Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-09-08

rltlon of Rose glamour She was dressed
with charming simplicity, which well be-
came sylph-like form, that required no ad-
ventitious aid from art.
"Good morning, Monsieur Lavalle!" said
the beautiful actress, cheerfully, as she drop
ped gracefully into the .fameual prepared for
reception. ''You find me in the best posi-
BILE humor to-day, thanks to this bright morn
ing sun, and to the success of last night
Mon Daeu so many boquets! you can't
think Really, the life of an artist begins
to be quite amusing. Don't you find it so
as painter p
Il confess to you, mademoiselle, I have
my moments Of dependency"
''With your fine talent? Think better of
yourself. l hope at least that I have not
been so unlucky as to 81 r,,rse you in one of
those inopportune moments"
"Ah mademoisclle," said the painter, eff
it were so, one Of your smiles would dispel
the cloud in moment"
"Really!'' replied the actress, gaily.-
care you sure there is no fiattery in the re-
mark? | am aware that hattery is an essen
tial part Of an artists profession
''Not Of true artists, replied Ernest
''The aim ande nd Of all art is truth and he
who forgets it is untrue to his high mission. :"
''True," said the lady. fsWell, then,
faates ootre possibze-as Napoleon said to his
friend David-for [ am anxious this portrait
shall be chef -duuv1e. l design it for a
present"
''With such a subject before me-" replied
the painter, Il could not labor more consci-
entiously, if the picture were designed for
myself"
The sitting past away rapidly for the art
ist; and he was surprised when the lady,
after consulting her watch, rose hastily and
exclaimed
THAT odious rehearsal I must leave you
but you ought to be satisfied, for have
given you two hours Of my valuable time
Adieu, then, until tomorrow"
| With smile that seemed natural to her.
the beautiful girl vanished, taking with her
half the sunshine Of the room,
| The painter continued his labor of love-
Indeed, SO absorbed was he in his employ
ment, that he did not notice the entrance of
visitor, untilhe felt light tap on the should
er, accompanied by these words,
"Bravo mon Cher! You are getting on
famously. That is Rose herself-as radiant
as she appears on the stage, when the focus,
Of torgmette has excluded all the stupid -anT
enmuyantes figures that surround herr
The speaker was Sir Frederick Stanley,
an English baronet, now some months in
Paris, where he had plunged into all the
gaieties of the season. He was handsome
man of middle age, whose features bore the
impress Of dissipation.
"You know the original, then?' asked
the painter, somewhat coldly.
"Know her My dear fellow, don't
know anybody else, as the Yankees say
Why, l have the entry Of the Galte, and pass
all my evenings behind the scenes. Aatter
mysef-but no matter. have taken fam
cy to that picture-what do you say to
hundred guineas for it %
1T is not for sale,'' said the painter.
'You have succeeded SO well, you wish to
keep it for yourself-eh? Double the price,
and let me have it,"
Impossible, Sir Frederick. It is painted
for Mile glamour herself, and she designs
it for present"
.'Say no more," said the baronet, with a
self-satisfied smile. II think I could name
the happy Individual"
Ernest would hot crafty his visitor by a
question: ars the latter, finding the artist re-
served and distract, suddenly recollected the
races at Chantilly, and took his leave.
''Can it be possible" thought the painter,
"that Rose has suffered her affections to re-
pose on that conceited, purse-proud, elderly
Englishman? 0 woman, woman how
readily you barter the wealth of your heart
for a handful Of gold"
Another tap at the door-another visitor
Really 4, Lavalle must be getting famous !
Ihls time it is a lady-a lady Of surprising
loveliness-one of those well-preserved En-
glish women, who at forty are as attractive
as at twenty, This lady was tall and stately,
with elegant manners, and perhaps thought
Of sadness in her expression.
She gazed long and earnestly upon the
portrait of Rose dAmour
''ltis beautiful face p she said at length,
"and one that indicates, | should think,
much goodness of heart"
"She is an angel p said the painter.
"You speak warmly, sir" said the lady,
with a sad smile
Ernest blushed, for he feared that he had
betrayed his secret. The lady did not ap-
pear to notice his embarrassment, and pass
ed to the occasion of her visit, which was to
engage the young artist to paint her portrait
"a task which he readily undertook, for he
was pleased with and interested in his fair
patroness. The picture was Immediately
commenced Ind an hour fixed for second
ing on the next day. 1t was on that oc-
casion that the lair unknown encountred the
actress, and they retired in comapny,
The two portraits were finished at the
same time, and reflected the greatest credit
on the artist. They we're vanished, framed
and paid for, but the painter had received no
orders for their final disposition, when, one
morning, he was waited on by the two ladies,