Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-18
hangs there just as that fellow left

VIC edU Slleuuly IOr some minute!
when Graves had done. l confess thu
story impressed me a good deal. ant
glancing up could see that CUTLER
was strangely moved.
land did you never have any ex
PLANTATION of the thing?" said a,
last.
NO" said Graves, II never had
any explanation and 1 don't suppose
l ever SHALL
CUTLER had risen and stood near the
fire.
Il think can give it," he said,
knocking the ashes out of his pipe.
Graves stared at him; no one spoke
and he went on. as If unwillingly.
THAT must have been brakes cot.
tage you had; he was before your
time-I dare say you never heard of
him. He lived there with his wife
and that's her portrait"
Graves stare of surprise became
more profound and Teddy and l
looked on in silent wonder. CUTLER
went on, speaking like a man who
has been carried quite out Of himself.
"There was tragic story TOLD
about Drake and his wife. He was a
good deal older than she, ana change
able and moody in his ways, and she,
poor child, was ambitious to help him
to be great At first he was tender
and thoughtful toward her, and then
he seemed to forget how fragile and
sensitive she was--he neglected her,
and grew more and more morose and
moody. He used to get very savage
about his models, and complain that
1t was impossible to get any one with
Intelligence enough to sit decently.
Once his wife asked him whether she
could not sometimes help him by sit
ting. and he only laughed at her. I
remember. 'You-you.' he said
that was all. Then the poor child
had an illness, which. if she had been
happier, might have ended differently,
and been new happiness to both of
them; but she was too worn out with
sorrow and disappointment, and in
the end she died. In her delirium
she was always calling to her hus.
band, Let me help you let me be of
some use; only once, dear-paint me
only once;;' and poor Drake, who woke
up to a sense of his loss was heart.
broken at his inability to satisfy her.
The tenderest and most passionate
tones of his voice never reached her.
ana she died without ever knowing
him again. After that Drake was
changed man; he seemed to have only
one idea-tO paint the portrait of his
wife. Canvas after canvas he spoiled,
and when 1 went to see him he would
say: ''She cannot rest until have
done it. l must succeed; sooner or
later l must satisfy her. At length
he became so unmanageable, eating
nothing. and spending long, sIeepless
nights walking about the country,
that his friends came and took him
away He died some month after in
an asylum"
''By Jovc!" said Teddy O'Brien
when CUTLER had finished, and then
relapsed into silence.
looked at Graves, lbut he was lost
n wondermcnt too deep for words.
The portraits very like her." said
Quiller, with a strange awe in his
Lone. 'I'm glad poor Drake sue
,eeded at last"
you think" said 1, and broke of.
CUTLER was putting on his coat. |
lie answered my unfinished question
With solemnity for which was not |
prepared.
'For 20 years these two poor ghosts
AVE been waiting their opportunity.
Let us be thankful that in the end
hey found it,"
lie seemed to forget to take leave
I us in any way, and went without
mother word AS the door closed
ach of us drew a deep breath of re-
ef. Dick raised his head with an
ir of stupefaction.
''Thats rum story" said Teddy
|Brien: why did you never tell it
efore?"
"The FUNNIEST thing about it is
ne sequel" said l. ''Dick, old man,
your part true9"
Il don't know" said Dick; l begin
} think it must be-"
''Great Scotland Yard" said Teddy
'Brlen, 'did you make it up?"
every word of it-on the spur of
nc moment.
"Did you Know"
"Not a word, CUTLER seemed
,ruck by that picture. and it was
he only sign Of human interest he
ad shown, so l thought I'd humor
i'm. l didn't mean ghost story
hen began, but it somehow de-
,lOpcd into that l would have
ven a great deal to take rise out
him, hut never hoped for any
ling so complete as this"
1T was Il curious coincidence that
~ should have taken brakes cot
ge," said O'Brien.
Yes, said Dick, dryly; "but the
ost curious part of it all is that the {
ttage was made up, too" {
'Nreat Scotland Yard" said Teddy
Brien again.
And who painted the head?"
81 painted it myself" said Dick,
md begin to think it must be a c
uced good picture. "-Cornhill. n