The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1891-06-12


of her, she said. "She had little of
her war lrobe with her. Most of it was
left at lone. The cloak was great
favoIite of hers. 1t came from Japan.
The bra ,elet we bought abroad. Oh, it
was my Leila who came, and must buy
the pict Te!"
ayes 1 really do think madam is
right" aid the maid, with a courtesy.
''For tn .re's the little mole on her check;
and the way she has with her hair, that
was too ong to do like every one's."
myself was now almost convinced
that ha painted ghost, and cold chills
began tc run down my back and my hand
trembleC.
"YOu will sell 1t to mel" asked the
old lady
"Cfrt linIy, madam, replied
The lady spoke to the maid, who
brought her a cneck-book. The sum
she offer ID was an immense one; and 1
was not dot enough to decline it. She
gave me her hand when left her and
offered RE her benediction. When the
exhibition closed the picture was sent
to her ht use.
Twas low beginning to be known, and
patrons we're plentiful. My studio was
in more fashionable part of the town,
and l bought no more of turning
farmer, and felt quite sure of marrying
the girl If my choice very shortly, as in
deed 1 did.
The story of the ghost who sat for me
had SON chow got about, and 1 told it
frequent Y, with some additions, to my
sitters. 1t gave me quite little notori-
ETY., for he old lady was well known in
the fash enable circle, and there could
be no doubt that the picture was her
daughter S likeness.
Three or four years had passed since
that strange sitting when one day was
working at my easel, giving the finishing
TOUGHEST picture, when hand touched
my shoul der. turned and saw lady
with bla:k eyes and golden hair looking
az me. She did not wear the japanese
cloak this time, but coat that fitted her
Tsl-asal! = nd np-her head wa4<- hcautiful
little DO met; but it was my Spirit an &c
same
''wh, have you thought of MET" she
said. She was of the earth, earthly,
solid fe. h and blood. No doubt of that.
If she hs d materialized, she had done it
thoroughly. My answer popped out of
my mou h without a thought.
az tn Jught you a ghost" said I.
''Ah;, 1 came and vanished like one, :"
said she, The company went to Aus
tralia We y Unexpectedly to me. But
hope you finished my picture. 1 want
some autographs of it for the windows.
I told " to go on with it, you know.
thought you'd write when it was DONE
81 did not know your name, madam,
said I.
81 thought every one knew me-" said
she. "Mademoiselle Rosalie, of the
Comic Opera. We were making such
sensation in our opera at the time.
was hav ng my hair dressed on the floor
below " then ran up to sit for you, and
though left my card. Now, did you
finish til : picture, l hope"
As sh spoke l looked at the handsome
singer. Either she had grown much
coarser or l had idealized her. She
bore oily a slight likeness to my
"portrmt of lady," after all, it seemed
to me; put she was plainly good natured.
l begged her to be seated, and gave her
the histt ry of her portrait
at is all very curious, " she said, ''aud
very touching 1 would not rob the
dear oil lady of her delusion for the
world. OF course, every one has one of
those japanese robes, and snake bracelets
are common; and who knows if l look
the leas : like the poor girl9 Imagina-
ton doei wonders. But you can paint
me agai 1 in another pose and another
costume No one will ever recall the
portrait in the academy, and we will
keep the secret.
We did. To this day no one but my
wife KIN, VS. that the ghost that gave me
my first helping hand to fame and
fortune was the well known singer,
Mademo selle Rosaiie, of the Comic
Opeya.- .Nclr York Ls9.Jer.