The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-21
MR. WINTHROP'S COAT.
BY STEWART CHAPLIN.

Nr. Waldo Archer, the portrait painter,
Ived, about three years ago, in one of
those pretty studio buildings on Thirty
seventh street, in New York city. If
you have ever been through the street
you must remember the buildings
Philadelphia pressed brick, each story
set back further than the one below, and
With slopiug roof of ground glass rising
back to the next story.
Mr.. Archer was not as we'll known
sAen as he is know. lie had not as yet
painted that portrait of Leonard P.
Jenkins, Vice President of the O., P. &
W. Railroad, which made such stir at
kae spring exhibition at the Academy in
1886. But he had already attained rea
Donab.e success, and had q pretty wife
Who was a painter, too-not of portraits.
bot of china-that dainty sort you have
ssen at the great china stores, wild roses
6ith the morning dew on them and
blackberry vines in their autumn colors.
Xsu felt almost certain you could see
Aem stir little in some passing breeze,
. you looked at them.
Hrs Archer had herself done the house.
work in the little fiat some time-she
id not find it much of burden. And
.ow, their only servant was an old COL
sred man who had brought them letter
from some dear friends of theirs in the
South. He had come to New York to
look up child be had lost after the
rar, but had only found that the child
vas dead.
The Archers did not know what to do
With the old man, at first. He used to
come in in the afternoon to see If they
had found him place.
Mr.. Archer would be painting away
ut his easel on the blue coat perhaps of
aGeneral, or the ball dress of lady of
fashion, and his wife would be sitting
IN her low, rattan chair reading aloud
10 him from Pobert Browning or DR..
Holmes, or some other of their favorite
writers, when there would come knock
On the door, and in would walk Alexan-
der Maxwell St. Clair, bowing low and
swinging back at arms length his high,
white Leaver hat.
He was tall, gaunt old mau, solemn
n appearance until he began e speak,
when his face lighted up finely.
Mrs. Archer always laid her book
down at once and asked him to he
seated, but he would only bow and
smile, an1 -emain standing, and say,
lowing his head fire ,uently while he
spoke:
2: "Well, sir, any news for me to-day,
sir:n
He always said "Sir," but he evidently
asked the question of both.
There never was any news. Mr..
Archer Cleaned" him little money now
and then, 'till he could find a place, "
snd finally they took him themselves, in
self. defence, Mrs. Archer said, and he
soon became an established member of
the family.
He could cook, and wash and iron, and
sweep, and scrub, not ouly could, but
did. He "tended" the door with much
state and solemnity, made all the pur-
Ghases ct the grocer's and butchers, and,
N fact, rendered life quite another thin g
sor Mrs. Archer. She said that formerly.
when she read to her husband from
Whittier or Lowell, she was always see
ing visions of boiling potatoes and bak-
ing bread floating between the lines.
Now she turned all such visions over to
Alexander.
One day a handsome carriage with a
faint red monogram on the panel,
stopped before Mr.. Archer's building,
and in a few moments gentleman was
ushered in by Alexander-Mr. Win.
throp.
Mr.. Archer knew the name. He had
seen it in the papers often. And he knew
where Mr. Winthrop lived, in a great,
double, brown stone house, with glitter
ing plate glass windows, on Fifth ave-
nue., corler house with a square oriel
window pro ,ectiug diagonally from the
corner OH the second floor.
MIR. i inthrop had seen some Of Mr..
Archers portraits at the Academy I'm
Aibitiou. and recently had cen espc-
e,ally pleased with one he saw at a
friends house on Fifty-seventh street.
He wanted to have Mr.. Archer paint his
Dortralt, and had come to arrange for the
frst sitting.
They agreed on Wednesday of the fol-
bving week for the time, and at two
oclock on that day Mr.. Winthrop's car
ziage brought him again.
He had Alexander 60 down to the car
mage and bring up package containing
aPrince Albert coat he was to wear dur.
ing the sittings, So he put it on, and
after much discussion and many expert
nsnts as to his position, he was finally
stated and Mr. Archer was at work.