Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-10
THE FATAL CLICK

]. Angelo Smith was an artist. I might
say, sis an artist for j. A. is as much an
artist now as he ever was, but he doesn't
cultivate artistic appearances as he used
to, and as my story relates to time when
he affected all the little eccentricities which
are supposed to indicate great artistic
genius, will use the past tense. ]. An
gelo Smith, therefore, was an artist He
was long haired, sad eyed artist. He
wore cloak, instead Of civilized over
coat, and he was never without soft
SLOUGH hat. His hair was not only long,
but it was studiously unkempt. The hair
was naturally very straight and orderly,
and it cost him not little care to I'M
kemp it every morning and keep 1t SO all
day. But J. A. had an object in all this.
He knew well enough that he couldn't
paint any better for his appearance, but
he also knew that plenty of people take a
good deal Of stock in books. Among
these people he knew was Kitty, the
only daughter Of rich jeweler.
His leading ambition was to gain
the hand of Kitty, while hers was to
marry great artist. Thus it
became necessary for j. Angelo Smith
not only to appear like great painter,
but to also accomplish some actual work
in that direction. He was not at all averse
to belong in the field of art, for he was
rather fond of 1t, even aside from his love
affair, and he made fair progress. His
chief failing, however, was in figure work.
where so many ambitious youngster come
to grief. His peasants, or sailors, his
picturesque Spaniards or beautiful dairy
maids, all persisted in assuming attitudes
like figures in a wax work show, and
many hard days work he put in inn
proving their bad manners. In his efforts
to correct this failing he fell into the use
of photography and made rapid strides in
the direction of success. The detective
camera was a great comfort to him, but
his heart beat high and visions Of success
foated before his eyes when one day he
noticed the following in an advertisement:
''The vest camera IS designed for those
who wish to portray the interesting events
of everyday life 1t is carried ON the body
in position for use, and all that is seen Of
it is large button on the artists vest,
which contains thelens."
What could be more complete! Every
man, woman and child on the street would
now be his models. Their positions would
be the most natural possible, for they
would pose for him without knowing it.
The finest lady in the city or the ragged
est bootblack, the clergyman or the prize
fighter, none could escape him, none de-
cline to occupy a position on his canvas.
To rush into store, purchase camera
and adjust it properly was, In the Ian
guage of the novelist, the work Of q mo-
ment, although to stick to fact It took him
considerably longer, and to rush out into
the street and photograph everybody he
met was the work of the whole following
afternoon. Then followed several days
of diligent labor on his great painting. In
his eagcrness to finish his masterpiece, he
almost forgot the real object for which he
worked-his own, his only Kitty When
he thought of this he felt grieved, and re-
solved to call ON her that very afternoon.
To load his camera with lightning plates,
to jump on q street car and ride to
her dwelling, and to ring the door bell
was the work of another of those novel
etic moments. Kitty was ut first in
clincd to huff a little, and consider herself
i'll used and neglected. She accused him
of being so taken up with his art that he
forgot his friends, and she made a very
pretty pouting picture as she scolded him
in rather soft accents for not having
called for whole week. After he had
assured her that she had not been for
gotten, j. Angelo explained his new
camera, with which she was delighted.
After that Kitty played the piano, and the
afternoon was passed in the usual fashion
of lovers. Before the hour for parting
had come J. Angelo made up his mind
that the time for him to speak had ar
- 4 l.. 70 int, tha 1afa lie
of the proposal. 1t was done in tho usual
novelette, way. She looked modestly
downward, her beautiful brown eyelashes
shading her lustrous orbs. Her heart
beat wildly, and a modest flush spread its
mantle over her handsome cheeks. His
right arm sought her waist, and, after
two or three struggles VITA q lump In his
throat he made, with faltering accents,
his declaration. A dead silence followed.
Slowly she raised her eyes to meet his,
and in another moment the little word
''yes' would have frightened his whole
furure, but for some unexplained reason,
probably the wild beating of his heart,
there sounded through the room a sharp
click The spring of that camera had
let go. In an instant her face was trans
formed
Monster" she shrieked, twisting her.
self from his embrace. William! Pre-
tending to love me only to photograph me
in the act of accepting you Wretchi
How could you be SO cruel. Gaining my
affections only to promote your art
And then sobbing as if her heart would
break she rushed from the room. j.
Angelo Smith endeavored to detain her
and explain; but it was useless. And he
was forced to quit the house rejected,
scorned, hated. To reach his lonely gar
ret was the work of fully half an hour, for
he hadn't a nickel to pay his street car
fare. His first impulse was to dance sew
eral hornpipes On the mangled remains Of
his camera, but ON second sober thought
he developed the picture. A few months
afterward he saw the notice of the mar
riage of Kitty with the son Of q wealthy
manufacturer of musical instruments.
She had thrown herself away on mill
lionaire Free Press.