The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-09
COMMENTING AT LAST.

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before which she had been crimping her
dried frizzes-no use whatever I'll
never give my consent to your throwing
support himself. much less a family.
But, aunt, he is clever and will get
good practice in time,
In time repeated Miss Stratton con
temptuously. Yes, in about 20 years or
30, perhaps. And meanwhile what do
you and he propose to live onp
The-the money that grandma left me
would help us TO begin with, said Dol
phine, timidly,
A thousand pounds How far would
that go? And besides you forget that 1t
was only left to you conditionally. l
should be false to the trust reposed in
me, said Miss Stratton, erecting her thin
form with an air of moral dignity, if
gave my consent TO your wedding your
self to life of poverty and the wretch
edness which poverty always entails.
You can marry George Irving, if you
choose-mind, l don't say forbid it
but with my consent no hard earned
money o my deceased brother shall ever
20 into the pockets Of an Irving.
In the last sentence Miss Stratton be.
trayed herself.
The high moral tone vanished before
the self interested motive which was the
real basis of her persistent opposition to
Dolphine's marriage. She had not for
gotten that young DIR. Irving's father had
Tilted her in her youth and married her
bosom friend, Mary Lane nor that this
course had been brought about by DIR.
Irvings Aunt Durothea, who had been
her special rival from their very baby
hood and who had warned her favorlte
brother that he would not be happy with
Millicent Stratton as his wife.
As to the doctor himself-whO had as
yet barely become accustomed to his new
professional title-it was true that he
was very poor but Delphine had been
right in saying that he was clever and
would probably win good practice.
And if-the girl often thought wist
fully-if only she could bring him that
thousand pounds to begin with how hap
py they might be
And it all rested upon word from
Aunt Mllliccnt, which she refused to
speak.
Most people said that that was a very
unjust condition of Madame Stratton's
Will by whIch the most of the money
was TO be Dolphine's upon the express
stipulation that she did not marry
against her aunt's consent
Miss Stratton loved money and though
very unwilling that the thousand pounds
should go to the various charities to
which it had been bequeathed in case of
Delphlne's forfeiture of it, she would in
her heart rather have cast it into the
ocean than in any way benefiting the
son of John Irving and Mary Lane. and
the nephew of DJrethea Irving, who had
recently avcrred that despite Millicent's
airs none of the SlrattoDs could hold a
candle for the lrvings.
Delphine's eyes were full of tears as
she related to her lover the conversation
with her aunt and that lady's unaltera-
bic decision in regard TO her marriage.
He tried to soothe her.
Let the money go,he said impatiently.
1t is a comfort to think that she cannot
forbid our marriage though she may
keep us apart for awhile. But we are
young and can afford to wait, can't we,
darling?
l Twill wait for you all my life, George,
il it Is necessary said Delphine trusting
ly.
1t was about this time that a sensation
was created by the arrival of an artist
no third or fourth rate professor but
genuine artist with a mind and fame
who, having come hither for his health,
allowed it to be understood that he
would cOndescend to the light recreation
of painting q few portraits of the aris-
tocracy and the aristocracy, for the
most part eager to secure this proof Of
their being such hastened at once to Sc
cure his services.
Among the first to call upon Mr.. Blen.
der was Miss Stratton,
To be sure his charges we're enormous
quite ruinous indeed-but then, as Mrs.
Golksby, the former jewelers. wife, su-
perciliously remarked there was the
same difference in high and low art as
IN real and imitation diamonds If one
would have the genuine one must expect
to pay accordingly; and everybody knew
what incredible prices we're paid for oil
paintings nowadays.
And Mrs Oldborough who had no dia.
monds but boasted of pedigree observed
that Of course it was necessary for every
old family to keep up its portrait gallery.
So she meant TO have her own likeness
taken and hung beside that of her grand
father the judge,
1t required long time for Miss STRAIT
ton TO consider in what style she would
have her portrait taken. Finally she de
cided upon full length figure in the
midot Of @ garden, the faoo shaded and
softened by a pink parasol and her hands
full of roses.
This would serve to display her height
and the dignity of her carriage and also
allow of considerable picturesqueness IN
her dress, with the train falling grace
fully about her.
She gave the artist several sittIngs and
being then assured that he could COM
plete the portrait with the assistance OF
photograph left with him for the pur-
pose she waited in pleased anticipation
of the result.
On the day appointed by Mr.. Blender
Miss StrattOn repaired To the studio and
the completed portrait was unveiled be-
fore her eyes.
She surveyed it for some minutes in
silence.
You don't call this likeness she OF
length demanded very abruptly.
An excellent likeness, madam, return
ed Mr.. Blender composedly.
| But-but-surVeying it first from one
one side and then aDother-it looks ten
years older than it should do. And its
too thin-and sallow. And the smile is
not ct all like me I'm sure the cornerr
of my mouth don't turn up like that
Why it's positive smirk No one would
ever Imagine that it was intended fol
me
beg your pardon, madam, but have
faithfully represented both the features
and consider the coloring unusually good
and true to nature, said Mr. Blender po
litely but firmly.
Miss Stratton glsred at him indignant
". Here was insult added to injury.
All that / have to say is that do mol
consider the picture likeness and mus
decline to take il, she said resolutely.
Do you mean, madam, that you de-
cline to pay for itl
Certainly, sir cannot be expected
to throw away twenty pounds on a car
feature such as this she replied indig-
nantly,
Mr.. Blender then proposed to refer thu
question Of the likeness to any persor
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