Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-30


III.
Some nine or ten years have passed away.
Paul Smith. A. II. A., stands, y pot on 'nc
very pinnacle Of fame. at least In far way
10 lessen by one The three magic initiais AZ
tacbed 10 his name. Clever and the iasniou,
his portraits are Ia demand, and u 70 'ne
chosen few The stamp OF genius DC want
ing, none can deny his success In cstcmng
the likeness OF his sitters, and Selling upon
the happy moment when they are looking
their best, as he puts II, or by grossly hat
terlne them, as his detractors--and they are
many--put u. Enyious enemies and adverse
critics are but another proof, II any be
wanting. Of his success. He had made arr
nav. A wlndfall In an unlooked.for legacy
had enabled him 10 build up for himself Q
comfortable fortune and n gorgeous red
brick moncrcl Queen Anne palace among
the palatial shrincs In that eminent paint
ers, corner clustering together on the out
skirts OF a wcll-known historical park,
Park under whose time.hobored trees Ad.
olson and his fair patroness walked ana
talked aud held their court--a bright con-
stellation OF WIT and beauty around whom
innumersbIe lesser satellites reyolved.
The studio Itself Is o marvellous reproduc-
ton Of a Damascus room. IL Is rich IN
curiously-caiyed wooden laitices ana
screens. walls and arcbed recesses, whereon
gorgeous mosaic end brilliantiy-colored
iexts from the Koran shine out In maze
of Justrous splendor. The whole is toned
down by the subdded ,ints Of RICH Orenta
draperies falling in soft folds from under
the horseshoe-arched doorway.
Magnificent Indian rugs over low,
broad diyap, filling n deep recess. In
front OF these stand low tables Inlald WITH
pearl and ivory. while from the fretted
ceiling hang silver lamps, ostrlch-eggs, ana
the various accessories that Eastern IN
agitation and skill can devise, Plus Ian
ebon slave"--a Hlndu, who hands the
fragrant coffee in rare china cups, IN SILVER
iewelled stands, or the picturesque narShl-
leh or amber-mouthed chibouque.
The place Of honor Is given to the un'in'
isbed picture Glove Tokens" whence
Isabel Gray's luminous eyes shine out IN
reproachful. indignant scorn. in the Ill
starred Fraucoise de Folk. Tho morning
sun brings out the lustre Of the rudy
golden balr.
Once again Two men are seated in the
studio: Paul and FREUD John Graham,
an artist. less successful than himself Paul
is holding up a water-colOr drawing and
surveying il indulgentlv, albeit critically.
II was the sketch OF a girl in fanciinl
peasant dress, crowned with wreath OF
hawthorn.
81 rather think this MAY Queen will
fetch the fair lady. Lady May Bramston
asked me 10 draw n pretty get-up for her
to wear at the Duchess OF Cloverly's ball.
"Ah!" said bis friend. "By the time
your artistic design passes through the
dressmakeTs' hands you won't recognize
your own sketch. Lady May? Thought you
were going in for December, not May?"
This was In allusiOn to a certain wealthy,
n somewhat mature, widowed countess,
whose open partality for the artist was the
talk OF the clubs.
Paul. not il-peased at the insnuaticn,
replied "May is the month for our pro-
fession; wheR we are hanged, skled. or re-
icctod! But dpropoS OF December ~
He opened a portfolio and taking out a
drawing in colOred chalks, passed ii to
Graham.
"Norma. That's for the Countess OF
Steynbam, Lady Nays aunt. who goes Ill
for high art aud the classics"
Uraham. honestly admiring and secretly
enjoying his brother artists talent, H.
quired;
"And which do you go in for, Ancient
or Modern?"
Ignoring the innuendo, Paui answered.
severely:
"Modcrn, and I am off now TO the Pri-
yate View. or course we shall meetf"
.'No such luck. You forget Pm one OF
the rejected"
Pardon me, old fellow! Better luck
next time"
As he spoke the successful man cordially
grasped his friends hand iufusing deli
cate shade OF sympathy in his tone and
warm pressure of his fingers. Graham.
fiattered and pleased, took the hint and
left. Paul carefully rolled up the draw.
ings, and addressing them respectively to
the Countess OF Steynbam and the Lady
May Bramston. lighted pipe, and pro-
ceeding to smoke it built as fragile and gilt