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

| Dhu utdll lOI " hGUIt VI years.
Now, Mr.. Green, said she, as soon as
they entered, just look at this picture.
and tell me If you could ever have imag-
inc that it was intended for me2
Mr.. Green smiled with a recognizing
emile, but receiving al sdmonitOry
nudge from his wife looked solemn and
doubtful and shook his head.
Lor said Mrs. Green. Why you don't
mean to say, Miss Stratton, as 1t was
ever intended for you?
Mr.. Blender calls it likeness, said
Miss Stratton with sarcastic bitterness,
and expects me to pay e20 for it as such.
call it caricature. Look at the smirk
and the head thrown back and the long
nose and hard black eyes, with no shade
about them. No, Mr. Blender, l will not
take this picture. You have heard what
these good people say and am perfectly
sure that my most intimate friends
would not recognize me.
Very good, madam, said Mr.. Blender,
with great politeness, you are perfectly
sure that no one would recognize the
portrait as your ownS
Perfectly.
am satisfied, said the artist, stepping
back and howing as the lady followed by
the grocer and his wife stepped out.
| And when the door was closed on them
he smiled to himself in a very peculiar
and significant manner.
Some days after this Miss Stratton was
walking down the main street when her
at entIon was attracted by a group of
passers by, who had stopped in front of
fashionable booksellers.
CHANGING at the window her footsteps
were instantly arrested and she stood
still breathless with surprise and dismay.
There was her portrait-the identical
portrait which she had pronounced ca
ricature-only that while the figure ro-
mained intact the rest of the picture had
undergone complete metamorphosis.
The garden was changed to a sunny
glade in wood the fountain in the
background had given place to a gypsey
tent and before the thin smirking befriz
zled figure in lace and velvet stood
beautiful dark eyed young girl in simple
graceful gypsey costume, ,intently study
ing the palm of lady's hand while two
roguish faces peeped out at them from
behind tree.
The picture was labeled Telling Past
Fortunes
Why IT'S the image of Miss Milicent
S,ratlon, said one and another of the
behOlders, Did you ever ste such like
ness He, he, he
And in the midst of the exClamatiOns
and the laughter Miss StrattOn beheld
the new minister coming up the street
evidently bent upon seeing what attract
ed the crowd,
Not for worlds would she have had
| I.h,Il hnr ,,ainIa1 in f1ia ~ ha ra nj
and she instantly rushed into the chop
ard confronted the bookseller.
Take 1t down at Once-instantly she
exclaimed. IL will buy it.
The man obeyed.
The picture disappeared from the win
dow Just as the clergyman came up and
seeing him pass the door Miss Stratton,
rejecting upon the narrow escape, felt
like fainting.
However she recovered herself and in
state OF the utmost excitement made
her way to Mr.. Blenders studio.
Sir, she indignantly demanded, how
dared you exhibit my portrait as you
have done and without asking my per.
mission? 1t is an insult and an outrage
for which | will have legal satisfaction.
And she sat down trembling and
brealhless,
beg your pardon, madam, said Mr..
Blender with perfect composure; but did
you not assure me that 1t was no like
ness and that your best friends would
not recognize it a. suchp
Miss Stratton was silent.
What reply indeed could she make to
this?
shall insist upon the picture beng
destroyed she said at length.
BY no means! have bestowed much
pains and labor upon it and have sue
ceeded in converting it into quite an
original and striking design-one which
will be sure to please the public taste.
IL will give you the e20 said Miss
Stratton desperately.
Mr.. Blender smiled a superior smile,
| AS the picture now is l shall charge
five times that amount for it.
A hundred pounds, he replied calmly.
| Her face flushed and tears started to
her eyes.
could never afford to give that sum Z;
and yet to have my portrait exposed IN
this way to the jeers and ridicule of the
public Oh, Mr.. Blender, have you no,
no consideration for the feelings OF
lady9
The artist took a meditative turn up
and down the floor. then seated him seli
opposite his distressed visitor.
Perhaps, he said mildly, we can come
to terms.
What terms ? she inquired eagerly.
will destroy the picture, madam, on
one condition that you will have some
consideration for the feelings OF one who
lab ha Aaar n nInrp
Miss Delphine-and by consenting 10 her
marriage with my esteemed young rela-
tive and friend make two deserving
young people very happy.
They-they are too poor said Miss
Stratton taken very much by surprise,
Your mothers legacy will enable them
to make fair beginning and | know OF
an opening for young physician which
will do the rest.
Miss Stratton hesitated neryously and
wrung her hands.
Give me day or two to think it over
she said.
At the end Of day or two she called
Delphine to her and told her that she
had been considering the matter Of her
marriage with DIR. Irving and concluded
to let her have her own way and thai
should she in the future suffer for 1t not
to lay the blame on her shoulders.
And the same day MIR. Blender pre-
sented her with the picture Of Telling
Past Fortunes, which she with her own
hands cut to pieces and burned in the
privacy of her own room.
And as to Delphine and her husband,
they have never allowed Miss Stratton tC
suspect that they knew by what means
her gracious consent u their marriage
was brought about.-[Western Guilt
vator.