The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-02
THE FATAL "CLICK.'

say sis an artist. g for j. A. is as much an
artist now rs he ever was, but he doesh
cultivate artistic appearances as he used
70. and rs my story relates toa time when
he afye,ieda the little cccentricities which
orc supnosed 10 indicate great artistic
genius. will use the past tense. ). An
cello smith. therefore, was an artist. lie
was long haired, sad eyed artist. lie
wore a cloak, instead Of civilized over
coat. and he was never without soft
slonch hat. His hair was not only long,
bnt IL was studiously unkempt The hair
was naturally very straight and orderly,
and il cost him not little care 10 I'M
kemp it every morning and keep IL so All
day. But j. \. had an object IN all TINS.
He knew well enough that he couldn't
paint any better for his appearance, but
he also knew that plenty of people take
good deal Of stock in books. Among
these people he knew was Kitty, the
ONLY daughter Of a 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 20 appear like great painter,
but 20 also accomplish some actual WORK
in that direction. lie was not at all averse
10 belong in the field OF art, for he was
rather fond Of it, even aside from his love
affair. and ne made fair progress. HIS
chief filling, however, was III figure work,
where 50 many ambitious youngster come
to grief. His peasants, or sailors, his
picturesque Spauiards or beautiful DAIRY
maids. all persisted in assuming attitudes
ike figures i'm a wax work show, and
many hard days work he put in i'm
proving their bad manners. In his efforts
20 correct this falling 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 heat high and visions OF success
fioatcl before his eyes when one day he
noticed the following IA 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 a 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
he 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 10 occupy position on his canvas.
70 rush into q store. purchase camera
and adjust it properly was, IN The IAN
guage of tie novelist, the work OF mo
ment. although tOsticH 10 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 cagerness 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 grieyed, and re-
solved to call on her that very afternoon
To load his camera with lightning plates
TO lump on 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
clined to huff a little, and consider herself
i'll used and neglected. She accused him'
Of being so taken up with his art that lie
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 he hao
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
rived. II is useless 10 go into the details
of the proposal l. was done in the usual
novelette, way. She looked modestly
her beautiful brown eyelashes
shading her lustrous orbs. Her heart
beat wildly. and modest flush spread It's
mantle over her handsome checks. His
right arm sought her waist, and, after
two or three struggles with lump in his
throat, he made, with faltering accents,
his declaration \ 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,
the wild beating Of his heart,
there sounded through the room n sharp
''click." The spring Of that camera had
let 60. In an instant her face was trans
formed
Monster" she shrieked, twisting her
self from his embrace. -"Nillainl Pre-
tending to love me only 10 photograph me
In the act of accepting You. Wretchl
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 10 detain her
and explain; but it was useless. And he
was forced 10 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 10 dance sew
eral hornpipes on the mangled remains OF
his camera, but on second sober thought
he developed the picture. \ few months
afterward he saw the notice of the mar
riage Of Kitty with the son Of wealthy
Of musical instruments.
She had thrown herself away on "A mil
lionaire Detroit Free Press