The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-24
A PORTRAIT.



summers day-a day on which found ltim-
possible to settle peacefully to anything in
doors OF out; day Of r,Stl,4,nc -s,of gloomy
forchodiurs npd the worst uf bad spirits. |
had been conducting myself like ga eat hc-
fore a thunderstorm" Hccorliugtnmy friend
and partner In the studio. Jack Morris, who
ended by taking his d iar,ufr 800 some er-
rand OF his own and having mp m silence
and solitude ror,undpd m, self that II had
been sack himself vino had prevented my
settling a. ANY .h.ug ftDldily. nud, getting
ont my wfI'iu. cp..'. BEGAN 90 turn over the
pages nt iuN unfinished NIlclv uu Japanese
Landscape Art and o. sol, It that II should
be- M the editors hand, b., next morning
wrote ON rcrsCciucly through tho
cluuot pt church bells fud the sounds NJ feet
tudaiur c'uuhWgrl 30 .ouud distinctly un-
like That OF the same fest bound un weekday
cmul. and ru in ihc stilluc-' that follow
cd the cessation of both. | had the hru-c tn
myself all the other dodgers were out and
great, silent ,chuiug, empty place It seemed.
Even the noise oi carriage wheels outside
hld uo power Ia Induce me Ia lat my head
and look ont ot the window
"Snmc Of jack Morris, swell friends
Thought as listened tony landlords feet
Shutting up the step, from his abode IN the
The ,huilling steps assembled, however, and
stopped outside my dour Other steps fol
lowcd-a mans tread hun and vigorous,
then the soft rustic of u Wunau's dress
"a lady and gcntlcnln to see you, Sir"
announced my landlord, and bustlv IN 10
light my gus.
81 hope you do not consider visit Mt this
hour an objectionable mtrusiuny' spoke u
pleasant voice In the gloom. This IS the
only time when we both happ,n 10 be- dlsrn-
gagged. and our business here concerns us
equally Allow mo To Introduce you 10 my
wife the Princess Fcrrndla."
bowed Ia her llighncss a tall lady wrap
ped IN dark mantle which she wore with
singular grace. Her broad, plumy hat was
| pulled down over her hruws, and smile, the
| flash Of q pair Of dark eyes, and the sparkle
| Of her earrings, were all could distinguish.
| began to apologize for the darkness, but
| she put up her hand IN dcpucation Of my
| worthy landlords unsuccessful operations
with luclicr.
"This Hight Is So pleasant, quite enough 10
| talk In; and that f. All We have come for"
"Thc Princess and were both much struck
! by a portrait Of yours In the Academy, Mr.,
Jervoisc," the Princess went on-"lurd Bel
| havcn's. mean. lie is a cousin Of mine, 81
we could appreciate the excellence Of the
! likeness"
at /, admirable. too, as picture" added
| the Princess. I'VE were both delighted"
was delighted with 1t myself, only, Of
course, didn't say So, only observing Sc
datcly:
Lord Bclhaycn We, - capital subject
81 hope you will think the same OF Prince
Fcrcndia."
Her voice struck me as odd. It was full
and musical, with u delicious foreign inilcc-
ton, aud wondered why 1t should CRATE ON
| my ear 5u harshly.
'ln fact nothing will serve the Princess
but that you shall paint my portrait the
| Prince explained: 'und We have come a. scc
when and how II ram hc arranged. How
many sittmg5 must give you? lisa long
business, isn't 1t, and an awkward time to
| choose, but
An expressive ~hug finished the sentence.
tried not Ia lower my position hy looking
excessively gratihrd; but q commission like
this following nay hitherto solitary success,
was as olhiLuaiiHg 70, unexpected. knew
that II ever dit make my mark II would be-
rs "a painter NJ portraits. but | had imagined
1t necessary 10 make u name In some other
line inst before should bc much sought aft.
cr. How blessed l.od Bclhaycn. who had
paid OF chraply the obligations hc was ua-
der Ia our family by giving me the honor Of
sitting or two!
when can you brgiug' asked the lady
abruptly.
I'm about ten days timc think shall Dee
at liberty answered her, trying to consult
my note book In the lcs,,uiug Hight
Ten days" she cried impossible!
want you To begin al once Tomorrow
THAT u.s. / fear. equally impossible lhaye
several engagement, amt work that ! should
like 10 clear Oh first. ! will do my best II
your time Is pressing
1t is. it Isl" She cried, with ring Of pas
sion almost In her tone which struck me nj
H. moment as odd, but which set down u
bit of foreign cNaggcration. "The time ",
have is so short thought you would b,
glad to work for me. | heard you were q
rapid painter, tool How long shallyo beg
rather resented this. | had great idea
OF the dignity Of my profession, and did no
choose to be- possibly ordered about like
dllatory brakeman by any Prince OF Princes
of them all
did not reply Mt once, searching for pc
lite but firm mode Of assuring her Ilighnes
that must take my own way or none
The Prince lntcrpoScd, laughing;
You'll have to give her what she want
ut once or quarrel with Us outright. That
what Il usually comes 10 In the end | al
ways give In myscf-it's the shortest way.
Nay ! am not 81 unreasonable" she pre-
tested. "llaye offended Mr.. JcryOlsc, tina
he does not speak? Is he frownlngY ! wis
! could see his face" and she turned hers t
mine in the dusk.
The gas tapthat regulated the studio light
was at my hand, md on this hint turned
| on full and then stood for the moment tram
fixed and struck spccchless by the wondc
| full beauty Of the woman who stood smilin
| before me. She had risen 10 shake her clOa
| from her shoulders and now sank dow
| gracefully again into a soft nest Of white n
| lining nj the same moment dOfling hcrplun
| ed hat and dropping II on the ground besd
/ her chair. suppose she was on her way d
/ or had Iust come from, some entertainment
for she was In full dress, and wore gov
with a foundation Of deep orange SAITH
. which showed I'm strcaks and flashes thrOug
q tawny foam Of lace
/ Her bare, creamy, satin-sOtt arms al
. rounded neck showed dalzlingly fair band,
and clasped by rough misunderstanding. IL
cut gems In duh gold setting. But her ia,
how can describe the witchcry OF tho
long liquid, night-dark eyes that, as the
dusky lashes lifted slowly, shone full In
mine with n mystic sparkle In their viol
: depths while the full rOse-rcd lips parted
n hOney-sweet smie2 There was power
the face, too, IN the firm outline of the ja'
and the moding of the forehead, of viii,
the velyet-back hair was brushed and coll
liub having nun soft litt1n dnIfguta tnt,d