Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-03-13

In silvery radiance quivsr.
THE TELL-TALE PICTURE.
"Yesn said the old artist nyou arc un.
doubtedIy right the special power of those
who may be truly called the great masters
Of portrait painting was their ability 70 bring
out upon the canvas not the mere everyday
face Of their subject as it might be known to
his most casual acquaintance but his inner
life. They seemed, at times to have painted
the soul rather than the body" "What a
pity" answered, "that we have no living
masters to whom such powers has been
givenp
~ am not sure Of that" said be; tat all
events know Of one at least who Is now
living, in whom this faculty was developed
in q very high degreep
Who was he! Where could he be fourdi
will be bail that he has sent nothing to the
Academy of Design since my day."
He does not paint any more At least
he will paint no more portraits but believe
there are few OF bis friends besides myself
who know the reason why. II you have
time, and will light another Havana, you
may find the story worth hearing, though,
Of course, ! must use names Of my own In
vention.'
Anything with touch of romance or
mystery about it had always charm for me,
and 30 prepared TO hear the story. The
old artist was very good ranconteur, and,
alters few preliminary whiffs, he began
Paul Maynard was, In the eyes Of all
who knew him, one Of the favorites Of the
Fates; he was young rich, handsome, and a
genius. He loved his art for his arts sake,
and was rapidly winning a most enviable
reputation.
1t is the custom, in spite Of Titan aud
Vandyke, and the rest, fe link down nnnn
port,ait paintipg % ~. share the notion
roru,s.t pam tlhg was his forte, and some OF
his pictures were truly wonderful. There
were not many faces that he cared to paint,
and for most people be would not paint at
all; but the most 'sphinx-like' faces, If that's
a fair expression, came out upon his canvas
interpreted. Nor were all his interpretations
flattering by any means. Some people made
haste to burn their likenesses as soon as pos
sible after obtaining possession.
"He himself did not attempt to explain his
power, but used to think that there was
something uncanny about his deep-gmy eyes
while be was at work, and he disliked spec
tators exceedingly.
at was matterof course that such aman
should fall in love, and he did full justice to
his artist perception of the beautiful In max
ing choice of Camilla Vraine. Such face
she had perfectly classical, and just enough
Of color flushing at times through its marble
paleness to keep you from being reminded OF
the cold beauty Of some old Greek statue
In the very arrangement OF her dark hair
she seemed, whether consciously or not. to
follow the antinque. Her eyes were large,
dark and lustrous, with an unreadable
something in them that fascinated you even
more than the extreme sweetness OF their
everyday expression. Everybody envied
Paul his success, for 1t soon became plain that
bis love was passionately returned. Paul
was indeed the fayorite of the Fates.
"Camilla was only seventeen, and old
yraine, though pleased with the match, ex.
ercised his parental authority gently but
firmly, and postponed the wedding FOR a
year, during which time he pi opposed 10 make
a trip to Europe with his daughter.
"'Wheu they returned, II both were Of
the same mind (you know what prudent
fathers are apt to say; and the young lovers
afler some chatting and good many vow'
Of constancy, dutifully submitted. A veal
was an age TO look forward to, but 1t would
soon pass away. After all, what was one
year to love like theirs2
"Much as Paul admired the wondrous
beauty Of his betrothed, be had never essayet
to portray 1t. No but he had often though
of doing so, bat whenever he had half deter
mined to put his thought ia practice on In
defuable something kept him back. Some
thing akin 10 superstition seemed TO be
necessary part Of such nature as PauPs
and in him IL was somewhat stronger thar
\ usual.
snow, however, that Camilla was goinl
away; now that he could no longer dali.
feast his eyes upon the love original, he $
far overcome his unreasonable reluctance a
To ask her to sit to him for a likeness.
"l only want your face, Camilla, To smii
on me when you are beyond the seas.
"a strange expression Of pain aud bewild
erment shot across the fair face, and II Pau
had not been blind, be would have seen tina
il was with feeling Of extreme reluctanc
that Camilla at last yielded to his entres
ties. Her consent once given, however, he
disinclinatiou seemed to pass away entirely
and she was more than usually merry an
cheerful during the few brief hours whic
the time permitted her TO pass In the luxuriou
studio of her artist lover.
"Paul worked diligently, and, though ev
IDENTIFY hastily done, the portrait was ma
ter-piece of art and received the war;
econmums Of the few near friends who wei
, permitted to see II. Paul had laughingiy 70
/, hidden Camilla so much as one look viii
the work was In progress but when, at las
full Of loving pride at what he Justly deems
success, he exhibited to his beautiful 'subjet
the exquisitiyely iruthfs, image Of herse
which had grown 30 swiftly under his subt
fingers he was astouished that again dea'
: iy paleness, and the same expression
, puzzled pain took the place Of the approvir
smiles which he had been expecting.
! "'oh, Paul, It is perfecti But do n
want you 70 keep that picture, Do not ke
. nr
a "Not keep Il, Camillsi Why mott Y
a are not jealous OF your own picture, .
your
lido not know; II is 90 strange. We
suppose am foolish, aud you must ha