Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-08-19
hIseELLAN Gus.
THE ARTISTS RUsE.

"a rioh me!chapt led Murillo, tho il,ustri
90 'dus paintsr, one iay 90 ths fnark e .piaos
al Seville. and, pointing out to him yorug
girl of six'een. Of the gipsy race, asked him
20 do her portrait.
The gypsy girl saR 60 heautifnl, ,snd looked
so picturesque. in the nids, of the basks,s of
frGi, she was Offering i"r sale. that the pain.
ter did not hesitate 30 cccsps The conmis.
sion
IF y"u can paint the pietuso within o
months time" said the merchant, "you may
name your own pEice for H."
MmIIllo prom,scd the portrait for .he end
Of the mpnth. md osked hundred golden
Phillips, which the merchent agresd to
MurillO glanced once moro at the features
and form of this beautiful model, and then
went to see her relations. TO ask their per-
mission for the young girl TO sit 10 him.
The sits1as relations consisted Of very
bad looking man. who was her uncle. and of
very saO6-lOoking man IN every sense Of
the word. who was her consin. The sTtist
talked with them for somo time. and on taxi
ing leave of them, shook hands cordially
with the cousin. To the uncle he vas somo-
what colder, for lie had discovered that he
was q relish aud svaricious man.
MuTillo had sitting the very next day,
and the first stroke of his brush already au>
nOunced = masterpiece, when the merchant
entered his studio.
The head will be admirabls," said the
purchaser, in half aIf-pasronizing tone.
Il an glad it piesses you." replied Mu.
rilIo; particularly as | have made up my
mind TO ask you rather more than the sum
originally named"
But told you to mention your own
price" expostulatcd the merchant. lyon
said hundred Phillips, and agreed to give
them to you. / do not think you ought to
demand moro than that amount now"
~ sn very sorry" said Murilio. "but
find that it will be impossible to let you have
the picture for less tbsn six hundred. IF
you donot like to give 80 much, there has
not been much time lost yet, and you will
be able TO get some other artist TO execute
the commission; but really shall be obliged
20 give it up unless you can afford to reau.
neratc me for my trouble"
'As for sffprdiDg it," returned the mer
chant, ''you know that au not poor. but
the sum is larg. one. After ALL viii not
dispute with you about Eve hundred Phil
lips Il il great deal of money for you 10
receive, bat il is not much for me to give"
"Yiew the matter as you please" said
Murille. pbilcsophically. "only let Inc have
the money. That I stipulate for"
You shall have the six hundred" said
the merchant, with something Ike sigh.
Il will sign az agreement with you for that
amount this evening"
Why not at Once7" suggested MuriIlo,
''sincc you are resolved to give IT,"
"Who knows" answered the merchant;
perhaps this evening you will be more res-
sonable in YOUR demands"
oh, yOu are not decided then" said the
PALMER.
"Yes, am decided" !" replied the purchs.
ser; but prefer no, to sign any agreement
until this evening"
In the evening Murillo informed the Der-
ohan.. rraveIy and coldIy. tha. he could not
accept six hurdrsd Phillips, but that he
mast have a thousand
OF course, ths merchant refused. point
blank. in the first instance. Then he hesi-
iated. 'fered seven. eighf. nine hundred and
at last agreed 30 give the fnil thousand.
This time formal agreement was signed.
at the end of the h1ou,h the portrait vss
flushed. When the merchant came to-take-