Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-16
LADY PORTRAIT AGENT.

Boston Globe.
LADY PORTRAIT AGENT.
Mr. Frank Doris, attorney at-law, had
two pet aversions: First, agents, be they
book agents, patent medicine vendors or
those individuals who offer you a ''s0lid
gold watch for Is cents. Second, pretty
girls, especially those with violet eyes and
silky brown hair. What wonder, then,
that his intellectual brow darkened at
sight of the pretty young lady whom he
found so coolly occupying his favorlte Of
flee chair, while by her side rested fiat
morocco case which proclaimed her to be
one of the fraternity ne abhored. When
ever he allowed his office boy to take q
holiday he was certain to be subjected to
all sorts of annoyances. So. then. that
worthy bachelor of As scoWed and nodded
very coIdIy in response to the pretty bow
and sweet smile of his unwelome visitor.
No! Miss. You need not trouble to
unpack your books. When | want books
| 20 to book store and that s all there is
of il,
But, sir, | am not landings books.
represent a portrait copying company
Everyone has old pictures, photos or tin
types of dear friends for whom they wish
to prove their"
Young woman, I'm a lawyer, time is
money with me and | have the work Of
four men on hand this afternoon. So
saying Mr. Doris opened his desk and
| busted himself with quantities OF legal pa
pers, while the pink flush of annoyance
crept over Miss Pifton's bright face
Broad as had been the lawyers hint, how
ever, she was not discouraged but de-
termined to make another attempt to Sc
cure attention. Selecting one of her best
specimens, the enlarged portrait of q
rather fine looking young man of perhaps
| twenty five, in the uniform of a private
soldier, she approached the attorney S
desk and held it up for his Inspection.
| Now a man may stubbornly refuse to eX-
anime Il book, no matter how attractive,
but when a large picture IS placed OPP
posite his nose, his will is not strong
enough to keep his organs OF sight from
giving at least an Indifferent glance in
that direction. So it was with Mr.. Frank
Doris; he glanced; he looked and tner
! stared. Then he grasped Miss Pifton S
arm with a grip that made her vince.
'.Where-where did you get that" he
cried, in evident excitement.
please allow me to refer to my memo
randum book and will soon explain how
came by it. and then. after turning of
pages-'Miss Rixy Sheldon, No. 416 B..
street. This is the lady fer whom this
picture has been enlarged and this, pro-
ducing small and very much faded tin
| type, lis the origina. from which the art
lists represent have succeeded In prOduc-
ing such a handsome portrait. AS you can
| see yourself, sir OGr work eXcels all others
in fneness of finish, brilliancy, durability
| All"
"What is your name?" suddenly de-
manded the lawyer, regardless OF the elo-
quent flow of shop" talk into which the
energetic young woman had drlfted.
Belle Pifton, she answered.
Are you acquainted with Miss Shell
don?"
only in business way, sir, although |
heard Der say she came from Iowa. -
HIM, Well, [ knew Rixy Sheldon
| twenty years ago and | have half a mind
to cali on her. just to see if she is as sweet
tempered at thirty-eight as she was at
eighteen. Yes, III do it. By the way
you could't give me that tintype, could
you Miss?'
mo, that would be impossible. think
the lady values it very highly and we
make it point to return all such originals
in good condition.
Certainly, of course. Well, I'm glad
you called I'll think over this business
and if you care to drop in some day next
week, | may conclude to give you some
pi otos to enlarge Good day, Miss"
So. so. he unused when he foud him
self alone, there is mistake somewhere
for she cerainly has not changed her
name and still thinks enough of her sol
der lover to have his likeness enlarged
for a parlor ornament.
One week later Miss Belle Bifton rap
ped rather timedly at the office which bore
the name of Frank Doris, attorney at-law
and a few minutes latter stood In the
presence of that cross tear,' as she
privately termed him, but, much TO her
surprise. he now welcomed her with out
stretched hands and a smile of pleased
recognition lighting up his face.
80 you've come? Well, that's right ]
was afraid you forgot to call. How are
You coming on? Pretty busy?" Thus
the lawyer ratified on giving her no tima
to answer any of the questions until paus-
ing a moment to recover his breath his
visitor took the opportunity to assure him
that she was doing nicely and busy every
day.
well, my wife wants you to take tea
with us and talk about several photographs
we want enlarged, so if you'll come along
home with me 1low, We'll combine bust
ness for the rest of the day.
Miss Pifton was as full of curiosity as
the average woman is supposed to be, but
she was also a shrewd little business wo
man and knew that sometimes enc learns
quite as much by being discreetly silent as
by asking questions. Therefore she walk
ed quickly TO the lawy er's side, with only
now and then commonplace remark to
keep the silence from becoming oppressive
keep the silence from becoming oppressive
A short walk brought them to their destin.
alton and Mr. Doris ushered his compan
ion into handsome parlor. A tall, grace
full lady, with deep blue eyes and sof
brown hair, came forward TO greet them
Miss Sheldon said Belle in sur
prise.
Mrs. Doris, if you please" corrected
the lawyer smilingly, land my dear W,
owe it all to you
Mrs Doris took Bellies hand in, her owl
and led her to the sofa.
'.Sit by me, while Frank tells you on
little story"
"Well, you see, said Mr.. Doris. 'Rox
and were engaged twenty years ago AM