McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-31
group of passersby, who had stopped
in front of q fashionable booksellers.

group of passersby, who had stopped
in front of fashionable booksellers.
CHANGING 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
caricature-one that while the figure
remained intact, the rest OF the picture
had undergone a complete metamor-
phOsis. y Ht
The garden was changed to a sunny
glade in wood the foundation in the
background had given place to gypsy
tent, and before the thin, smirking, be-
frizzled figure in lace and velvet, stood
q beautiful dark-eyed young girl, in
simple graceful gypsy costume, intently
studying the palm of the lady's hand,
while two roguish faces peeped at them
from behind tree.
The picture was labelled, "Telling
Past Fortunes
"Why, it's the image of Miss Milli-
cent Stratton,'' said one and another
of the beholders. sDid you ever see
such likenessp He, he, he."
And in the midst of the EXPLANATIONS
and the laughter, Miss Stratton beheld
the new minister coming up the street,
evidently bent upon seeing what had
attracted the crowd.
Not for worlds would she have him
behold her painted in this character,
and she Immediately rushed into the
shop and confronted the proprietor.
ssTake it down at once-instantly!
she exclaimed. ell will buy it,
The man obeyed.
The picture disappeared from the
window just as the clergyman came
up, and seeing him pass the door, Miss
Stratton, rejecting upon the mar row
escape, felt like fainting.
However, she recovered herself, and
in state of the utmost excitement
made her way to Mr.. Blenders studio.
"Sir," she Indignantly demanded,
show dared you exhibit my portrait as
you have done, and without my per-
mission? 1t is an insult and an out
rage for which will have legal salts
faction"
And she sat down, trembling and
breathless.
81 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 SUCH"
Miss Stratton was silent.
What reply, indeed, would she make
to this?
81 shall insist upon the picture being
destroyed" she said at length.
"By no means! / have bestowed
much pains and labor upon it, and have
succeeded in converting into quite an
original and striking design one which
will be sure to please the public taste"
ell will give you the twenty
pounds" said Miss Stratton, desper-
ately.
Mr.. Blender smiled superior smile.
GAS the picture now is, shall charge
five times that sum for it,
ga hundred pounds" he replied
calmly.
Her face flushed, and tears started to
her eyes.
81 could never afford to give that
sum; and yet to have my likeness ex-
posed in this way to the jeers and ridi-
Guile of The public. Oh, Mr.. Blender,
have you no consideration for the feel
ings of lady?''
The artist took meditative turn up
and down the floor, then seated himself
opposite his distressed visitor.
"Perhaps," he said miidly-"perhaps
we can come to terms.''
ssWhat TERMS" she inquired eagerly.
81 will destroy the picture, madame.
upon one condition: that you will have
some consideration for the feelings of
Que who should be very dear to you
your niece, Miss Delphine, and by con-
senting to her marriage with my es-
teemed young friend and relative, DR..
irving, make two deserving young peo-
pie very happy"
"They -they are too poor!" said
Miss Stratton, taken very much by sur
prise.
sYour mothers legacy will enable
them to make fair beginning, and l
know of an opening for young physi-
clan, which will do the rest"
Miss Stratton hesitated nervously and
wrung her hands.
"Give me day or two Toto think
it over" she said.
At the end of the day or two she
called Delphine to her and told her that
she had been considering the matter of
her marriage with DR.. Irving, and con-
cludee to let her have her own way;
and that should she in the future suffer
for it, not to lay the blame upon her
shoulders.
And the same day, Mr.. BENDER pre-
sented her with the picture of 'Telling
Past Fortunes" which she with her
own hands cut to pieces and burned in
the privacy of her own room.
And as to Delphine and her husband,
they have never allowed Miss Stratton
to suspect that they knew by what
means her gracious consent to their
marriage was brought about.
The Bull-Fighting Cowboy.
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