Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-01
II PAINTERS SECRET.
BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN.
1Conc1udcd.1

| About an hour later, Charles was crouching
bn his mattress, his hands covering his face il|
mute despair, when knock came to the door,
Hc started rose, opened the door about twd
inches, and received from the Cerberus Of the
house a letter. Rapidly shutting himself in, ha
| read the perfumed missive. 1t was polite
mote from Madame Pcllissier, intimating het
/ wish for him to call upon her at once with the
Unnecessarily Materials for commencing portrait,
/ she had the canvass ready, and adding desire
TO see any finish paintings lie might have ih
| hand.
| \ radiant smile OF Joy passed over the fac e
Of the young artist. 1t was not, however, the
| prospect of relief from misery; it was not the
chance of career Of having money. Such
| things have but little influence over the mind
Of the true artistic, whether poet, painter, or au-
thor. Much is said Of the improvidcncc and
deserved poverty Of literary men but the cal.
culating and sordid minds of their ordinary
Judges are not able to understand that spirits
such as theirs cannot bend to mere material
details Their souls are so constituted that
often their misery is happiness. 1t awakcns
strange thought aud reflection. Not to have
suffered is not to have lived. And then when
the artistic who has suffered long, has money,
ii he were to spend as your careful, prudent
man would, he would us lief not have it, The
plotting and intriguing necessary to make the
most OF it would destroy MI the pleasure ofhav-
ing lie must enjoy it, though fully aware
that the day Of suffering must come again.
Now Charles, one OF those beings in whom
mind is more powerful than matter, rcjoiced in
his months starvation. it had shown him the
.cart of his beloved, aul he would not have
had it otherwise for all the wealth the world
can give. Noble and generous hearts are not
rare, especially among the divine sux, which
God created to compensate man Tor every i'll in
life, but still they are not found at every step
Charles knew, h. was certain, that he owed
his present good fortune to Constance; and
hence his joyful and happy smile.
He made himself rs neat and clean as he
could, took two small paintings which he had
just finished, in the hope Of finding purchaser,
and started for the Rue dc Helder, where resi-
| ded Madame rellisssier. He was agreeably sur
priscd to find young and elegant Paris lady,
who received him with ai!abity, examined his
two small paintings with remarks which show
ed cultivated taste and Judgment, aud then
intimatcd her wish to keep them. Charles very
thankfully acquicsced, and then spoke Of the
portrait.
"Well, NJ. Dupont you may commence this
morning if you please, but have Il peculiar
| notion, and that is. that artists should know
little Of the person they are about to paint, to
do it we'll lalter myself that you would be
FAR more effective in your likeness, il you al
ways commenced by an hours conversation
with the sitter"
Charles smngly agreed that the young
widows theory was very plausible one ana
entered into very animated discussion with
her on his own art, which he soon found she
had studied very considerably. The afternoon
glided away very pleasantly, and when he arose
to take leave, Madame Pcllissier put small
pockct-book in his hand, pointing at the same
time to the two pictures
Charles blushed rs the high-souled artiStc
always does on receiving money from such rs
Leonie PclIissicr, but accepted the welcome
payment with thanks aud !! bow. The first
sitting was then fixed for the following Mon
day, and our hero hurried away towards his
home He went not to lis own room, he went
to that of Constance. llc knocked quickly,
she opened. He rushed in, caught her in his
arms, and imprinted ON her lips And cheeks and
forehead dozen kisses.
"Charlcs, are you mad? What is the mat
ter? Will you be quict?'
"My beloved Constance, am SO hnaappy'
and know it is your doing ] have sold my
pictures. and have portrait to paint; H"t
sly girI that YOU are, you forget that only last
Sunday yon told rrc all about Madame pellis-
sier"
"You arc not offended. Charles"
"Onendcd, my dear little wife"
-, - rll,. | ,lurn inf bonn rnr