The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-12

uilu IcAtCsiOu VI tue OtileI ettu IL cyL1c
blurred old mirror.
A shocking fancy that some sudden
affection ofihe brain, or at least Of the
eyes, had befallen me, made me for a
moment forget everything else. press
ed my palm over my lids and my heart
beat furiously with apprehension. A
moment more, and was glad to find
that things had their usual appearance.
I smiled, and spoke ola headache, and
my patron answered:
"Ah, troublesome; those sudden head
aches p
Before he had finished speaking how
ever, the young lady caught me, by the
arm.
"Come here" she said. 'Tell me
something want to know about this
picture"
And she hurried me to the corner she
had just left, her whole manner quite al
tered.
"Will yeu answer me an honest ques-
ton honestly ?" she said, when we were
out Of hearing. why did you cover
your eyes just nowg Why did you look
as you did? Don't tell me Of a head
ache; that is not true"
"My dear young lady," said 1 Il ney-
er experienced sucslA a thing before, but,
for a moment, l saw two of you. You
must acknowledge hat"
was about to pay her some silly, Ste
reotype compliment. but she turned from
me, and crossed the studio with hurried
step, and put her hand upon her fathers
shoulder.
Papa" she said. 81 have changed my
mind. Ishall be glad TO have my por-
trait painted if Mr.. Vincent will paint it
for me"
"GOod," said Mr. Cranch.
Another hour for a sitting was appoint
ed, and the party took their leave In
moment, however, the gentleman return
ed alone Tie closed the door, and set his
back against it.
"You mustn't think i'll of my poor girl
if she does anything odd" said he.
'She's not quite right in her mind, am
sorry to say. She was one Of twins and
my other girl--Rose we called her-died
three years ago. Just fifteen the twins
were then. Pansy was not III, but she
fell into a sort Of q trance. For an hour
we thought we had lost her also. In a
sense We had. She has never been quite
herself since. She has the strangest de-
lusions. It's a great trial to Us. Wei,
such is life"
assured Mr.. Craneh that would bear
in mind what he had told me, and bow
ed him down stairs.
Ny staircase was narrow, inclosed on
both sides by wall. 1t was dark, but
the vestibule below was bathed in light.
In that vestibule l saw Ms. Cranch
moulding on her glove as she awaited
her husbands 5 coming.
"How beautiful she is :" I thought
And then for moment I saw once more
what had seen in my studio-two love
ly girls instead of one. Il this happened
again, resolved 10 consult an occulist.
But experienced no return Of the afflie-
ton. Ny sitter came on the appointed
days-Mr. Cranch in his swallow-tail
coat; Mrs. Cranch attended by pIim
maid called Mrs. Bobbins. The matron
had handsome arms and shoulders both
plump and white. In fact 10 make long
story short, l painted Mr.. and Mrs
Cranch TO their satisfaction, pleasing the
matron by rObbing her ofa score of years. /
The portrait painter who will not do this
may never hope TO succeed with the la
dies
For my part painted for bread and
butter, and could not afford to betoo par
ticular in such little matters.
Miss Pansy was not to sit until her
parents pictures were sent home and |
hung in those fine recesses of the pala-
tial residence which they were destined |
to adorn. But the time came at last and /
looked forward to it with pleasure for
the girl was one to please the eye ofany
man as well as any artist.
/ had my canvas ready, and had set |
my pallet for the pearly tints of her deli.
cate complexion, when her light knock |
was heard upon the door. opened it. 1
She entered, and though waited several j
seconds, no one else appeared. l had, OF /
course, expected the maid who had at
tended Mrs. Crsneh to be with her
daughter but the girl looked at me with
her own peculiar dreamy smile.
a simply would not let Bobbins come
with me" she said. Mamma was quite
cross with me about it, but I came alone.
Where shall sit
indicated the chair on q raised dais.
She took of her cloak and bonnet, and
saw that she wore a delicate cream
white silk, open at the neck. There We're
pearls about her throat and in her ears.
She smiled gently. and without further
question took her place. Once having
posed, she sat perfectly still. Not only
did her hands remain quiet but every
muscle Of her lovely face also. Her
lashes did not stir, and l saw no move
ment in her eyes, which by degrees diiat-
ed and had the look of eyes that have
been treated with belladonna.
For first sketch this might do bu; 1
resolved that l would endeavor to alter
all that at the next sitting. However,
the pose Of the head, the lines Of her
arms and shoulders we've as graceful as
possible, aud I was deeply interested in
my drawing. when, to my horror, saw
another girl leaning over the sitter's
chair-a girl who was much Ike her,
who was attired exactly as she was. sp-
parently as real a girl as the other.
l laid my palette aside placed my
brushes upon the stand; rose and
walked to the window After standing
there q moment, 1 turned. Miss Pansy
had arisen, and was looking at me in
tentlY.
q beg your pardon. Mr.. Vincent, are
you ll?" she asked
81 do not know" / said, returning to
my seat Il experience feelings that, !
freely confess, alarm me"
The same you spoke Of when | first
saxr xor, ~ sha axeiair,ad with great in