New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-05-10
B. uMBER, ARTisr
(Conclu1ed,)

outrageous blunders. They take to me-. natnraiIyy
cannot explain this one. | shall never disturb
you WIN 1a any more. Farwel! foreyer''-the last
We Word was whispered to myself, as went down
the steps about as unhappy as an idiot can he =
hadf0TgOtten the clothes and the footman thro,,
them tn OUT alter mo. At the foot of the steps met
ing with laughter. .'sAS-
go in and find out. Ishall never be seen in
! broke from him and hurried home, where
fang myself, upon the bed in fit of disgust and
despair; All was lost; nothing won. Gamboge
ridicule me. That coat-that wretched old coat
was the cause of all my misery i seized the
offending garment and tore it in shreds Forgetfal
Of its three years Of faithful service ungratefa for
past worth and worn.out good looks, I rent it in
tatters: While busy with the work Of destruction,
| several pieces OF money dropped out of some m.
known corner, juggling upon the floor. I saw, by
and upon gathering them up, found there was
hundred dollars. How did they come in my coat?
! had no idea how; and was not going to make any
moFe coolly than had done the clothes. I put It
carefqlly in my walletand subdued BY the act
,Iaa hch eGnsd as 60 patiently to picking the remnants
little farnace; and this was the last of nv nm.
fortunate, fortunate coat. went to bed as stspid
and sore, ore mentally as if my mind had received
/ The next morning regretted burning nv eoa.
for not only did it leave bad odor Of burning
wooien 10 my room, but had conceived the idea
of rendering that long suffering garment "a immor
tai as brushes and paint could make il. However
had good memory, and the coat was indslIibIv
stamped upon it, every darn, patch, seam aud
nay fortune, my friend and Miss FoIlet by pantina
| picture.
; I went Immediately about my work. About II
oUd and ona came to my door and Knocked
nothing so, supposing me to be out, he went
away, mutterng to himself through the hall For
the present the picture was my sole object. When
The future was blank at which took no pleasure
in staring.
With feyerish rapidity I sketched the main
ready prepared. Ny subject was my own gar
ret-that poor, plain room, with all it's miserable
accessories. In the centre, under the skylight,
this canvas, the face of Miss Follett This infro-
ducton of picture within a picture was done
with consummate skill. Her pure, grlish face,
ali its living beauty, than to be only its paInted
q semblance. | represented her, as she was hops,
,u ls joyous, happy, elegant with that air hrgh-
e bsed ease mmgled ing with youthful gaye,y
1 there, as bowed myself ont Of her presence at
that hateful reception look of soul and sym.
pathy, coming up with a midst of tears through
her brightest smile. AS she looked then SO she
looked now at the artist who pictured it; for l. too
formed part of the scene. The artist sat before
his easel; he wore the rent and ancient coat. His
|
profile; but there was in his attitude as he sat and
r. gazed at the exquisite face before him, despond.
: ency and passion both. You could see that he
adnred this beautiful portrait; and guess at tn. sad
story of poverty and continually crushed aspra.
d tion.
y 1t was too dark to work before 1 remembered
ished, took my supper in the cellar beneath,
and returned again to my garret. I was resolved
e that would see, no one until my picture was
e finished; was in that exalted state Of mind and
ia body which can accomplish wonders
% The next day GaMboge ratified away at nv door
L. " Blast the fellow I do believe he's committed
lie suicide" heard him exclaim and then he
" stopped down and reconnotred through the kew.
;. hole. -
r 1t seems that he had a glimpse of nae for he
n shouted, angrily through that orice beloved of
way you treat yonr friends, I'm off! y N
bn What other course he could have taken, ex.
cept to take 81 himself Inns off, do not see long
~ ., friend; a very comfortable thing, when person
~ ~ gets in melodramatic and mournful way !; he
~ ~ came no more, and l worked for several days
~ ~ twelve hour! per diem, upon my picture I suen,
i almost as many hours reproducing the patches
upon my coat, as had done, originally in makiue
10 10 them At last, the thing was done. Lnger oveI
40 40 it as lovingly as might found not light or q
10 shadow for my brushes to retouch.
10 10 Then went to bed and was very i'll. Twenty
of four hours l lay in burning fever before any
W W body thought worth while to inquire abou
~ y, me. This was one of the pleasures resulting
u u from getting rid of my friend. Finally the waitei
IL ~ of the saloon, the one who had purchased nv
quail'chickens, made MS way up stairs, and re
:, and came in. He had q real quail, decately
ds broiled and served up slice of toast which b.
1o had brought with him on pate-butI was too il
no to eat.
le 1--WE noticed you lookin' kinder holler-eyed an,
e er wild, lately, and was afraid you was sick Bel
n pardng, SIR for intruding, sir but them chicken:
~ w. you painted has interested my feelings" An,
ne with flourish, becoming to his place in th,
ID gilded saloon underneath, than to my humble gar
u n ret, he set about making me comfortable. Yo
Ill one who has lain in raging fever, without dro,
-. to quench it, for twenty-tour hours He put COO
IN ~, wet napkins on my head and gave me plentiful
IN IN ambrosal draughts. While he still attendin
ad upon me, the door opened again. and my estrange
'a va friend and brother made his appearance with
nd nd lady on his arm.
u, 1nt ing goose of yourself"
iet Are geese particularly liable to brain fever ~
OF OF Come now, don't joke about such a seriou
:.e NATTER Just look at his eyes, Miss FolIett-bj
NE lie as eggs, and bright as coals.''
se ses She did look at my eyes, and looked at herr
'ef To hide that which saw in them she turned away
rs rs from the profile view had of her. the soft bius
'ou rising to cheek and brow the sudden utteriug
~ the ribbons of her hat. where they lay against he
no W. bosom. knew that she understood the story
rs "Go for doctor waiter, and III pay YOU fu
.,ss oss your trouble" said Gamboge.
oIn "Welt, l reckon you WON'T responded IN
0;y friend of the whie apron, Indignantly.
ots "Of course not; you're my friend James. Bt
tbe you need not go for doctors shall get well wit
,,n .an out one. All want is cold water.''
'"' 'Mr. Umber," murmured Miss Follett, "yo
bis must sell that picture to me of course you wou
at not dispose of it to any one else. I will give yc
nd a thousand dollars for it, But ought not to ha,
.n1 ad spoken TO you now. You must have absolu
;sa ea, silence and rest Farewell, I will come to sc
ims. ins you when hear from Gamboge that You be
, ter"
q Her hand rested for an instant upon n
tba burning forehead, COOL soft and fresh ros
Wv" ~ leaf, its touch was sweet as kiss; then 81
was gone.
After that gded off into strange world
Mr. visions. The shade was drawn over the skyhgl
nm. the flies were driven from the room, and Gambo
an uao walked about in my old slippers, noiseless as d
iav esv figures which fitted through my dreams.
nay What more? l will not tell you Of my feve
MD visions, nor anything of my rapid convalescenc
u'a With the freshness somewhat faded from n
rfn, visage, my "high color" sunbdued, my we
F'ul rounded frame showing a trifing anguarity,
went, one evening, alone, to Miss Folletts boudo
aSk S She sat on the pretty rose-hued divan, play
Ou.' 1nOkinr divin inalv