Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-09-09
THE PORTRAIT OF TIE DEAD.

THE PORTRAIT OF TIE DEAD.
The walls of the suite of rooms were
hung with pictures of all sizes and sub
Jects. The tables were covered will
prints, statuets, and gems, and curl
osities of art. The guests OF both sexe:
were numerous, representing art, litera
ture, beauty and fashion.
Hartley" exclaimed an elderly
grlzzled artist, tapping a younger broth
er of the brush on the shoulder, s'come
and look at this portrait. AS it is in
your line should like your opinion"
''Isn't it in my line too, Gray % asked
youthful aspirant to Burlington fame
s. Yours, my dear Colt? Yours,
thought, was always below the line,''
laughed the elder, ''and fear, there it
will always remain. Come, Hartley
Linking his arm in that of the other,
he drew him toward the wall.
Leonard Hartley, a tall, well-looking,
gentlemanly man, the possessor of a
much-envied superb d-brown beard,
though only thirty, had already made
toierabIe renown as a portrait painter.
Hating before the likeness-that of a
dark, handsome lady of fosty-he had
been brought to criticise, he regarded it
Tor some moments in silence.
"Well?' queried Gray.
swell, L should say it's good por-
trait, Enthusiastically resembling the orig
inal, be she whom she may; but |
don't like it,
EXACTLY. Itwants frmness of touch
the flesh-tints need more transparency.
''t's 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.''
"That's curious" remarked Gray.
"Very. No picture ever had such an
effect on me before. It's fancy, sup
pose. Who is the lady?''
who was she, rather.''
'' Is she, then, no longer iving?''
:" Not six months ago F. painted this
picture from dead model
"Good Heaven!" 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
are!" laughed his companion. ssF.
got two hundred dollars for doing it,
Had they paid me five hundred
wouldn't have painted it," was the re-
spouse. "Come away; the likeness
seems 10 caSC u gloom over tnlS corner
of the room.''
partly overheard by fine-looking old
gentleman with silvery hair, and his
daughter, a lovely, bri ght-eyed girl, of
nineteen, who leaned on his arm. AS
the artists moved to another part of the
room, the Others approached the por-
trait, the old gentleman regarding it
curiously, and the girl with awe
"After DEATH" She murmured. 1" 1t
it is unpleasant: isn't it, papa? But
1 should never have detected it as did
that gentleman. Who is he?''
sLeonard Hartley, my love, the we'll
known portrait painter
" Really?" and the girls violet eyes
followed the artist with admiration.
"Papa, if l ever have nv portrait
painted, should like Mr.. Hartley to
do it,
Well, pet, so he shall. Nothing
would give me greater pleasure, Mabel.
/ hate those cold brown photographs.
III get to speak to him Tonight
"No, no, papa" laughed the girl,
her delicate complexion flushing as she
frightened her hold on her companions
arm. 81 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
persons, they say, look best when they
are asleep
If they don't open their mouths and
snore, pet. Well, then, 1 am not to
speak to Hartley?"
" No, please, papa; l could not think
of such a thing. What is that picture
yonder? Let us get closer
A minute after they were engulfed in
the crowd, becoming part of it.
Six weeks had elapsed since the above
little episode at the conrersazione, when,
one evening, returning from his club
dinner to his studio, Leonard Hartley
found visitor awaiting him.
He was elderly, with long slvery hair,
and in appearance and manner the per-
feet gentleman. He was seated in the
midst of the studios paraphernalia, on
an old oak fifteenth century chair, with
his face resting on his hands.
So noiseiessly had the artist entered,
or so profound were the visitors medi-
tations, that his arrival was not observ-
ed. Therefore after few seconds stare
of wonderment, the artist coughed.
The visitor, starting, looked up then,
rising to his feet, with a courteous. apol-
ogetic bow, said, Ten thousand par
dons, Mr.. Hartley. II fear must
have dozed. Calling ten minutes ago,
and your servant saying you would
speedily return, he was kind enough to
permit me to wait. my business being
rather pressing
50 He did perfectly right, sir" said the
artist.