Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-23
my MYSTERIOUS SITTER.


year of grace 1870. | looked up in
astonishment, for visitor at eight
o'clock in the morning was unknown
to my establishment, and my SER
want had gone out to get my break
fast, so that my visitor had found
her way upstairs without any assist
ance, and stood on. the threshold OF
my door, hesitating.
When ] looked up / saw a young
girl dressed in mourning, simply
indeed, but elegantly, and so evi-
IDENTIFY lady that my surprise in
creased as ] rose, bowed, and inti-
mated that ] was Mr.. Graham. She
bowed in answer, and as she sto Id
in silence for a moment, glanced
at her face and saw that it was one
of rare beauty. Large dark eyes,
with long fringes casting a shadow
on the fair, rounded cheek, a pretty
nose, perfect moath, exquisite con-
tour of face, brilliant complexion,
and sunny-brown hair, formed a
charming tout ensemble, and, looking
at her from professional point of
view, | said within myself:
"Ye gods and goddesses, what a
modelw
want you to paint me-" said
she, after slight pause, speaking
simply, but with little constraint;
"not picture a small miniature.
Can you-will you, Mr.. Graham ?''
81 shall be very happy ] am
swered in a matter-Of-fa manner
to relieve her evident embarrass-
ment. AT what hour will it be
convenient for you to sit?'
tAt eight O'Clock every Thursday
and Saturday" she answered, color
ing. 81 hope it is not too early for
you; but l cannot come at any
other hour. Will it do?
eyes; / can manage it," / an
swered. "Would you like to give
me my first sitting this morning ?"
Her face brightened; she began
to unfasten her cloak with tremb-
ling, eager fingers; then suddenly
paused.
"Before you begin,n she said,
huskily, and cOloring to the roots of
her pretty hair, 81 must tell you
this. Mr.. Graham, you will think
me very-very odd, I fear; but /
have no money. Will you let me
pay you with this?' s.ri
She took a ring off her finger and
held it towards me. 1t consisted of
brilliants and sapphires, and was
exceedingly handsome. / repressed
a smile; there was something singu-
larly touching and child-like in the
timid manner, the panied face, and
tremulous voice; but / could not
help being amused at the oddneSs of
my adventure.
"YOu shall pay me when and how
you like" / replied, quietly. "That
is an after consideration. Thepleas-
ure | shall have in painting you will
more than repay the trouble"
continued, seeing how anxious she
was that [ should take her jewel.
"If you persist you will deprive me
of having that pleasure at ALL"
"You are very kind, " she replied,
with little smile.
/ pulled forward a chair for her.
1t was a large, deep, old-fashioned
fauteuil and, as she sat down, she
looked very young and child-like.
81 must trouble you to take off
your hat, ;" / said, smiling.
She did so, and at the same time
she took out the fastenings of her
hair, and it fell in heavy waves over
her shoulders.
"Will you paint me so ?" she said,
cOlOring again. "The person for
whom the likeness is will like it
best"
Certainly"
AS I glanced at her critically /
could not help thinking that l had
no<or had a fairnr subject TO copy
1t was not a strictly perfect face, but
it was rarely lovely one; and l
said to myself that the person for
whom the miniature was-a lover,
of cOurSe-WOuld have every reason
to be proud of the beauty of his little
"lady love-"
AS proceeded with my work we
chatted a little. She was evidently
intelligent and educated, and / soon
found out that she was acquainted
with foreign lands.
81 travelled great deal with
papa" she explained. He died
two years ago. Since then / have
lived in England" Her face sad
dened a little, then she added, smil-
ing, ST could find my way easily
about Vienna, nor should / be very
much at loss if you were to set me
down at the Porto del Popolo at
Rome"
The hour passed very quickly. 1
was surprised and sorry when, as
nine O'Clock struck, she sprang up
with start, and caught up her hat.
81 must co." she said quickly.
MAY come on Saturday at the
same time? Oh! Mr.. Graham, /
cannot tell you how much pleasure
you have given me, how much graf
itude | owe you"
tThe pleasure and gratitude are
on my side," answered, as / bowed
her out, and watched the little,
graceful figure as she disappeared
down the street, which was a very
quiet one in the east end of that
brilliant and fashionable London
yclept Brighton.
On Saturday morning my mystic.
rious visitor appeared again greeted
me with more ease of manner this
time; showered down her sunny
masses of waving hair, and chatted /!
during her sitting; de-
parting at nine O'Clock, still leaving
me ignorant of her name and adj
dress, while respected her reticence
too much to inquire into her reasons |
for silence. 1t seemed altogether |
an unusual proceeding for girl in
her position and another mysteri-
Ous feature was her impecuniOsity,
when every detail of her dress, from |
her hat to her dainty slippers, be-
tokened wealth.
When the miniature was midway
on its road to completion / received |
a letter which took me away from |
and / was absent about a
On my return l was wondering |
how to communicate with my un-
known client, when, on the first
after, at her usual hour, !
she came up the stairs, and appeared |
at the door of my studio, smiling
her pleasure at seeing me, and wear
ing a fresh, cool, white dress,
trimmed with black knots of rib
bon.
81 amSo glad you have returnedP'
she said, holding out her hand frank
Iy. "I want you to hurry, Mr..
Graham. lam anxious to send your |
work away"
On this morning I found my pret-