Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-18
THE FATAL "CLICK.'

J. Angelo Smith was an artist might
Bay, ''is an artist" for J. a. is rs much All
artist now aS he ever was, but he doesn't
cultivate artistic appearances rs he used
g., and as my story relates to a time when
he affected all the little eccentricities which
are supposed TO indicate great artistic
genius. will use the past tense. j. An
gelo Smith. therefore, was an artist. He
was n long haired, sad eyed artist. He
wore n CLOAK, instead Of civilized over
coat, and he was never without n soft
slouch hat. His hair was not only long
but it was studiously unkempt. The hair
was naturally very straight and orderly,
and il cost him not q little care to I'M
kemp il 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 q
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 1t
became necessary for J. Angelo Smith
not only to appear like q 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 it, 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 q wax work show, and
many q hard days work he put in i'm
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 u great comfort to him, but
his heart beat high and visions Of success
fioated 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 eveots
Of everyday life 1t is carried on the body
in position for use. and all that is seen Of
it is q large button on the artists vest,
which contains the lens"
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 1t.
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 a store, purchase a camera
and adjust it properly was, in the Ian
guage Of the novelist. the work Of mo
ment, although to stick to fact 1t 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 eagerness to finish his masterpiece, he
almost forgot the real object for which rs
worked--his own, his only Kitty. When
he thought Of this he feat 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 at first in
cliled to huff 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 very
pretty pouting picture as she scolded him
in rather soft accents for not having
called for whole week AFTER ne nad
assured her that she mad not oeen Tor
gotten, j. Angelo explained MS new
camera. with which she was dehSnted.
After thar Kitty Played the piano, ana the
afternoon was passed IN the usual tashion
Of lovers. Before the hour TOT parting
had come j. Angelo made up MS mina
that the time Tor him 10 speak had ar
rived. 1t Is useless to go INTO the details
OF the proposal. j. was done IN The usual
novelette, way She looked modestly
downward, her beautiful brown eyelashes
shading her lustrous orDs. her neart
heat wildly, ana modest nusn spread lts
mantle over her handsome cheeks. MS
right arm sought hexwaist, and' aitef
two or three struggles with lump IN MS
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 nstie word