouds And you you were it somehow it-somehow somehow or other She down thoughtfully nestling nestling nes nes- nes- nes tUng to the chin in tho white wool 1 folds A A. smile almost Imperceptible curved her lips Ups I You are making it very easy for forme forme forme me she said I You make it easy for yourself I was horribly afraid she said thoughtfully I I have no doubt of ot It Oh you dont don't know nobody know nobody can I know know no no man can understand the I terror of of-of of 0 of l' l the first time time time- It must be a ghastly experience I It Is I 1 dont don't mean that you have not done everything to make It easier easier- j easler-j but there but there In the little room room room-my my courage left me me I I almost died Id I'd have I run away only onlY onlY-I I was afraid you you wouldn't let me me- me He began to laugh she sher tried to but the terror of ot it all was as yet too re recent re- re recent cent At first she said I was was afraid I wouldn't do for a a. model not model not exactly afraid of my my-my my my appearance but be because because because be- be cause I was a a. novice and I imagined that one had to know exactly how to pose pose pose- I think he interrupted smilingly that you might take the pose again if It you are rested Go on talking I dont don't mind it it She sat erect loosened the white wool robe and dropped It from her with loss less consciousness and effort than be be- be- be I fore Very carefully she set her feet I Ion on the blocks fitting the shapely heels to the chalked outlines found the mark for tor her elbow adjusted her slim sUm I smooth body and looked at him flush- flush Ing IngAll All AU right he said briefly go ahead and talk to me Do you wish me to Yes Id I'd rather I dont don't know exactly what to say Say anything he returned absently absent absent- ly 1 selecting a a. flat brush with a a. ver verlong very r long handle She thought a a. moment then lifting Utting her eyes I might ask you your name What Dont Don't you know it Oh Lord Oh Vanity I thought you'd heard of ot me She blushed confused by her IgnoranCe ignorance ance and what she feared was as annoyance annoyance annoy annoy- ance on his part then perceived that tha t he was merely amused and her face r cleared We folk who create concrete for tor the public DubUc always im- im acine agine ourselves much better known to that public than we are Miss West Its It's our little vanity vanity rather rather harmless after atter all a Were We're a pretty decent lot sometimes absurd especially in ln our tragic trade moments sometimes emotional usually illogical often impulsive fre- fre tender hearted as well as supersensitive Now It was a a. pleasant little vanity for tor me to take It for granted that tJ r somehow YOU had heard ot of m me and c limbed climbed twelve ot of taira for Privilege ot of sitting for me H He HA laughed so 80 frankly th that r responsive smile the made her chanting and he coolly took face tace of It it and while exciting a advas and BUm attiS i ng affixed vit It immortally oi on the creature he was So painting yoU didn't climb flights flights' sOlely for the of I Ing ng me paint you No she admitted laughingly lr was merely to b begin w at th the and apply for work all the waYll until somebody took me or inc or r n took me But why be begin in at the top I M It It is easier to bear disappoint going down she said sald seriously two or three artists had the first and second floors ray would not have carried me up far Bad logic he comments mi mount by experience using wrecked hopes as footholds footholds' m You dont don't know know how fir how much a gin endure There comes a a. time time- years of steady descent decent when when r nil l tune and disappointment become durable when hope deferred deterred nolle sickens aickens It Is in rising things that disappointments hurt cruelly jg He turned his head In surprise hUlt went on painting Your philosophy is the submission Do you call a struggle of ot y years ars mission g But It was giving up after acquiescence despondency a Ia faire policy i One may tire of fighting One may Another may not now la I think you have never had t to very hard Ho He turned his head abruptly at af moments moment's silent survey of ot her h his painting with a a. sharp personal glance before every swift decisive brush stroke r. r im No I have neve had to West It was keen of yo recognize it I have never had Oj at all Things come easU easily t to tot things have a habit of coming my I suppose Im I'm not exact exactly man to lecture anybody on the thela fighting fortune She's always decent to me Sometimes s afraid afraid I I have an Instinct that thai too friendly And it trouble Do you OU understand what I mea mean Yes jl He looked up at her Are sure s 's m mI I 1 think so I have ha be been n watt wat you painting I never imagined body could draw so swiftly so ea ear paint so surely so accurately every brush stroke could be S so so-sc so si C ant so decisive I lt unusual And is not that wh Wl called facility Lord In heaven he lie said said kind of ot a girl am arm I dealing witH wit what kind of ot a girl Is si mercifully with me me I I 1 I didn't mean mean mean- m Yes you did Those ver ye verj I I and wonderfully shaped eyes ejes ot are not flot entirely for tor ornament I 1 that pretty head theres there's an appa appa designed for thinking and I lt Idle gl He laughed gaily a trifle def Youve said It U Youve You've in the amber Im I'm cursed with tS Worse stilt still it gives gl me keenes p pure ure uro to employ it U It does scare scara has has for years years make make miserable at Intervals Intervals fills fills me ft all aU kinds of fea fears and doubts To be continued |