The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-10-09
have nv moments OF aespoudency

of yourself ] hope, at least, that have
not been SO ulnucky as to surprise you in
one Of those inopportune moments"
"Ah, mademoiselle.' said the painter,
" if it were SO, one of your smiles would
dispel the cloud in moment
Really" replied the actress, gaily.
Are you quite sure there is no tlattery
IN the remark | am aware that nattcry
is an essential part of an artists profess
SION
Not of true artists replied En-
nest, "Tho aim and end of all art is
truth and he who forgets 1t is untrue to
his high mission
True said the lady. "Well, then,
faatres toatre possab e-as Napoleon said
to his friend David-for l an anxious
that this portrait shall Ee chef asupre
l design it for present.
With such a subject before me- re-
piled the painter, % | could not labor
more ccnscientiously, il the picture were
designed for myself
The sitting passed very rapidly. for
the artist; and he was surprised when the
lady, alter consulting her watch, rose
hastily, and exclaimed, THAT odious re-
hearsal! | must leave you--but you
ought to be satisfied, for have given to
you two hours of my valuable time.
Adien, 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.
TnIaal aho ba Ia, I,s
ployment,, that he did not notice the en-
trance of a visitor, until he felt light
tap on his shoulder, accompanied by the
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 lorgneHe had excluded all
the stupid and ennuyantes figures that
surround her,
The speaker was Sir'Frederick Stanley
an English baronet, now some months in
Paris, where he had plunged into all the
gayeties of the season. He was a hand
some man, of middle-age, whose features
bore the impress of dissipation.
You know the original, then p asked
the painter, somewhat coldly.
Know her! My dear fellow, | don't
know anybody else, as the Yankees say
Why. have the entrance of the Gate,
and pass all my evenings behind the
scenes. hatter myself--but no matter
| have taken fancy to that picture what
do you say to a hundred louis for it p
alt is not for me to dispose of it.
You have succeeded so well, you
wish to keep it for yourself-eh Dou-
bic the price, and let me have it =
Impossible, Sir Frederick 1t is
painted for Mile. damon. herself. and
she designs it for a present.
Say no more" said the baronet, with
a self satisfied smile. 81 think Il could
name the happy individual
Ernest would not CRAFTY his visitor by
a question, and the latter. finding the ar
fist reserved and DIST at, suddenly recol
lected the races at Chantlly, and took
his leave.
Can it be possible" thought the pain
ter, f" that Rose has suffered her alrec
tons to repose on that conceited, purse
proud, elderly Englishman. o, woman,
woman! how readily, you barter the
wealth of your heart for u handful of
gold?"
Another tap at the door-another Wis.
itor! Really, Lavalle must, be getting
famous This time it is iady--a lady
of surprising loveliness--one.'of those
well.preserved English women, who, at
forty are as attractive as at twenty. This
lady was tall and stately, with elegant
manners, and perhaps thought of sad
ness in. her expression. She gazed long
and earnestly at the portrait of Rose d.
Amour
alt is beautiful face she said at
length, :" and one that indicstes, should
think, goodness of heart"
g She is an angel T. said the painter
"Iou speak warmly, sir,' said the la
dy, with q sad smile.
Ernest blushed, for he feared that he
had betrayed his secret The lady did
not appear to notice his embarrassment,
and passed to the occasion of her visit
which was to engage the young artist to
paint her portrait--a task which he rca-
Oily undertook, for he was pleased with,
and interested in, his fair patroness. The
picture was Immediately commenced, and
an hour fixed for a second sitting, on the
next day. TWAS on that occasion that
the fair unknown encountered the actress
and they retired in company.
The two portraits were finished at the
same time, and reflected the greatest
creai.. upon the artist They were var
nished, named, and paid for, but the
painter had received no order for their
final disposition, when, one morning, he
was waited on bp the two ladies who in
formed hm they would call the next day,
when the two portraits would 10 presen-
ted to the persons for whom they were
designed. The artist was enjoined to
place them on two separate easels--that
OF the actress to stand nearest the door
of the studio, and both to be concealed
by curtain until the ladies should give
the signal for their exposure. The por-
trait Of the English lady, we will here re-
mark, had, by her request, been hitherto
seen only by the, artist. There was mys-
terry in this arrangement, which piqued
excessively the curiosity of the painter,
and he was anxious to witness the denou-
ment.
The next day, at eleven O'Clock, every
thing was in readiness, and the painter
awaited the solution of the mystery.
The first person who presented him self