The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-04-02
Highest ali Leavennr Powell. Govt Report Aug u, 1852
Re-! g! Bssi9s BsMa:sz
ABSOLUTELY PURE
A PORTRAIT or A LADY.

. world. and / hsve painted the portraits
many OF the four hundred. lam invit,
TO receptions. too. and guests sre broug
mp and introduced TO me BY Imports
gentlemen. who inform them that pain
ed The wonderful likeness OF Mrs. s.
! Away coascisoti ,usly endesvor 10 max
the beet picture can. But. ss l new,
forget TO make q mstron ut les.t fiftee
years younger than she il. aud TO om
every crows'foot, line and wrinkle tbs
years have traced upon her face. guilt
blush comes 10 my own when the mends
cious stranger repeats: Wonderful like
ness, wonderful. Mrs. S--,o the life
For my own pleasure | often sketch rug
ged snd characteristic faces. old face
worn face. but never TO hapg in the draw
ing rooms OF The rich. who Gil desite
be smooth and smiling, and to look q
though they had paid time to forge
them.
Ny portraits. however, did not hang o
the walls OF rich men when this story be
gins had never yet bad one aceepte
at the scsdemy. and bad begun to be
lieve that never should had canvase
galore. on which the jsnitress and the lit
tie match boy. the laundress and The boo
black figured conspicuously. They stoo,
with their faces turned to the wall sbou
The room. But orders | had none since
had paid my taiIor's bill in full lengtl
fsmily group of himself, bis wife and bi
six children. This sort Of thing. you ma,
imagine, did not pay we'll. and bad re
solved to 60 back TO Corndell, where
they would receive me with open arms
and kill the fstted turkey for my sake. II
go back aud take to farming, and TRY tt
like" Marie Jane PelI, whose fathers farm
was near to ours,as had SO often been re
quested 10 do by my mother.
Certainly, | could never ask Slells
Hope, with whom was tremendously ia
love. to marry me under such circumstsr
ces, to be farmers wife and milk COWS
and make butter Stella. who had gradual
ed at Vassar and was so brilliant and so
stylish. hsd jnst hunted up pen with
q point, found my ink bottle. and written
at the top OF a sheet ofpaper: Dear Par.
ents." when. turning, ! bsheld lady
standing by me- She was young woman.
with the popularity Of black eyesaud very
blonde hair. She was pale but beautiful.
On her left cheek was soft brown mole
that looked, at distance. like patch OF
court plaster. She must have come In O
carriage. for she wore no bonnet. but only
q large and very remarkable cloak OF some
oriental fabric. As looked at her, sur
prised and startled. and vexed ct having
been caught in my shirt sleeves certain,
ly, the last thing bad expected was .
caller she took her seat in . large chair
for sitters; and said softly.
Never mind. Begin to paint me. have
so little time TO stay.
She was certainly very peculiar per
Fon, in he. manner as we'll as 10 her looks,
bnt she was very winning, nevertheless.
Moreover. she seemed to compel me to do
IS she demand.
| happened to have . new canvas OF the
size on which usually painted half length
portraits, aud placed it upon my easel.
md rapidly sketched 10 the head and fig
nre. The work fascinated me. When the
first painting was accomplished, and
could do no more until il had dried.
,ignitied rs much, and at this she rose and
stood before the canvas
II is good, she said. Now look at me
veil. may not be able to come again
Store every line aud feature 10 yonr mem,
Try. and il ! do not return, finish the pic
lnre. II will be well worth your time and
rouble. Do not forget this little mole on
ny cheek. Do not forget how | wear my
,air. Do not forget this ring upon my
laod.
She smiled, gave me a little bow, open
ID the door. passed through il aud closed
he door behind ber. ran TO the window
.xpecting to see the carriage drive away,
,ut II was slready gone. IL oUe there had
been, and felt enre no lady could have
walked 10 such dress put my canvas
q the snp, and, after space OF three days.
,Isced 1t npon the easel. aud taking my
,rush. began to work upon it, had been
TO finish H. whether the lady
sme TO sit or not. Usually, this would |
rave teen impossible; but the vivid mem
'ry that | retained Of her features, her |
,oloring aud her costume Was astonish /
ug
For pesrlya fortnight worked upon |
he picture without model; bu. when /, |
sss completed. feli sure II vas 40 cIcel.
ent likeness. 1. wss ceIisialy the beet |
,icinre ! tad ever painted. waited for
hs lady IN perfect confidence that she
ronij rein'n. bat che never cane: aud st |
act cessei to expect brr.
Tne ric,ure sss tot tiI months old /
rhen the academy exhibition opened. {
,sd bad q remittance from NY father. aud
Isd resolved to ngbi little longer before
retained 10 the farm Ooe or tso little I
ire Of work which had brough. me pecu.
iary prof. bad fallen 10 me. sSd was
opsfal. ] framed my pcrtr.it. sent IL TO 4
be academy, and. to ny srea. ss.oaish
aeni found IL accepted aud hung upon
be line. Moreover. the critics praised 1t.
riepds called 10 congratulate me. The
'ortrsii of lsdy vss . grea, success. and
felt tbs, il hsd been Of more sdvantses
0 me 10 keep than il vould have been 70