Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-06-12
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most fervent manner.
He went away elated, and in the
next twenty-four hours several tire
some persons, who had recently en-
croached too much upon his time and
patience were requested to wait more
decently, for good fortune was at hand
whether in the shape of unexpected
legacy, or an heiress ready to be won
and wed, Mr.. Smart refused to
say. But his high spirits were very
reassuring in themselves. And he
was in exceedingly nigh spirits, for
he believed in Lady Rosina.
She gave him three sittings, and
then requested him TO fix his after
noon and get everybody to come.
81 shall come" she said, land !
shall bring a gentleman with me.
Perhaps you may not like him; but
mind you are very civil and introduce
him to the best people, ifyou can man
age it"
All this mysti6ed Mr.. Smart a lit
tie; but he saw that he was expected
to ask no questions, and, being a
sensible young man, he said nothing,
but did just what he was told.
On the great afternoon his rooms
were crowded, and that with "quiIe
the best people," as Lady Rosina
would have expressed it Mr.. Smart
grew little anxious as the time went
by and she did not come herself. But
she appeared just at the right moment,
when the crowd was thickest, and the
incense scented air was full of low
toned laughter.
She was followed by gentleman
whose figure presented the appearance
of tub on two legs, and whose face
was surprisingly red. He looked lit
tie scared and uneasy, as he entered
among the throng of people, who
seemed, to his eyes, so completely at
home and on such very intimate terms
with each other. Lady Roslna, how
ever, kept HIM we'll in hand. She in
troduced him as Mr.. Jones.
"Have you hidden my protrait
away,?" she asked. "No? How de-
iightful Come, Mr.. Jones, and just
look at it, l am so delighted with my
good fortune it is a favor indeed
when Mr.. Smart will consent to paint
a portrait. You know he has painted
all the beauties-and, of course, | don't
pretend to be beauty, so | am very
proud and flattered.'
Mr.. Jones was an acquaintance of
Mr.. Smythe's in the city-an ac-
quaintance of whom Mr.. Smythe
thought a great deal; for whom Mr..
Jones, by clever speculation, had, with
great rapldity, amassed an enormous
fortune. He was universally regarded
with respect and admiration among his
city friends for this reason. But he,
IN his turn, fell down and worshipped
before Lady Rosina, because she had
D title, had blue bood in her veins, and
was, In fact, one of the Upper Ten,
She knew this perfectly, and used her
power over him without mercy.
She showed him the pictures in
which the various we'll known beau
ties of the day were depicted in all
sorts of characters. She introduced
him to some of these ladies who were
present, drinking scented tea, and
casting languishing glances at their
admirers. She introduced him to two
or three cheerful young lords, very
old and crooked marquis, and to a
duke, who amazed him by his affa-
bilito and his very abbreviated speech.
AT last Lady Rosinl thought Mr. Jones
was getting rather dizzy with all this
strong meat; so she took him away.
But before they left she kept
him moment before the big picture
Of "Maidens Bathing at Early Dawn"
"I think that is to be bought now"
she whispered in his ear. II heard
Mr.. Smart say his studio was getting
700 full"
Mr.. Jones looked at it aud then cast
a covert glance at one or two of the
models-ladies whose names he had
often read in the weekly journals and
the Morning Post. The picture was
very bad, though the likenesses were
clever enough; but then Mr.. Jones
knew nothing of art
"Really?' he said, slowly. "Do you
know what he'd take for it?"
30, don't know anything about bus
mess, said lady Rosina. you'd bet
ter come and see him some other time,
when he is alone.
The next day Mr.. Jones ventured
into the West End, and pre-.
sented himself at Mr.. Smart's studio,
He had come prepared to give him
from five to seven hundred pounds for
the picture of "Maidens Bathing,"
But Mr.. Smart was quite equal to the
when he bowed his first
buyer out, the picture had changed
hands, and so had a thousand pounds.
A few days later this picture was
hung in the big dinning-room of Mr..
Jones big house at Brixton. And
from that time Mr.. Jones became a
most hospitable man. 1t was his pride
and delight to ask half dozen city
men of his own sort to dinner. and
talk to them Of his West End friends;
Of how he had bought this picture out