River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-02-06

thronged the studio that afternoon fair
ly made my threads THRILL And imagine
my delight on recognizing the two beau
tiful girls by whom had been so much
admired a few months previous in the
old castlel l assure you it gave me great
qualification to see that the recognition
was mutual.
/ soon learned that Beverly Campbell,
who had made the sketch of me, and
Jack Marble were cousins, and Maud
was the name of her inseparable friend,
the writer of the valentine verse.
The two girls were frequent visitors
at the studio, as Miss Campbell had
agreed to pose for a painting which
Marble hoped TO finish in time for the
spring exhibition; and they showed
their usual good taste in utilizing me
for a background.
could see the full effect of the paint
ing in the mirror as it progressed.
There was Beverly in an artistically
draped robe of charming tone, gracefully
seated on pile of cushions, touching
the light guitar, making harmonious
contrast to my rich coloring. Who could
blame the artist-thOugh certain carp
ing critics did-for making the old
tapestry too prominent?
The work was undeniably great sue
cess. and in the spring exhibition it was
hung on the line and received fiatter-
ing notices from the press and praise
from the public, notwithstanding the
fact that / was pronounced too pro-
nounced for suitable background"
Before the first private view was over
the painting had little card stuck in
the corner marked sold"
1 was there, too, in reality. as we'll as
by proxy in the painting. Marble had
loaned me to the decorating commit
tee, and / was hung in the corridor,
where, though almost concealed by hor-
rid palms and pernicious plants, l could,
by looking through the doorway, see
the picture of myself and Miss Beverly.
One day il struck me there was some
thing familiar about one Of the men
who was looking at our pr ing; he was
lost in the crowd, however, before my
curiosity was satisfied. Later he re-
turned. and for a long time gazed at the
canvas. No one could wonder at this,
for il was beautiful piece of tapestry
painting and quite did me Justice; and
Miss Beverly's figure in the foreground
undoubtedly added to the attractiveness
of the general effect.
The following day the same familiar
figure was again studying our work.
Finally l caught a glance of his face.
Yes. 1t was my former owner, Jack
Janvier!
How longed to drop right off the
hooks and fall on his neck as he passed
near mel and how hated the stuck-up
plants for shutting me so much from
viewi
Day after day Janvier came to the
gallery, and our painting absorbed most
of his attention. l always knew he was
fond of me. but for such devotion as this
/ was unprepared.
On one occasion they all came very
near meeting. Janvier had just turned
from the picture and passed out of the
gallery as Jack Marble, with Beverly
Campbell and her inseparable friend.
Maud, entered the opposite door. What
a pleasure il would be. ] thought, to
bring them together and have the two
Jacks and the two fair maidens formally
presented.
The exhibition over, the painting was
sent to it's purchaser, and was sent TO
the studio, but. much to my discomfort,
not unrolled. However, I recognized
Janvier's voice, who entered the studio
one morning and introduced himself to
Mr.. John Marble.
He was enthusiastic over the painting
in the exhibition, only regretting that
il was purchased at the first private
view, before he had seen the collection.
He also went on to say that what at
tracted his eye to the canvas, in addi-
ton TO the charming pose of the beauti-
full model, was the exquisite work in the
drapery OF the background. This was
particularly interesting to him, as he
once owned a tapestry hanging Of SINH
lar design.
He then gradually turned the CONVEX
sation toward the subject of the model
in the painting. While this talk was
going on / learned that l had again
changed owners. 1t seems Marble had
promised to give me to his cousin, Miss
Beverly Campbell, il the painting she
so kindly posed for was sold during the
first day of the exhibition; so was now
her property, and. in fact l saw that
Marble thought | was already sent to
her house; but janitorial neglect had
left me still rolled up in the corner. Be
fore going Janvier left an order for a
painting. on condition Marble should
use the same background and the same
model.
The two Jacks seemed to fraternize
wonderfully, and they agreed to dine
together that evening. Alas! at this
festive scene | was not present; but the
following day. when Jack Janvier again
called, / soon learned by the converse