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

! fANCO " ANCcptluuS, TOO, duu guests are
brought up and introduced to me by i'm
portant gentlemen, who inform them that
! painted that wonderful likeness of Mrs.
s.. always conscientiously en-
deavor to make the best picture I can.
But, as never forget to make a matron
at least fifteen years younger than she is,
and 10 omit every crows-foot, line and
wrinkle that years have traced upon her
face, a guilty blush comes to my own
when the mendacious stranger repeats
"Wonderfnl likeness, wonderful. Mrs.
s. TO the life" For my own pleas
ure often sketch rugged and character
istic faces, old faces, worn faces, but
never to hang in the drawing-rooms of
the rich, who all desire to be smooth and
smiling, and to look as though they had
paid time to forget them.
Ny portraits, however, did not hang
on the walls of rich men when this
story begins. had never yet had one
accepted at the academy, and had be-
gun to believe that never should. |
had canvases galore, on which the iani-
tress and the little match boy, the laun-
dress and the boot-bIack figured con.
spieuously. They stood with their faces
turned to the wall about the room. But
orders l had had none since l had paid
my tailor's bill in full-length family
group of himself, his wife aud his six
children. This sort of thing, you nav.
imagine, did not pay well, and had re-
solved to go back to Corndell, where
they would receive me with open arms.
and kill the fatted turkey for my sake.
To 60 back and take to farming, and
''try TO like" Marie Jane Pel, whose
fathers farm was near to ours, as had
SO often been requested to do by nv
mother.
Certainly, I could never ask Stella
Hope, with whom l was tremendously
in love, to marry me under
such circumstances, to be a
farmers wife and milk cows and make
butter-SteIla, VINO mad graduated al
Vassar and was SO brilliant and so stylish.
had just hunted up pen with point,
found my ink bottle, and written at the
top of n sheet of paper: ''Dear Parents, ,
when, turning, beheld lady standing
by me. She was a young woman, with
the popularity of black eyes and Yery
blonde hair. She was pale but beauti
full. On her left cheek was soft brown
mole that looked, at a distance, like
patch of court plaster She must have
come in a carriage, for she wore no bon
net, but only large and very remarkable
cloak of some oriental fabric. As
looked at her, surprised and startled
and vexed at having been caught in M
shirt-sleeves-certainly, the last thing
had expected was caller-she took hel
seat in the large chair prepared for sit
tiers, and SAID, softly:
"Neyer mind. Begin to paint me.
have so little time to stay
She was certainly a very peculiar per
son, in her manner as well as in her looks
but she was very winning, nevertheless
Moreover, she seemed to compel me d.
as she demanded.
happened to have new canvas Of
the size on which l usually painted half.
length portraits, aud placed it upon my
easel, and rapidly sketched in the head
and figure. The work fascinated me.
When the first painting was accom-.
plished, and l could do no more until il
had dried, l signifed as much, and al
this she rose and stood before the can.
vas.
at is good, she said. "Now look al
me well. I may not be able to come
again. Store every line and feature in
your memory, and if I do not return, fin.
ish the picture. 1t will be well worth
your time and trouble. Do not forget
this little mole on my cheek. Do moi
forget how l wear my hair. Do not for
get this ring upon my hand"
She smiled, gave me a little bow,
opened the door, passed through it, and
closed the door behind her. Iran to the
window, expecting to see the carriage
drive away, but it was already gone, ii
one there had been, ana / feft sure nc
lady could have walked in such dress.
put my canvas in the sun, and, after a
space Of three days, placed it upon the
easel, and taking my brush, began to
work upon it. had been requested to
finish 1t, whether the lady came to sit or
not. Usually, this would have been i'm
possible; but the vivid memory that |
retained of her features, her coloring
and her costume was astonishing.
For Yearly fortnight | worked upon
the picture without a model; bet when
it was completed, 1 felt sure that it was
an excellent likeness. 1t was certainly
the best picture l had ever painted.
waited for the lady in perfect confidence
that she would return, but she never
came; and at last l ceased to expect
her
The picture was not six months old
when the academy exhibition opened. ]
had had remittance from my father,
and had resolved to fight a little longer
before ! returned to the farm. One or
two little bits OF work which had brought
me pecuniary profit had fallen to me.
and l was more hopeful. / framed my
portrait, sent it to the academy, and, to
my great astonishment, found it accepted
aud hung upon the line. Moreover, the
critics praised it, friends called to con
graduate me. The portrait of lady was
a great success, and l felt that it had
been Of more advantage to me to keep
than it would have been to sell it. But
the end of the story had not yet come.
Toward the close of the exhibition / re-
ceived note from lady, who declared
herself very i'll and quite unable to call
upon me.
She begged that would come to see
her on a business matter, and, Of course,
] went.
A splendid mansion in Fifth avenue
Was The cd lsdy's bone, sHd shs "