Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-01

Gently. ~ met MT. baxter Tor Tine ilfSt time
at party in Romcn
~ thought you said you met him in Swift.
crlnnd,' said Lcnnox.
mo. in Rome II was only two DAYS be.
fore we left. lie was introduced to me with.
out knowing | was with Mrs. Dcnbgh aud
indeed without knowing that she had been in
the city. He was very shy Of Americans.
Tho first thing he said to me was that
looked very much like picture he had been
painting
"Ihat you realized his ideal, ctc"
Exactly, but not mt all in that sentimental
tone | took him to Mrs. Dcnbigh they
found they were sixth cousins by marriage:
he came to Soc lis the next dav and insisted
upon Us going to his studio Il wa, miser-
able place. believe he was very poor At
least Mrs. Dcnbigh offered him some money.
and he frankly accepted it She ATTEMPTED
to spare In, scn~ibitios by telling him that.
if he liked, ne could paint her a picture in re-
turn. lie said hc would if be- had time
Later, he cumc up into Switzerland. and the
following winter We met him in Paris"
If LennoX had had any misirust Of Miss
Everctts relations with the painter, the man
ner in which She told her ittlc story would
have cffcctually blightod it, He forthwith
proposed that, in consideration not only Of
the young mans great talent, bat OF his
actual knowledge of her face. he should he
invited topaint her portrait.
Marian asScntcd without reluctance aud
without alacrity, aud Icnnox laid his PROMO
sition before the artist The latter requested
a day or two TO consider, and then replied
10y note that he would be happy to under
take the task
Miss Everett expected that. in view Of the
Il #
Stephen Baxter would call upon her. undrl.
the auspico, Of her lover He called in effect,
alone, bat Marian was not at home. and ha
failed to repeat The visit The day tor the
first sitting was therefore appointed through
Lennox. The artist had not yet obtained
Il studio OF hi, own, and the latter
cordially offered him the momeutary
Use of spacious and well lighted
apartment in his house, which had been in
, tended rs "a billiard room. hut was not vet
fitted up. LemuoX expressed no wishes with
regard to the portrait, being content to leave
the choice of position and costume to the
parties Immediately Interested He found
the painter perfectly well acquainted with
Maran's "point4," and he had an implicit
, confidence in her own good taste.
Miss Everett arrived ON the morning ap-
pointed, uu,cr her fathers escort, Mr.
Everett. who pridcd himself largely upon
doing things in proper form. having caused
himself to he introduced before hand to the
painter. Between the latter and Marian
! there was IA brief exchange of civiities after
which they addressed themselves to business.
Miss Everett profe,sed the most cheerful
Difference to BaXtrr'S wishes and fancieS. a.
the same time that she made no secret of
possessing a number of strong convictions as
to what should be attempted and what
should le avoided.
1t was no surprise to The Young man to
! find her convictions sound and her wi,ho,
! thoroughly sympathetic. He found himse.,
called upon to make no compromise wit.
stubborn and unnatural prciudicrs, nor to
| sacrifice his best intentions to Il short sighted
! vanity.
Whether Miss Everett was vain or not
need not here be declared. She had at least
the wit to perceive that the interests of an
enlightened sagacity would best be served by
painting which should be good from the
! painters point of view, inaSlnuch as these
are the paintings chief end | NAV add
moreover, to her great credit, that She thor
oughly understood Aow great an artistic
merit should properly attach to picture
executed at the behcst Of pas
, 49, ~ ~ ''''"'' "C any t''' .
i,i'i' '.''''' " l,oI"'.H on tHe
I"''on vi ',''' l'Is'lo' anu '""' she hi,'"
| liS''H'''' ,N '''u' 'n'r' Is hotnlhE SO 'h'I'lh&
10 10 an "'',S'S ue"' Us th' interference "t
half or that of another
| Baxter worried ilrihed ana rapidly, ana at
the end oil u couple OF hours he felt that he
had begun ms picture. MI Everett, as he
sat py' threatened TO DC bore; Iaboring
! apparently under the impression that 1t was
ms duty To br@uI1e the session with cheap
aesthetic small talk But Marian good
| huln'reily took the p"ntrrs share OF the
dialogue ana he was not diverted from his
WorN
Inc next sitting was fixed for the morrow.
Marian wore the dress winch She had agreed
UPON with the painter, and In which, as in
her position the picturesque clement had
been rel9louoiy suppressed. She read in
| II&telS eyes Inat size looked SuUrUnlrlV