Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-01-09
Mlistrllanc0us.
B. UMBER, ARTIST.
LOVE, PRIDE, AND POVERTY.
BY META VICTORIA VICTOR.
From GOleS's Lads Book for December.l
LOVE, PRIDE, AND POVERTY
BY META VICTORIA VICTOR.
From GOieS's Lads Book for December !
CONCLUDED.

The next morning | regretted burning my
coat; for not only did it leave bad odvr
of burning woOlen in my room, but | had
conceived the idea of rendering that long
suffering garment as immortal as brushes
and paint could make ii. However, had
a good memory. AID the coat was iudelibly
stamped upon it, every darn, patch, scam.
and grease-spot l would take revenge
upon myself, my fortune, my friend, and
Miss Follett by painting picture.
| went Immediately about my work
About eleven o'clock Gamboee came to my
door. anG knucaed loud and long. The
key was turned. and | said nothing: so
suppOsing Inc to be out, he went away
muttering to himself through the hall
l did not want to see him nor any e!-
for the present. the picture was my sole
object When that should be finished.
cared not what came The future was
blank at which | took no pleasure in STAR
ing.
With fvcrish ralidity |. SIX tched the
main features OF my painting upon back
ground already prepared. My subject was
my own garret-that poor, plain room. with
all its miserable accessories Iu the cen
tie under the sky-light, was IN easel, aud
upon the easel canvass. III pom this cam
vas, the face of Miss Follett. This intro
duction OF picture within j picture was
done with coGsummate skill Her pure.
giriiSh face. stelned rather bGamiug through
the frame in all its living beauty. than to
be only its painted semblance / repre-
sented her as she was hopeful. joyous,
happy. elegant, with that air If high-bfed
ease mingled with youthful gayety Yet
in her eyes L felt that mOmeutary Look
had seen there. as bowed myself out OF
hrr presence at that hateful reception
"a look of soul and sympathy. coming up
with midst OF tears through her brightest
smiles. As she locked then. so she
looked now at the artist who pictured
it; for /, too, formed part of the scene.
The artist sat before his easel; he wore the
rent and ancient coat His face could not
be represented, except partly in profile;
but there was in his attitude as he sat
and gazed at the exquisite face before him.
desnondency and passion both. You could
see that he adored this beautiful portrait:
and guess at the sad story of poverty aud
continually crushed aspiration.
1t was too dark to work before remem-
bered that | had eaten nothing that day
Half famished, L took my supper in the
cellar beneath, and returned again to my
garrett. | was resolved that | would see
no one until my picture was finished
l was in that exalted state of mind and
body which can accomplish wonders
The next day Gamboge again ratified
away at my door. Blast the fellow! | do
believe he's committed suicide F" 1 heard
him exclaim; and then he stopped down
and reconnoitered through the key-hole.
1t SEEMS that he had glimpse ofme;
for he shouted. augrily, through. that oriice
beloved Of eavesdrOppers. Say old fellow!
if this is the way You treat your friends,
I'm off,
W hat o..ner course he could have taken
except to take himself off, I do not see. SO
lrng as would not let him in. was now
rid of my best friend; very comfortable
thing. when a person gets in melO-drama-
tic and mournful way. he came no more.
and / worked for several days, twelve
hours per diem. upon my picture spent
almost as many hours reproducing the
patches upon my coat, as | had done OTigi-
nally in making them. At last. the thing
was done. Linger over it as lovingly as
| might, found not light or a shadow
/. for my brushes to retouch.
Then went to bed and was i'll. TwGn-
ty-four hours l lay in burning fever
before anybody thought worth While to
inquire after me. This was one of the
pleasures resulting from getting rid of my
friend. Finally. the waiter of the saloon.
the one who had purchased my quail chick
ems. made his way upstairs. and received
no answer to his knock, opened the door
and came in. He had real quail. deli
cately boiled and served up on slice of
toast, which he had brought with him on
plate-but was too i'll to cat
I've noticed you lookin' kinder-holler-
eyed and wild, lately, and was afraid
you was sick. Beg pardon, sir, for intru-
ding sir; but them chickens you painted
has interested my feelings" And with
flourish. more becoming to his place in the /
gilded saloon underneath, than to my hum /
bic garret, he set about making me COM
Portable You may imagine the taste and
feeling of cold water to one who has lain
in raging fever. without a drop to quench |
it, for twenty-four hours. He put COOL |
wet NAPKINS on my head, and gave me
plentiful. ambrOsial, drauehts. While be
was still attending upon me. the door
opened again. and my estranged friend and
brother made his appearance with lady |
on his arm.
"Ha! what's this? sick? That comes of
making goose of yourself"
Are geese Particularly liable to brain
fever?" queried family.
Come now, don't joke about such a
serious matter Just look at his eyes Miss
FOllett-big as eggs and bright as Goals"
She looked at my eyes. and looked at
hers. To hide that which | saw in them
she turned away. and her glance fell upon
the picture. | could see from the profile I.
had of her. the soft blush rising to check
and brow, the sudden huttering Of the rib
bOns of her hat, where they lay against her
bosom. l knew that she understood the
story of the picture.
go for a doctor waiter, and III pay
you for your trouble" said GambOge.
well, reckon you won't" responded
my friend Of the white apron, Indignantly
''of course not; you're my friend. James.
But you need not 90 for a doctor; | shall !