The Placer herald., 1874-02-28
AUBURN. PLACER COUNTY. CALIFORNIA FEBRuA ARY

drawing room; you will find it there now. q"
"AhT said the artist, surveying the
picture.
"Yes, it hangs better there" observed
the widow; "it is better lighted in the draw
ing-room than in my own room."
"Would you like, madam, to look at the
design for the monument p
"With pleasure" replied the widow.
"Oh! what size! What . profusion Of
decoratiousl Why. it is palace. sir, is this
tomb!'
"Did you not tell me, madam, that moth
ing could be too magnificent? have not
considered the expense, and, by the way,
here is memorandum of what the monu-
ment will cost you,"
Dear me" exclaimed the widow, after
having cast an eye over the total. "Why,
this is enormousr'
"You begged me to spare no expense, 4"
said the sculptor.
eyes, no doubt desire to do things
properly" replied the widow; "but not ex-
actly to make fool Of myself"
"This, at present, you see, is only de-
sign, observed the artist, "and there is
yet time to cut it down."
"Well, then, suppose we were to leave
out the temple, and the column, and all the
architectural part, and content ourselves with
the statue? 1t seems to me that this would
be very appropriate"
Certainly it would, replied the artist
$50 let it be, then-just the statue
alone"
A short time after this second interview,
| fho ar,,tv,tor ral1 III Ett1o H.
obliged to suspend bis labors At length
having recovered, he set himself diligently
to work. and shortly after presented himself
once more before the widow who was thei,
10 the seventh month Of her mourning. He
found this time, few roses among the cy-
press, aud some smiling colors playing over
half-shaded grounds. He brought with
him small model Of his statue, done in
plaster, and offering in miniature the idea Of
what his work was to be.
"What do you think Of the likeness ?"
he inquired Of the widow.
''lt seems to me little fattered. Ny
husband WAS all very well, no doubt; but
you are making him an Apollo!'
"Really? Well. then, can correct my
work by the portrait"
"Don't take the trouble" said the wild
ow; little more or a little less like, what
does it matter?'
Excuse me. bpt am particular about
this likeness"
IF you absolutely must"
"It is in the drawing room. yonder, is it
not ? III 60 in there"
''lt is not there any longer" replied the
wi1ow ripuine Tho kou sSW ;ll;op, sa;J
she to the servant who came in, "tring
down the portrait of Mr.. Bellaif."
"The portrait that you sent up to the gar
ret last week, madam"
eyes"
Just then the door opened, and an elegant
you gentleman presented himself with a
jaunty air, kissed the lady'e hand, and in
quired after her health, with the most gal
liant solictude.
"Who in the world is this little man in
plaster?" he asked pointing with his finger to
the statne; which the artist had placed upon
The mantle-piece
"It is a madel Of statue for my hus-
bands tomb" she replied.
you intend to erect statue to his men,
ory? Upon my word, it is very magni6-
cent"
"Do you think 30 ?" said the widow.
'lt is only great men who are thus cut
out of marble, and at full length" replied
the young man; "it seems to me that the
deceased was rather an ordinary person
age"
"Well, think the bust would bo sufi-
cient," observed the widow.
Trs voaAau, IL tho
sculptor.
"Well, let it be bust thep," said the
widow; "tbat's determined" Thus instruct
ed the sculptor departed.
Two months later the bust arrived, just
as gay procession descended the bal steps
and got into carriages that awaited their ap-
prosch. The widow was on her way to
| chnrch, where she was about to bestow her
| hand on the elegant dandy who recom-
m nded that the statue Of the deceased
husband should be cut down, and, standing
at the altar, take second OATH Of conjugal
fidelity, love and capstsncy.
II the bust had not been completed. 1t
would now, willingly have been dispensed
with. wbep, some time later, the sculptor
sent for iis money, there was an outcry
about the price; and it required great deal
of trouble to enable the now unappreciated
artist to get the miserable amount Of the
bust.
Now gentlemen go to marriage suppers
with what appetite you may.
If there were no other visible evidence Of
the faithfulness Of Frank Page to bis con-
stituents, the entire absence Of anything in
reference to him in the columns of the papers
that denounced him go bitterly during the
campaign, is sufficient guarantee that be
| 20 &ho -;uLt rnan in tho riohf Dlace - Rec ]