Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-05-01
srPerfectlv.n

lowed by the grocer and his wife, passed
out.
And when the door was closed on
them he smiled to himself in very pecul-
lar and significant manner.
Some days after this, Miss Stratton
was passing down the main street, when
her attention was attracted by group
of passers-by, who had stopped in front
of fashionable bookstore.
Glancing at the window, her footsteps
were instantly arrested, and she stood
still, breathless with surprise and dis
may.
There was her portrait-the identical
portrait which she had pronounced a
caricature-only that while the figure
remained intact, the rest of the picture
had undergone complete metamorpho
sis.
The garden was changed to sunny
glade in fountain; the fountain in the
background had given place to gypsy
tent; and before the thin, smirking, be-
frizzled figure in lace and velvet stood a
beautiful, dark-eyed young girl, in sim
pie, graceful gipsy's costume, intently
studying the palm Of the lady's hand,
while two roguish faces peeped at them
from behind a tree.
The picture was labeled, 'Telling Past
Fortune
s'Why, it's the imgge of Miss Mill
cent Stratton, said one and another of
the beholders. ibid you ever see such
likeness? He, he, hep
And in the midst of the exclamations
and the laughter, Miss Stratton beheld
the rew minister coming up the street,
evidently bent upon seeing what had at
tracted the crowd.
Not for worlds would she have had him
behold her painted in this character; and
she instantly rushed into the store and
confronted the proprietor.
"Take it down at once-instantlyT p
she exclaimed. s1-I will buy itl'
The man obeyed.
The picture disappeared from the win
dow just as the clergyman came up; and
seeing MIN pass the door, Miss Stratton,
rejecting upon the narrow escape, felt
like fainting.
Howsoever, she recovered herself, and
in state of the utmost excitement made
her way to Mr.. Blenders studio.
tsir," she Indignantly demanded,
show dared you exhibit my portrait as
you have done, and without asking my
permission2 1t is an insult and an out
rage, for which will have legal satisfac-
tionp'
And she sat down, trembling and
breathless.
az beg your pardon, MADAME said
Mr.. Blender, with perfect composure;
"but did you not assure me that it was
no likeness, and that your best friends
would not recognize it as such2p
Miss Stratton was silent. What reply
indeed, could she make to this?
II shall insist upon the picture being
destroyed" she said, at length.
"By no meansl have bestowed much
pains and labor upon it, and have sue
ceeded in converting it into quite an Or
iginal and striking design-one which
will be sure to please the public taste"
"I-I will give you the hundred dol
lars" said Miss Stratton, desperately.
Mr. Blendor smiled superior smile.
GAS the picture now is, shall charge
ten times that sum for it,
GA thousand dollarsl" gasped Miss
Stratton.
"A thousand dollarslp he replied,
calmly.
Her face flushed, and tears started to
her eyes.
"I could never afford to give that
sum; and yet to have my likeness ex-
posed in this way to the jeers and ridi-
cule of the public. Oh, Mr.. Blender,
have you no consideration for the feel
ings of lady2"
The artist took meditative turn up and
down the floor, then seated himself op.
posite his distressed visitor.
Perhaps" he said, mildly" per-
haps we can come to terms.p
What terms?" she inquired, eagerly.
81 will destroy the picture madam,
upon one consideration: that you will
have some consideration for the feelings
of one who should be very dear to you
your niece, Miss Delphine, and by con
senting to her marriage with my esteemed
young friend and relative, Doctor Irving,
make two deserving young people very
happy"
They-they are too poor!" said Miss
stratton, taken very much by surprise.
Your mothers legacy will enable
them to make fair beginning; and
know of an opening for young ply
sician, which will do the rest. .
Miss Stratton hesitated nervously and
wrung her hands.
"Give me day or two toto think il
over" she said.
At the end of day or two she called
Delphine to her, and told her that she