The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-22
MR.. BEL.LAIR's WIDOW.


cambria handkerchief to her eyes -
the los,"-She could get no further.
Her visitor bowed with an air of re-
spectful coincidence.
wish" continued the widow, l
wish 10 erect monument to the mem
ory OF NY poor husband. l have
chosen you to execute the order" She
had become somewhat calmer
The sculptor bowed again.
perb worthy Of tho dear companion
who I have lost; proportioned to my"
She was getting hystericsl. Her visi-
tor handed her bottle Of salts that
stood convenient on the little work
table.
The widow resumed; ''Spare no ex-
pense. / would willingly consecrsts
my whole fortune to honor lis mem.
ory."
A pause. which the sculptor hesi.
tsted TO break
Il should like" said the widow
again, coming to the point. = temple
with marble columns and in the middle.
Upon a pedestal. his statue" Here she
swallowed sob
:" / shall do my best to fulfil your
wishes, ma am, replied the man of
art. Il had not. however, the honor
Of personally knowing the late Mr..
Bsl!air, and his likeness is iniispsn-
sable to the completion of the design.
Doubtless you have q portrait Of him.
The widow raised her rounded arm
aud pointed TO magnificent portrait,
by one OF our first srsists.
AN admirable painting said the
visitor. ~ need not ask you if the re-
semblance is striking"
IT is himself Life is all that il
needed. All. il l could have given
mine for his !" The handkerchief was
again in requisitioD.
IL shall send for the portrait. ma am.
aud / guarantee that the likeness
shall DO exact"
"Scnd for the portrait !" cried the
widow, with . stified Shrek; take
from me my only consolation. my only
happiness. Never =
.' Bat ma an. it will only be for =
little while"
~ litkiC WniiC hu AAV"
could live withou, the dear image !!
1t quits me neither Light nor day |
contemplate it without ceasing. through
my tears 1t will never lie removed
/ out of this room. where shall pass the
remainder of q miserable existence
The widow had worked herself up
to such pitch of feeling that the
sculptor rose to ring the bell for as
sistance. But she laid . white haud
upon his coat sleeve and he sat down
again.
Then you will allow me. ,ns'sm.
to come here to take copy of it. be
not alarmed; l shalt not long invade
your solitude. 4 single setting will
suffice"
The widow agreed 20 this arrange
ment and requested the scul ptor to
commence the next day. But he had
. previous order to execute.
my word is pledged" he said, " do
not. however, be troubled about the
delay. | will work so diligently that
the monument will be finished within
the time that another artist would have
requested for consideration"
"You have been witness OF my
sorrow." were the widows parting
words; you may imsgiuc my i'm
patience to see the work completed.
Make your best haste; spare no ex.
pense. and let me have masterpiece. .
He afterwards received several let
ters respecting these injunctions.
At the end Of three months the
sculptor returned. He found the
widow still in deep mourning but her
face Was less pale, and there 1ss a
slight tiuge Of coquetry in the arrange
ment Of her weeds.
"Now. ma'Am," said the visitor. Il
am At your disposal"
"Ah well. am gl.d to hear it,"
replied the widow, with q gracious
| smile.
II have sketclred the statue, and
shall only need one sitting to transfer
the resemblance Permit me to enter
your boudoir."
:" Aud wherefore :" inquired the
widow with an air Of surprise.
- To see the portrait"
"Oh will you walk to the drawing
rooms Iii there you will find him
now"
Indeed r.
Eyes; there is . much better light
than in the boudoir where you 6rst saw
IT,"
"Would you like to look ct the
sketch of the monument, ma'am :"
"Williugly. How grand! What ex.
Quisits ornaments. Why, it is . palace.
this tomb !" exclaimed The widow.
"You told me, ma'am, that il could
net be too magnificent. ! have spared
no expense, and here is an estimate OF
what the monument will cost you"
Dear met cried the widow. after
having glanced at the total. IT is
enormous J"
"You begged of me to spare no
thing
Certainly wished to do the
thing handsomely. Still we ought to
be rational
"well, this is only the first sketch ;
there is Jet time to alter your in'en-
| tions'
"v.ry good. Suppose. then. We
suppress the temple. the columns-ali
the architecture. in short-and content
| ourselves With the statne? ] was too
ambitious il will be quite sufficient
| "You shall be oheyed.'
| ..lt is decided, then. Nothing but
the statue.
| A short time AFTER this second visit
the sculptos fell dangerously i'll. he