Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-07
THE EVENING STAR.


The EVENING SIAR.
Hrs. sEAUCHAMP's VENGEANCE.
CHATTER I.-SrrIEs FOR PORTRAIT
aThe head a leetie more this way" said
Cnsrles Rackit, slightly pointing with his mshl-
very thing. Now look towards me-"
Sol" asked the docile and .pretty Mrs.
Beauchamp, whose portrait was slowly taking
"Oharming," said the painter, sweeping
bold line down the hair.
Nothing could be prettier than the young
widow, whose features he was intently perus-
ing, while her AFT anced second husband was
YEARLY perusing the Times, trying to extract
.ly mansions, self. acting boot jacks, and arti-
cles of common and uncommon rames :;
occasionally interested oy the appeal to a rum
away husband who was earnestly implored to
return to his disconsolate family and duns :;
but feeling, on the whole, languid interest in
the ninety.slx columns of information. Mr..
an ornament to the Corn Exchange, but his
views of art were not lofty, and his interest in
this portrait of his I" intended" simply showed
itself. in q not unreasonable impatience to see
1t finished. In vain his friend tried to rouse "a
nooler enthusiasm" It wouldn't do Briggs
was not enthusiastic-and he wanted to get
marriage was not to take place. Mrs. Beau
champ had said SO and what Mrs. Beauchamp
said, sue meant.
Now I don't know whether you agree with
Eriggs-1 do)-that sitting by, while portrai
is being taken, is one Of the least attsI ing and
ezmlaratlng OF positions. You are SO obvious
ures that are being contemplated; and il you
are at all jealously disposed, it is not very
pleasant to sit by and see another man scrut.
missing the features which you regard as pecu-
LARRY your own. Suppose you not to be OF a
jealous disposition, the situation then becomes
fatiguing. You feel that you are outside the
real business and interest of the scene. You
are " playing propriety," and perhaps both the
others wish you away.
Briggs was not jealous, but he was bored
he had made some novel observations respect.
Ing the weather and foreign affairs, sprinkled
with personal details as TO purchases he had
made, or intended to make he had read the
Times /; and he had for the fifteenth time look.
ed at IL the oil paintings, sketches, casts, and
odds and ends, in the atelier and now there
seemed nothing else to do, until Rackit suggest.
ed that he should step up stairs and see his
sister.
"Is your sister at home 7" said Briggs, eager
ly catching at the offered relief. "Thsn I'll
step up. Meanwhile, old fellow do be as quick
as you can. Let it be speaking likeness, but
never mind about chiaroscuro, and all that,
Hes dreadfnily bored, ;" laug the widow,
as Briggs left the atelier.
lis no jealous 2"
jealous VI HON !'
Why-ycur head a little more this way-he
doesn't seem to like my having to look at you
90 intently. As If man with eyes to see, a soul
10 arPrecIate-. You have moved again! If
these NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sittings why doesn't
he keep away don't wanthim. His presence
irritatss net STILES my emotions-.'
"1s portrait paint ingthen SO rery agitating!"
asked the widow, with an arch smile, and pre-
tending not to understand him. i thought it
was quite mechanical
81 SO 1t is, with other sitters."
There was pause. He felt that he had said
too much, so he began vigorously painting.
Charles Rackit was not an r. A, not even an
a. X. but he was a painter OF fervid gen.
Jus. i have been told (by himself y and he was,
l observed, a man OF Eighty Imagination, and
not very sedate habits. He wore very long
hair, and took extremely long credit. Bills he
considered to be " proofs of the egotism OF our
age" he was generally eloquent on " our age"
speaking as if he were intimately acquainted
with other ages and complained loudly of the
"prOsaisms OF the day." which robbed life Of
its romance In an unguarded moment once
asks HIM whe' her romance was really indis-
pensable to exstance A look was his reply
He liked me, though he said was utterly
respectable - and liked him, though could
have wished 10 see him less unsettled, as l
once remarked.
"Uns ettled, be replied, SIT is true, I ami IN
settled so is the eagler'
1t was not clear TO me how the habits of
eagles could serve as exemplars to portrait
painters
1.-The polype," he continued, dashing the
long hair hack from his face-"the poype is
settled. Go and admire il. There it is, fixed
forever 10 its Bit Of rock passive, amid the no.
ble tumult Of life.
As knew nothing of the domestic economy
OF polypes, and had but the dimmest percep-
tion Of what bearing they could have on tie
present question, beyond tbs very obvious pro.
position that ne, Rackit, was not a polype, I
was silent. He fan cied he had answered me.
Having given this glimpse of the painter, let
us return to his ateller, and the scene which is
icing acted there. He is still painting silently,
and feeling every moment his embarrassment
increase; but obseI wing that Mrs. Beauchamp
seems quite calm, he resumes the interrupted
conversation.
eIal, painting the portraits of ordinary people.
But the soul has its sympathies-its finer in
stincts."
Not distinctly comprehending the full signi-
flcance of the proposition, Mrs. Beauchamp
merely smiled, and said, " Oh, yes"
He quilted the easel, and said, as he approach.
ed her, "your shoulder is a little too advanced
your hand should be here"
He took her hand but instead of placing it
in the eminently desirable position, he held it
lingering in his
There p she said, with an arch smile, which
quickly broke out INTO ringing laugh.
Racklt feit ridiculous, so letting the hand fall,
What an original you are !" said the laugh.
ing, wicked widow.
Would you have me q stone when a god.
dess sits to me 7"
Don't be NEUROLOGICAL, please" she said;
al would rather you would be serious than
throw Lemprieres Dictionary at my head"
II am serious" he replied. "People think
me gay and careless. Its mistake. By ma
tuIe am profoundly serious-the income tax
To this Mrs. Beauchamp made no reply.
81 should have thought" he contin ued,
"that you would have better understood me-"
"Surely," she said, ait was the kindest thing
could do not to understand you"
What do you mean !'
may, you will force me to ask you what YOU
mean Z"
land Tiff were to speak plainly p''
"In that case l should be forced to remind
you of a detail, a trifiing detail which you
seem TO have forgotten"
"And that Is ~
She hesitated moment; then looking fxedly
At him, said
Mr.. Smy the Briggs is your friend"
"Iknow it," passionately exclaimed RackR
know il but too we'll"
"You seem to have forgotten it, though
"Never, not for one instant. Don't be offend.
ed with me. know you belong to another
are about to belong TO him. know you can
never be mine"
Mr.. Rackit 20
al must speak now, must tell Won all
You have misunderstood me. must clear
myself"
{" 1t will be much better to let the subject