The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-12-20
THE TUBE OF WUJHjaY BROWN.
BS y. y. APPLETON.

Richardson picked up the soft little
cylinder and looked at it again.
"What did you call n2' he asked.
"Mummy brown" replied Kuowlton,
taking brush from between his lips to
speak, and touching the canvas before
him with it.
"Brown it undoubtedly is, remarked
his friend, "but where does the mummy
come in2"
In the tube, my boy" returned the
painter, half closing his eyes and putting
his head on one side to observe the effect
or bis last S.rJke, ''DeCau ~ Is iuadv
OF pulverizcd Egyptian mummics, and
u Is one oil the best colors We have"
Richardson put the tube back upon
the much Uttered studio table, and
whisticd softly.
well, said he, 'you may count me
out II ever l become painter, when it
comes to using dead mems bodies to
make pictures with. I'd be afraid they
would come back again :"
Nonsense" said kuowlton, laughing
they are entirely too dead for anything
oil that sort, you may be sure, and ii
they are sensitive TO feeling, they never
show it. Observe how | am using this
tube, for Instance, up this French e.
mans coat; do you suppose any well
meaning Egyptian would like to have
himself clothing foreigner in any such
manner, IL he knew itI"
mo, l suppose not The
coloring Is rich, too" remarked Rich
ardson, ihrusting his hands deep into his
pockets aud surveying his friends work
with the eye OF an uncducated critic,
though the same can't be said of tho
models, Judging from appearances And
by the powers that he, Fraucis," he
addeu, suddenly, you've nude that tall
fellow very good likeness Of you! Did
you know itl"
knowlton shrugged his shoulders
II had an idea his face was something
like mine" he answered; "but rs that
Is common trick of ours, have not
given 1t a second thought. What | am
striving for is Il good picture, not por,
traits, and i must realize something
from 1t, too. by heavens, Richardson,
1t has come to be case OF dire necc sity,
aud that's all there Is to it!'
Kent not paid2" asked his friend.
That's too bad-Tve been there myself,
aud then 1t Is very uncomfortable thing
TO nave hanging over one. AS long as
one can climb up aud down the water
pipe, and thus avoid mceti q the land
lady on the stairs, life is made cndura.
bic, but with you, suppose"
Ihcre isn't water-pipe within
twenty seet os asy ~in,!ow. No, ] must
sell, or get out, so-the mummy -brcwn n
again, II you pleaser'
Richardscn handed the paint to hlm
once more, somewhat gingerly. m
can't help feeling I'm dealing with a
piece OF dead body" he said, coloring
at knowlton's plying look; "and |
should think you would do the samc,
believing, as you say you do, in trans
migration aud re-incarnation, and all thnt
sort oil stuif. Suppose, for Instance, that
you were painting this picture with n
piece of your own fathers body when he
was an Egyptian, ten thousand years
egop
"or, better still, returned Knowlton,
squeezing a fresh supply Of the paint
out upon his palette, "my own old time
body, say" As he spoke he touched
the paint with the tip Of one finger, and
shiver, at tho same time, passed over
him, leaving him strangely palc and
shaken.
"lcs, but-hello, what's wrongf" ex-
claimed Richardson, noticing the change
In his friends face.
"Nothing-I don't kpow-a touch of
vertigo, that's ail," returned the painter.
oonfuscdly; IL what were you say.
ingT'
"Oniy that II your snpposition were
SO, the contact Of tho two bodles--tbe
new and tho old--would make itself felt
In the new.''
fesf said knowlSn, smiling again.
anh returning to ~ work; "but | do
not believe Ia tiacsr grai Ion 10 that OK.
lent, my dear fcll.5s- here IL n line
you know, that sg-B we fanatics have 10
draw, and ~ aer a.yine IL 10 some.