Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-01-15
THE ARTISTS RUSE.

lllUStrlOnS painter, one day to th,
market-place of Seville, and, point
ing out to him young girl Of six
teen, of tho gypsy race, and askee
him to do her portrait. The gyps,
girl was SO beautiful, and looked SC
picturesque in the midst of the
baskets of fruit she was offering fo,
sale, that the painter did not hesl-
tate to accept the commission.
flf you can paint the picture in
a months time," said the merchant
'you may name your own price fol
| Murillo promised the portrait fo1
the end of the month, and hun
dred golden Philips, which the mer.
chant agreed to, was asked.
Murillo glanced one more ct the
features and form of his beautiful
model, and went TO see her relations
to ask their permission for the
young girl to sit to him.
The gitana's relations consisted
of very bad looking man, who
was her uncle, and of very good
looking man, in every sense of the
word, who was her cousin. The
artist talked with them for some
time, and on taking leave of them
shook hands cordially with the
cousin. To the uncle he was some
what colder, for he had discovered
that he was selfish and avaricious.
Murillo had a sitting the very
next day, and the first stroke of his
brush all eady announced master
piece, when the merchant entered
his studio.
''The head will be admirable,"
said the purchaser, in a half pat
ronizing tone.
81 am glad it pleases you," re-
piled Murillo; 'sparticularly as
have made up my mind to asl. you
rather more than the sum originally
named"
''But | told you to mention your
own price, expostulated the mer-
chant. "You said hundred Philips,
and l agreed to give them to you.
| do not think you ought to demand
more than that amount now"
81 am very sorry" said Murillo
shut | find it will be impossible to
let you have the picture for less
than six hundred. If you do not
ike to give SO much there has not
been much time lost yet, and you
will be able to get some other artist
o accept the commission but
'eally | shall be obliged to give it
Up unless you can afford to remu-
,erate ne for my trouble.''
GAS for affording it,'' returned
he merchant, s'you know that | am I
lot poor but the sum is large
me. After all, will not dispute
With you about five hundred Phil
ps. 1t is a great deal of money
or you to receive, but it is not
much for me to give" {
"Vicw the matter as you please"
aid Murillo, philosophically ;"only |
ct me have the money" |,
'sY ou shall have the six hundred,"
aid the merchant, with something !
ike sigh. 81 will sign anlagree- :
nent with you for that amount this I
vening" .
''Why not at once 90 suggested |
-.in
"Who knows" answered the Z
merchant; ''perhaps this evening
on will be moro reasonable in 1
our demands" ~ r
"Oh, you are not decided, then," /
aid the painter. ~H- f
eyes, ] am decided" replied the G
urchaser; ':but I prefer not to a
ign any agreement until this even t
49," L
In the evening Murillo informed +
ne merchant, gravely and coldly,
nat he could not accept six hun :
red Philips, but that be must have
thousand. =
OF course the merchant refused, \
oint blank, in the first instance. =
hen he hesitated, offered seven, y
!ght, nine hundred, and at last !
greed to give the full thousand .
he time and formal agreement 8
'as signed. r
At the end of the month the 8
ortrsit was finished. When the T
lerchant came to take it away, he O
'und the original standing before t
in full dress, as if on the point of
tarting for some .fete. By her side
ere her uncle and cousin, also in
oliday costume-and especially v
ne cousin, who had evidently got Il
lmself up for some very impor- C
ant occasion. :,
The merchant paid the thousand
'hillips. -
As soon as Murrillo had receiv- 81
d the money and put it away care e
ally IN the portfolio, be opened a
Ide door In his dte1iea, and from :,
ne Qd1nSr1r~ ~ | u