The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-04

Aoeos va
paint a portrait of your daughter tina
will make you confess me your rival
Do it," said Flamensbeck, ''and sh,
shall be yours"
When shall I beginf"
"1mmediately."
"lmust have several sittings."
You can have them"
And so it was arranged that Katrins
should sit for her portrait.
Herr Mailer was q skillful artist, but
the prize which was at stake embarrassed
as well as stimulated him. His fear O
failure made him dissatisfied and .anxiou!
and he frequently obliterated his worl
and began again. He insisted thai
Katrina should not know the object Of
the sitting; otherwise she might battle
him. So her father trumped up some
excuse-his anxiety that the famous
painter should paint her portrait-and
she consented.
The artists handsome face attracted
her at the very first, and his vivacity, his
knowledge of the world. his wit and an
ecdotes amused her. On his part, he
found himself more and more interested
in her, and was pleased that his d~issatis.
faction with his work would prolong the
agreeable sittings. The thought that
they would come to an end greatly dis
tressed him, and he eagerly sought ex-
cuses for multiplying them.
The mouth" he would say, '.lacks
the symmetry it should have. I must
have n more sitting"
"But. Her Mahler," said Katrina, sit
will never be right, the way you go on.
Tn-1or ~ fc too ro-oL I4ur, -, az i'll.
tomorrow it will be too far up; next day
it will be canted the other way. 1t is a
game of see-saw that you play"
SIT is a flexible mouth" he answered.
Zone day it says, my pretty owner is
most sweet and amiable;' the next it
says, she is coquetish and shy How
can l in n day catch all the express
SION of so changeable a face?"
II thing you catch them and then let
them go, Herr Mahler." she replied,
archly, a. if she saw through his ar
tiices.
Eyes. but I feel sure I a catch
them again." he replied smiling, but not
denying her accusation.
"But I do not understand why you
should want them at all. There is an air
of mystery which both you and my
father keep"
81 want them-always," he said,
significantly. "And whether I get
them upon n or not, I want them
for myself, living; palpable, changing
every day"
She understood him, blushed and cast
down her eyes.
"Ah!" she said. with a sigh in memory
of Max, which Herr Mailer supposed
for himself. 'You must work a
miracle. You must first put them on
canvas, so that no one can tell which is
and which is the portrait"
81 know it," he said, and feeling en-
couraged to speak boldly, added: ''That
is what am trying to do now"
Katrina's heart futtered. He was a
sutton! His fame would of itself give
life and beauty to the portrait when her
father comes to look at it which he would
not see in the work of an obscure artist.
"Ah, poor Max! dear Maxi" she sighed
81 have many misgivings," he went
on, Gin spite of my lifelong experience.
If Icould but count upon yorr help"
She made him no prefer, and he
painted on in silence.
81 have itr' he exclaimed suddenly.
81 have it."
Katrina started, and looked eagerly at
canvas.
"Not here; not here" he said, s'but"
his forehead with the stem of
the brush-"here. I shall need your
calais! what can I dop"
ST will foil uouS And he H.
She agreed to help him, and Herr
Mailer announced to the great painter
hat next day he would be ready tt stake
all his happiness and his hopes upon the
portrait of his daughter. He was very
sxultant and confident now that he had
secured her cooperation. And poor
Max was toiling and studying far away
% win this very prize which Katrina
vas throwing into the strangers lap.
CHAPTER III.
The great artist put his studio ut the
disposal of his would-be son-in-law and
in order that he might suitably
lrape the portrait and give it all rightful
advantage by putting it in the best light
introducing the father suddenly to
t, so that he should not be preiudiced
~ seeing it under unfavorable condi-
IONS.
GLORIOUS! 1t is she herself" cried the
'ntranced father. 81 am outdone, L am
l have lost my fame and my
laughter at the same moment. I will
and embrace her," he said, going
oward it as if he might.
"Ahi Herr Flamensbeck," exclaimed
Mailer Selling his arm, mot too near,
lot too near, you'll destroy the illusion
s well as the picture, for the paint is yet
''True, true" said the other. Ifor-
'ot myself in my transport. But where
) Katrinap She must see it. I shall
lace her by the side of it. Alas! if it
SO fine that I shall be fonder and
of her portrait than of her. Let
ne go fetch her"
80, do not go!" cried Herr Mailer.
4 think she is Ut in the house. But if
he is let me fetch her. Let me show
er to herself, face to face, and do you
tay and gaze upon it, and then 1 will
ring her to you and will kneel before
GU and will say, ''forgive me for paint
ng such a picture, but her loveliness in
pired me-"
"That is WE'LL" said the father, .'Gor'
Herr Mailer went to the house ad-
the studio, but not finding Ka-
rina, came back. He had scarcely
pened the door when F~lamensbeck
ounced upon him and choked him until
e was nearly black in the face, heaping
pom him the worst names he could re-
in his native tongue. Then he
lrust him through the door and would
ave kicked and pounded him into the
treet, but suddenly rejecting upon his
onduct, he said, coolly:
mo, I will not disgrace myself"
He rang the bell, and q tall, stout
'otman appeared.
'Kick this scoundrel out of the house,"
9 said, and went into his studio.
Katrina sat there pale and silent,
ightened at her fathers wrath.
30, father!' she cried, 81 am sorry it
eceived you So. 1 thought you would
,e through it, but I consented, only to
now you what a charlatan he is capable
{ beinp.o