Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-11-21

bah / dared not KISS IT,
Max abstractedly profered the empty jug.
Peter tried to drink from It, found 1t empty, and
simply put it on one side.
ooh, if might only hope; but, my Max, If
is folly-it is madness a poor artist wed the rich
burgOmaster's widow Why, all Leyden would
cry out They would boot me in the streets. 1t
IS a dream, my brother, a dream. The picture
must end-Ic could paint on it for ever and ever,
Is that the blue Of her eyel Is that the c~aTnatiOn
that floats On her cheek, now above, now below
the surface Is that the crimson of her dear
moist lip, my Max Bah no. But, two years
two years the end must come. She grows
impaGent-she will 60, my Max-the picture
will 60, my Max; and then-then-what viii
become of me ? Say"
And he rose from his chair, and tell sobbing
upon the neck of Max. That worthy follower
was cut to the heart.
1T ID not so, my Peter. Look up" he said;
"she loves you / say sol, Max believe me.
You viii be happy, my Peter you shall be
happy. Hush She is coming now l hear her
on the stairs. Hush take courage. Tell her
YOU love her, with all your soul, my Peter; tell
her AS you would ten me-thiuk it is ! TO whom
You speak. Igo."
This way-the back staircase. Gently, my
Maz-tbink Of the dust. Do not bang the door.
Farewell, my Max. All she is here
Then entered the room the lady, tall, large,
calm. Peter had been successful-the portrait
was very Ike. She came in slowly and
stately, and soon occupied her weIl-known seat
and accustomed position. Peter, bowling and
b~lushing, went on with his work. Hardly a
word was spoken. The portrait had been in
hand for two years, and all ordinary topics Of
conversation between painter and sitter had been
long ago exhausted. On the other hand, habit
had completely mastered all the irksomeuess Of
the business. The lady seemed hardly less
tired of sitting than Peter Of painting. She
knew 10 a nicely when she was correctly posed
detected, 70 halt an inch, when her fingers
strayed from their position in the picture; per
ceiyed directly when any of the amber tendril
Tiuglets became stragglers from the main body
and then the large blue eyes, how well aware
they were Of the exact knot in the oak wains-
coat upon which, two years ago, they had been
first Directed to fix themselves
True, they wandered now and then-took cir
cling flights like birds, alighting at one time upon
the blonde head of Peter-now upon the mirror
with the twenty-five satellite mirroTs-nOw upon
Peters pipe-now upon the leathered-covered
knob of Peters mahl-stick-now upon the tiny
little sable pencils with which Peter seemed to
be working on the panel as though with needles
upon copper-and now. with a twinkling smile
dancing about the corners Of the rosy lips, upon
Peters empty brown jug in the corner but they
always turned back again, and settled finally on
the knob in the wainscot, as though that were
their proper nest and home, and all other alight-
ing places more temporary c-arayanseras, useful
enough, but not to be mistaken for a moment for
permanent residences.
At last the lady had refreshed her eyes by two
or three of these visual voyages, and found that
there was nothing more to b. done-no more en-
tainment to be derived in that way-and ever so
little a sigh started mp and escaped from her
heart, through the halfopen easement Of her lips.
Peter was not slow to hear IL he blushed-his
hand trembled a little; be was nearly making a
mistake, going Just the thousandth part Of an
inch OF so out of his course.
-" ! tire you, madam
No said the lady, and her eyes settled on
his mustache; she had q sweet, low, lauguid
sort o voice. " Bat Wilt soon be done ~
Ii seemed as though some words were about
to issue from under the mustache, but Peter
checked himself, bowed his head, and gave a
touch or two to the delicate gray, halEtints on
the lady'S forehead. Then came another little
sigh Peter stopped as though he had been
wounded quite a change came over him. All,
he loved the fair widow In his microscopic,
Dutch-painteT way he had gone on loving her
for two years it had begun in a miniature sort
OF fashion, had gone niggling on, but it was now
a complete and finished business. You might
look att in allights, examine it how you would.
pore into it with a magnifying-glass, you could
find no flaw in It; it was very whole, web and
woof a highly wrought, exquisite, delicate, per-
feet piece Of passion. Peter was wounded by
the sighs. He rose up.
" / tire you, madam +" he said again, so boldly
that the widow seemed alarmed. She deprecated
his anger; would have given the world to have
had the signs back again safe and sound, tight
prisoners in her bosom.
Twill paint no more, then. Let Us say that
the portrait is finished. 1t las been two years
about, and IT would take two years more ave,
and more than that The lady shruuk
back al this. Peter went on in a low voice,
alternately at the lady and the picture:
NO; it would take a life, and then It would
not be completed"
The lady quite clasped her hands in her dis
-ress at this. A whole life sitting for ones pOr-
raiti Was Peter mad He understood her as
constituent, and gave his explanation slowly and
c0nfusedly, and with his checks decided
y red.
There are some gTaces that cannot be por-
some traits that can not be initiated, |
some charms which II is wholly impossible to
lender. l might try all my life; l might spend
al my days before that panel, and still the por-
rait might never be completed to my think
ng. Msdam, it could never De yoR it could
never be more than the ieeblost shadow Of
you"
The lady was decidedly pleased, yet amazed,
frightened. You see the late burgUmas-
Ter had not made love thus.
Then l may send for the picture l' she said,
Il last, softly.
Poor Peter bowed his head, sadly afirma
i've.
And the price?7 It was cruel of the widow,
iut she did il simply without malice-at least !
mink so-or it might be Intentionally, to be firm,
md end the thing, as people strike hard
to get the sooner TO the termination Of
ight.
There were quiet tears in Peters eyes.
n money can repay me, madam -"
But the poor fellow stopped short; there was
omething in his throat that would not let the
words pass out.
For your labor know It las been great.
1cessEnt, but'-
Not that and Peters pride conquered his
obs. Nothing can compensate me for the loss
the picture il has been my whole sole thought
nd occupation for two years; it has been the
e~aseless Joy and light Of my studio. That gone,
nd this room is a dark dungeon; my life as a
lind mans, who can never hope to see the sun
gain. love it, ] love it! Pray don't take IT
me; it is priceless, pricelesst" and he sank
Il bis knees before the panel. 1t was a delicate
-ay Of making love 20 the widow; a little COM }
Heated, perhaps, bat still very effective. She J
ould NOT possibly be Ofendedby il, and il might
Juch ber very neaIly-and it did. 1t was really
very aTtfuip plan Of that simple Peters. !
The widow came quite close to him, and she I
.as trembling and huttering a good deal, and {
a tempest Of emotion was surginp in her +
.hite neck. She bent over Peter, hiding his face .
ow in his hands, till her gold ringlets mingled
ith Peters blonde locks.
" viii nothing repay you 2" and her soft,
arm breath stirred the dry, blonde locks as a
reeze a comfeid.
" Nothing-nothbg-n nothing r' moanedP Peter
z
" Not even Ibis 7'f o
And her little plump hand-white satin lined ii
ith pink, as Peter had described 70 70 MAJ OF
ole down aud CTept into his. To give money Il
ung, perhaps No it was empty Dull Peter e
= was a humble, Flooding. mniature-miuded "
not quite understand even vet to
ow pretty the widow looked blushing and con e
sed Il
" Bal yOa take the original as payment for the
yy ?" What a silyefS, birds whisper was -
at explanation.
Peter comprehended then. How he kissed the
tie plump hand you would have thought the n
eature was going 10 it, What a delightful lit
= laugh the widow gave as she stopped down
" head Really, Peter was, after all, a dull
low but he did make it out at last, and gave
II lips a kiss that made them even more ROSY
an ever I think, certainly, that it was the
dow who made love to Peter, and not Peter {
the window. \
30, how Hove you. How happy I am N