The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-03-26
MY FIRST COMMISSION.

the Apsley house corner.
beautiful" / replied; beautiful
doesn't express it; she was an angel.
She is an angel, a saint. and martyr, too.
Cad, how ! loved that womanl''
"Oh, of course. uncle" replied my
graceless nephew. Professionally.
SUPPOSED"
You see there isn't so very much DIFF.
ference in our ages, though am his
uncle, and We are more like brothers
than uncle and nephew.
You know you are very bad lot,
UNCLE the boy went on. .You 60 on
loving EN-, till you put the last finishing
touch, and then you start another can
vas and begin to love somebody else.
believe that's the secret of your success
as a portrait painter"
My nephew Ia always saying rude
things to me-
Jack" said severely, my success
Ia due entirely TO perseverance, and the
fact that never fatter" And then that
impudent nephew Of mine blew out his
cheeks. got very red In the face and
nearly cholsed himself with laughter. q
And then we sat down upon two Of
the green chairs.
TELL us about her, boss, - said Jack.
l have three pupils. including my
nephew; they all smoke short pipes In
my presence. and they all three call me
"boss."
That's the Countess Of wallsend, /. be-
gan. Fifteen years ago her husband, the
earl, Paul Pry, as you call him--and you
are not the first. Mr. Jack. to call him
Paul Pry-becamea widower, and every
right minded young woman in society
duly set her cap at him. At that time 1
liyedsoff the Tottenliam Court road, and
was madly in love with Lottie Vivian
was the third fioor iodger. | Just
earned living then. and no more. II
was before had learned to natter. Mr.
Jack. Her photograph, struck me at
first. bought the photo--the photo Of
Lottie Vivian, Of the Portico theatre--
and ] paid my half crown at the pi,
door
One night NJ Icarne out of the DIT Of
the Portico found that Il was rainina
cats and dogs. but ssssssse. -..-sAe- ..s.-.sss
with me, and ! walked home through
the rain, because Icouldn't afford cab
just as | neared my own door a four
wheeler drew up at It, lady paid the
driver. and then she opened tile street
door with her latch key and disappeared
into the house. Great heavensl It was
Lottie Vivian herself. and stood in the
rain in open mouthed astonishment. In
/ few moments the; gas was turned up In
the'first floor. and then it dawned upon
me at once.
lam not curious man. knew that
an actress lived on the first floor. and
that teacher Of languages lived on the
second, but l., the third floor iodger. had
never troubled my head about them In
the least. / had never even asked their
names. went up to my rooms and
flung myself into my easy chair. and ]
thought OF the strange fatality that the
woman admired above all living won.
en- should be actually dwelling with me
under the same roof, and that We were
separated only by q single floor. But
though ] wasin love had a certain
amount Of common sense left, and re.
menfbered that there was great gulf
between Lottie Vivian. the popular act.
ress, and the painter Of pot-boilers on the
third floor,
We are still cannibais. droper and l.
and fast friends. 1t was from Groper.
by dint Of pretending that had never
heard all his old stories before, that
ascertained the true history Of Lottie
Vivian. Of the Portico Theatre.
''She was a pupil Of old Jack Siider's-
most OF the successful ones have been
pupils Of Slider's, :" said Groper, "at
some time or other. Itlsa strange thing
he went on; ''she came out at the Port.
leo. and she has had constant engage
ment there ever since for the last eight
years. Every farthing She earns goes to
her family --to her old father. via, was
big man on the Stock Exchange once.
mind you" said tiroper, ..and toa whole
family of little brothers and sisters, who
are entirely dependent upon her. She is
an ambitious girl. too he added. land
they say she's going to marry Lord Wall
send.p
"What! the mad naillionairer said l.
That's the man. said Groper.
And then Groper began to abuse the
dinner, and Iheard no more about Lot
tie Vivian from him.
Invent on paying my half crowns at
the Portico, and got deeper and deeper
in love with my fellow lodger, and my
love interfered a good deal with my
work. Then it was that | got my first
commission to paint portrait. That
portrait made my fortune, and the paint
ing OF 1t nearly broke my heart.
1t came about in this way: lgot note
one day from Miss yivian--l have it
still--requesting me to call upon her ON
little matter Of business. took n
good deal Of pains with my toilet. and
then went down stairs and knocked at
the door Of my fellow lodger.
There was nothing fast about Miss
Vivian. She was very quietly dressed.
and she came to business ut once.
mir. Stippler. = she said. .'you'llexcuse
my asking you 10 como here In this hi
formal way. but the fact Is THAT want
10 nave my portrait painted. Ican'taf-
ford to pay much for It. Mr.. Meichizedec
recommended me to you. Can you oblige
me In this matter, Mr. 6tippler. and
here she blushed violently, twill It be
very expensiveT
Madam" replied with enthusiasm,
"you do me too much honor In selecting
me. II you permit me TO paint your
portrait, It'll cost you Just nothing at
ALL.
'sAhr' che answered, with o siivery
laugh--don't grin, sir, It was silvery; 1t
wasn't a bit STACEY; an innocent, siiyery,
gfrlish, delicious little laugh--.that's not
business. Dir. Stippier. Besides" abe
added, gently Stumbling ma, ut was Mr.
Melchizedec's selection, and not mine.
Let's leave compliments. and CONE to