Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-15
A PHANTOM PORTRAIT.

"Dear Mike; viii you look in at my
shop this EVENING" Quiller is in town,
and is going to dine with me at the club.
can't stand an evening of him alone,
but il you and Teddy O'Brien viii sup
port me, with pipes and potations, think
we shall be match for him. Come early,
and I'm your friend for life.
DICK GRAVES.
] had nothing particular to do, so
sent word round to Dick that should
turn up. having first made sure that
Teddy O'Brien, whose studio was in the
same block, would go also. Quiller we
knew of old, as all the world knew him
a man who had seen everything, done
everything, been everywhere-andt these
occasional visits of his were a perpetual
terror to Graves.
Dick Graves, who usually shone as a
host, was not at his best that evening.
He was nervous at first, and rather silent,
leaving the burden of the talk to Teddy
and myself
"Will you fellows look over my Cornish
sketches?" said Graves, suddenly jump
ing up in desperation. II think there
are some you have not seen and he be-
gan to rummage about among pile of
old canvases.
Quiller resumed his seat and sat half
absently, half contemptuously, watching
us as we turned over the paintings
possibly he was amused by our jargon of
"toner and quality, and the rest. At
length picked up from the heap paint
ing that caught my eye and propped iton
the e, ! near the lamp. 1t was quite.
unlike Grayes's usual work, and / stood
looking at it for moment, not quite
knowing why did so. 1t was the head
Of young woman, pale and slightly
worn. She was leaning little forward,
booking out of the picture, her mouth
parted by slight, tremulous smile, and
in her eyes look that was a strange
mingling of emotions, as If a new hope
and happiness had come into life of sor-
Iow--a look half wistful, half exultant.
turned to speak to Graves, and saw
that Quiller had got up and was standing
gazing at the picture with look of fasci-
nation or of fear. Hear at last was some
thing that interested him.
Where did you get thatf" he asked
abruptly.
"What do you think ofit3' said Graves
slowly.
"It's good head, said Teddy o 'Brien.
ats wonderful model, said |.
"A face to haunt one, said Quiller, in
a tone quite unlike his ordinary cynical
one.
"Ah. that's It, 4" said Graves. ats more
than human"
Who is it Z" said QuiIler, in his abrupt
way again.
"'Pon my soul can't tell you, for don't
know. It's queer story, and one I'm
almost ashamed to ask you to believe.
shan't blame you il you think I'm hum
bugging.
We settled ourselves by the fire with
our pipes, and Dick began his story in a
manner, for him, 50 unusually grave and
impressive that It seemed TO leave no
room for doubt az to his perfect good
faith in the matter.
II went into Cornwall, as you know,
ut the end Of the summer, and after loaf
ing round Newlyn for awhile, went to
the south coast to try and find some place
that had been less painted. stayed
few days at Polperro, but 1t was all 50
much like the smaller exhibitions in town
that could not stand it, and finally
landed at -" naming small seaport
town, Awhere there were no painters and
not many visitors. stayed at the Ship
Inn, and looked round for some place to
hang up my palette. After some inquiries
found a small cottage which had been
empty for some time, but which had ev-
identity been used as studio, for there
was wall knocked out at one side and :,
good sized room added, with high nortl,
light On the south the kitchen and
'parlor,' which opened one into the other
had view Of the loveliest little harbor
in the world. The place was just what
wanted, and the rent was absurd-only
el0 year; so took it for six months.
ON the understanding was to keep it on
if / chose. bought a few things to
make the place comfortable, and got an
old woman TO look after il for me; but
lived most of the time at the Ship Inn,
and just at first spent very little time AT
the studio. only taking in my canvasesa a.
night. When October set In cold and
wet, had to do some work indoors, and
then il was / began % think there was
something queer about the place. One
day ] had been painting a young giri
from the village the granddaughter of
my ancient dame, and was putting a
few touches TO the background when /
heard sound close behind me, like .
very gentle sigh. Hooked round quickly
but there was no one IN sight-no one IL
the room, ia fact went on painting,
with an uncomfortable feeling OF some