The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-08-28
THE PORTRAIT OF THE DEAD

THE PORTRAIT OF THE DEAD
The walls of the suite of rooms were
hung with pictures of all sizes and sub
jects. The tables were covered witt
prints, statuettes, and gems, and curiosi,
ties OF art. The guests Of both sexes
were numerous, representing art, htera-
ture, beauty, and fashion.
Hartley, exclaimed an elderly,
grizzled artist, tapping a younger
brother of the brush on the shoulder,
"come and look at this portrait. As il
is in your line, should like your opin-
ion.
"Isn't it in my line, too, Gray?'
asked a youthful aspirant to Burlington
fame.
" Yours, my dear Colt? Yours. /
thought, was always below the line, =
laughed the elder, land | fear, there ii
will always remain. Come, Hartley"
Linking his arm into that of the other,
he drew him towards the wall.
Leonard Hartley, tail, well-looking,
gentlemanly man, the possessor Of 4
much-envied superb red-brown beard,
though only thirty, had already made a
tOlerable renown as a portrait painter.
Hating before the likeness-that of q
dark, handsome lady of forty-he had
been brought to criticise, he regarded II
tor some moments in silence.
Well?" queried Gray.
Well, | should say it's good por-
trait, Enthusiastically resembling the orig
NAL, be she whom she may; but [ don't
like it. "
Exactly. 1t wants frmness Of touch
the tlesh-tints need more transpar-
ency"
''It is not that To me it seems one
of F.'s best; but there is something
about it that makes me shudder, as if it
were uncanny."
"Thats curious, +" remarked Gray.
every. No picture ever had such IN
effect on me before. It's fancy suppose.
Who is the lady?'
"Who was she, rather
1" Is she, then, no longer liying?"
"Not six months ago Z. painted this
picture from a dead model"
"Good heavens y And Leonard Hart
ley's cheek absolutely turned pale as he
retreated from the portrait. THAT,
then, accounts for my feeling"
Why, what a sensitive fellow you
arel" laughed his companion. "F. got
two hundred for doing It,
Had they paid ME five hundred [
wouldn't have painted it!' was responded.
Come away; the likeness seems to cast
gloom over this corner Of the room. "
The above conversation had been part
" overheard by a fne-lOokinG old gen
tleman with silvery hair, and his daugh-
ter, a lovely, bright-eyed girl, Of nine
teen, who leaned on his arm. As the
artists moved to another part of the
room, the others approached the portrait
the old gentleman regarding it curious
", and the girl with awe.
- After death - she murmurcd. g It
it is unpleasant; isn't it, papa? But
| should never have detected it as did
that gentleman. Who is he"
Leonard Hartley, my love; the we'll
known portrait painter
Really! !" and the girls violet eyes
followed the artist with admiration.
d" Papa, if [ ever have my portrait paint
ed, / should like Mr. Hartley to DO it. "
well, pet, so he shall. Nothing
would give me greater pleasure, Mabel.
| hate those cold brown photographs.
I'll get to speak to him tonight. .
No, no papa laughed the girl,
her delicate complexion flushing as She
frightened her hold on her companion
arm. 4 was only testing. You must,
dear, be content with the photographs,
for | could never undergo the ordeal OF
sitting for my portrait. If It's ever done,
it must be while | am asleep. By the
way" she added, merrily, "some per
sons, they say, look best when they are
asleep"
If they don't open their mouths and
snore, pet. Wen, then, | am not t.
speak to Hartlcy?"
NO, please, papa; / could not think
of such a thing. What is that picture
yonder? Let us get closer.
\ minute after they were engulfed il
the crowd, becoming part OF 1t.
Six weeks had elapsed since the above
little episode at the cOnrcrS0-iOnc, when
one evening, returning from his club din
der to his studio, Leonard Hartley founC
a visitor awaiting him.
He was elderly, with long slyery hair
and in appearance and manner the per.
feet gentleman. He was seated in the
ulluSl VI lI1t StAOlIO > tI1d4t ht'I1t'y "
an old oak fifteenth century chair, with
his face leaning ON his hands.
SO noiselessly had the artist entered
or so profound were the visitors medl
tations that his arrival was not observed
Therefore, after a few seconds stare O
wonderment, the artist coughed.
The visitor, starting, looked up; then
rising to his feet, with courteous, apol
/ ogetic bow. said, "Ten thousand pan
dons, Mr.. Hartley. II fear | mus
( have dozed. Calling ten minutes age
and your servant saying you wouldspeeC
lily return, ne was kind enough to perm
me to wait, my business beng rattle
pressing.
HE did perfectly right, sir, said til
artist
Excuse me: let me introduce myself,
put in the visitor. "Yourservant place
nv card there.
Leonard Hartley, taking II up, read
'NIr. John kesteven, Belgrave square
4 suppose, Mr. kestoven, remarke
he. bowling slightly in acknowledged
OF the introduction. 1.-The business til!
has favored me with this visit is profe
sional p
perfectly" replied the O
gentleman, passing one hand hesltatIng
over the other "Yes, quite profession
al. In fact [ want vouto do me the fayt
of taking portrait at once.
Your own, may | ask 2
Mine? Oh. no, My daughters
nv only childs. She is very beautif
WORTHY. | assure YOU. of any artist