The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-08
A SUCCESSFUL COMEDY.

A SUCCESSFUL COMEDY.
How en- Artist Won Famo, For
tune and Bride.
77 AM o portrait
%N>11nzzss<lAMI painter by pro-
MMO)K cml fcssion. Nodes
GUM -nzwAHEM ty forbids my
MN&$SnZ2W,>TN&/Msl calling myself
W#NS1TSAlaTaJbH/0Ea IN artist. but
A%SfS&&2hIIlsLIM ls of course it is
WtISI$lgRl L{Sl lSf3,sIIM the ambition of
ESSalj jiiSSSS&SggSSSI, tf,IHlM my life to be so
knI{S kHxSkIIInllglN called by other
lHSVl H III EJIt,'iIAtaMW4 I@l people.
E9ffIYN|NNNiWHINdHA& When I re-
V'I&NlJiEl WI llxx&N&N>%l turn O d to my
~llllLSVNNNMSMS native land fvo
) MJDMM years ago after
~ NS1&M)V0)l having spent
w. UNIDJJI the pre- vious
five in tho art
ccntercs of Europe, started into bust
ness, so to speak, with tho following
stock in trade: A fair degree Of ability
as painter, fixed determination to
succeed, and last. but not by any means
least, n knowledge of human nature. I
knew perfectly well that II | wanted
TO get society to sit to me must
avoid acting tho anxious, impecunious
role.
Before going abroad had had a
larger circle of acquaintanccs than
had been able to visit. On my return
kept out of every ones way until I
had gotten my little apartment In tho
center of the town all in good trim.
hnd picked up considerable furniture,
besides lot Of ornaments and cnbroid-
cries, on the other side, tasteful ar
rangcment of which gave tho little
place quito an air of luxury.
My rooms once in order l began to
GO about, renewing my connection
with one or two clubs which I had
been in the habit of frcqucnting in for
mer days Very soon people COM
mcnccd to ask me to dinner, and to
evening entertainments of one sort and
another, SO that before long was
practically in the swim.
Of course was constantly being
asked about NY pictures. what was
doing at the present time, what style
had adopted during my long residence
abroad. and hundred other questions,
to oil of which replied with seeming
Indifference. Finally one portly ma
iron suggested visiting my studio, hint
ing that it was with view of having
her daughter painted. should she find
my work to her satisfaction.
My heart went pit pat at this propo-
sition, for had already fallen vic
tim to the charms of the daughter, who
was pretty little brunette with merry
laughing eyes.
Carefully concealing my delight I
told the mother Mrs Martin was the
lady's name, by the way) that would
be most happy if she and her daughter
would take tea with me some afternoon
in the latter part of the following
week. ] said that regretted not be-
ing able to ask them to come sooner,
but that was engaged on n couple of
portraits which were taking I'LL my
time just then.
Mrs. Martin named IN afternoon
when they would come, and then be-
took myself of with a wild idea In nv
head which / determined to try and
NeiA OuU NCHC QiTcCLlY To II livery
stable where | made an arrangement
by which espcctablc-loolsiny car
riage end pair of horses with n driver
in livery on the box should come and
stand before my door for several hours
each afternoon. From there pro-
cocdcd to dramatic agency, whero I
engaged the services of gocd-looking
young girl, an oldish woman and a
stout, gray haired man. all Of whom
we're out of professional engagements
and were willing to play the parts
which assigned to them for moderate
consideration.
For the next week worked hard on
portraits of the stout man and the
young girl. and by the day upon
which expected my char mer and her
mother to call had them in fair con-
dition to exhibit
had decided to have the two profess
sional ladies wait In my studio until
the arrival of the other two, and as the
hands OF the clock crept around to the
Il