Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-09-19
THE MYSTERY OF A PICTURE.

THE MYSTERY OF A PICTURE.
Many years ago my brother and l
made our first trip East, TO Join some
artist friends who were spending the
summer among the White Hills Beth
lrlrm was not the fashionable resort
d. has since become, rs Il was but a
few years before that Governor How
ard, of Rhode Island, met with the
carriage accident. and consequent de-
teutiun, which resulted in calling at
teutIOu 10 the advantages of this lovely
spot, and making It famous The old
Howard House was still standing, and
when our stage-cOach ratified up 10 its
door, on the night of our arrival, there
sat one Of our friends on the broad
piazza making study of "A trout which
he had that morning caught, on an
improvIsed bank of grass and ferns in a
chair before him. He hastened To give
Us a hearty welcome, and then returned
To add few more touches to his paint
ing while daylight lasted Blissful
weeks followed. Four of US used to
drIve of in the early morning in a
double blackboard with our traps"
and light lunch, while the nth can
tered alongside on his great Cay. We
sketched all day, taking short rest at
noon, and then As the sun was setting
drove home to warm supper, group
or charming guests, and, If cool, u
brisk ure of logs in the cosey paTloT.
II. H., aFterward Mrs. Jackson, occu-
pied a sunny corner room. which was
even after regarded as sort of shrine
by those who had already learned to
love her as a woman and an author.
one day, Just after dinner, there was
a knock ut the door and some one re-
ported that man at the Howard was
asking for Zone of the artists" Frank
went over to meet Il sandy-haired man
of 40. who announced that he was a
Canadian artist taking a tramp through
the mountains, and had been OveTtaken
by a Il Under shower down in the
Notch, far from dry raiment and sur
plus funds; ne had lost his way and
found himself quite exhausted. We
supplied him with dry clothing, and
admitted him TO studio fellowship. lie
had managed to keep his portfolio and
painting case unharmed, and we wert
soon interested in looking over Lis
really fine water-color sketches. Seve-
raj guests of the house ordered picture:
from him, and he spent some time II
our company fulfilling their commits
sions. lie proved to be "A genial, pleas
ant fellow, graduate from an Engllst
University, and made himself an agree
able addition to our party. Franz
persuaded him to attempt oils on one
of our expeditions, but after trying u
point his brush in the familiar way
and thereby filling his mouth with o.
paint two or three times, he threw asid,
the canvas and again returned To water
color.
One night there was terrible storm
A waterspOut burst up on the noun
tain and did much damage; the road u
Littletou was washed out, leaving
rents fifteen feet deep, and laying bar
huge powders which, perhaps, hat
never before seen the sun. We wer
confined to the studio next day
Somers, the Canadian, employed tn
time In finishing some ordersi Harr.
sat down TO a portrait which had beel
turned face to the wall during the fdl
weather, and we al took turns in tell
ing stories.
ssWeu,'' drawIed Somers, hOldn
his work at arms length, and thel
setting It down for a fresh wash To dry
''Of all the strange true stories that
ever heard, the stIangest WAS told N
by my friend Norton, three years az
in London. We were looking at col
lection of pictures put up for sale
when. as We paused before large one
marked In the catalogue as ''Behead
ing OF John Baptist an old Spanlsl
picture, artist unknown, Norton sud
denly seized my arm and seemed abou
% faint.
Don't be frightened. old fellow,
he gasped at length, 1t will soon pas
would YOU mind going home with mei
He leaned heavily ON my arm as "
went down into the street, where
called cab and we were soon at hi
studio. After lie had taken a httl
wine and was somewhat recovered, b
said. Il must tell you the story OF tha
painting, SOmers, the story OF my life
To IeElu with, Norton is not my re-
name, llud he told me the name OF on
of the prludest families in England
which I promised never TO reveaD.
was the yourgest son of large family
he added, and my father never SCENE
TO care particularly for me, while m
mother was my dearest companion
Sh- died when l was fifteen, and all u
brightness OF my life went with her.
was passI0nately fond of pictures, an
she had praised and taken pleasure ]
the drawings l was constantly making
and taught me how to appreciate th
best works Of art"
"'Alter my mothers death, L wa
left tn spend my days rs L chose
the old country seat where L was Dol
and where my mother died. Som
times 1 think should have been d'
ranged had it not been for my drawing
Though there was now no one TO pral
or care what did; the only pleasure
had was in working from nature elth
out of doors or in, and try TO MAJ
studies which l thought my moth
would have liked. Once when n
father was down from London, al
had seemed kinder than usual, or rath
less Indifferent than usual, l venture
To ask him If could not take painti'
lessons, as l had when my mother W
alive. He seemed greatly annoyed al
said that 1t was time l was sent
ehool and made a man on and that