The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-26
A Studio P nance.

"A CSoulO u L1anCes
Fiction. even in its most fanciful phases. says
the New York Sun, is discounted by truth as it
is told in a studio. Laura Jean Libby and oto
could not coucoct a more remarkable story than
that which recently reached It's
denouement beside the easel OF
Walter Satterlee. This well-known
paiuter is a cousin OF the rector and pillar OF
Calvary church. Therefore bis testimony may
be accepted without the hesitation that might
attend similar evidence from a lay and unre-
generate painter. Mr. Satterlee told the story
simply and without any idea tnat it would ever
get into print at meeting last week OF num-
Der Of y. AS.
By this veracious narrative it appears that
some months ago an old English woman
knocked at his studio door and inquired il he
could employ. her as a model. Accidentally
enough, il happened that s. that time Mr.. Sat
picture for1tbe chief figure of which the old
lady was admirably suited. He Immediately
engaged her services. For several weeks she
came TO the studio every other day until the
canvas was finished. During this period walter
SafterIee. who is one Of the most affable of
artists entered into frequent conversation wi it'll
his aged model and learned something of her
curious history. She had never posed as a
model efore, she said, but she was penniless
IN strange country, and had TO do something
for living.
You must have been handsome GIRL" re-
marked the painter, politely. Indeed, have
features In a person OF your age.
Twas very beautiful, replied the old lady,
ingeniously: when was II they said that
Devonshire had no prettier girl than / was II
would have been better for me if l had not been
so lovely. Then might have married an hon.
est man In my own station and been the happy
mother of farmers children. But l was
falrer than all the other girls in the county and
that fatal gift of beauty attracted the attention
OF Lord -, younger brother OF the Duke of
=. We loved each other faithful and true.
a III hnr Ia
meant no harm to me. We plighted our troth,
and ne gave me q ring and promised to marry
me. But his proud relatives frowned on the
match, and the dukes steward came to me
one day and said that the marriage could never
take place. cried q good deal. but the stew
ard said that he would make it worth my while
10 leave England. So he gave me 81, 600 and
ticket for Canada On the ship / met a gen
tieman who loved me, and on reaching Quebec
We got married" At this point the old lady
began to weep. --. -t-
Dear mel" said Mr.. sasterlse. sympatheti-
cally, this is a very remarkable history even
Tor model. Was he villain?'
Indeed. no." continued she He was
NOBLE gentleman; But ne had no business, and
only invented things that were of no use to any
body. He couldn't sell them. and after spend
ing all my Thousand pounds we became very
poor. One day my noble husband got desper-
ATE, and said be WIS going out to get some
WORK, II ne lad TO be pleecemau. That's nigh
on ilve and thirty years ago, and have never
seen him since / heard aiterward that he
couldn't get any work, and had shipped as
sailor l suppose he was drowned. For we
loved each other so that if he mad teen alive he
would have come back to me. Then, having no
husband and no money. l went into service
until grew too old, and one day somebody said
pose as a model -
Although naturally solicitous for the welfare
OF mankind, v alter atterlee could not employ
the old lady after his picture was finished. he
took her address, promised to recommend her
70 ms artist friends, and here the interesting
incident came temporarily to an end. Tut
shortly afterward it as resumed In a manner
which tempts the conclusion aforesaid that
truth can give points TO fiction and discount t.
mf satterlee sent his picture to a western
exhibition, and was gratified to learn that IL
was SOD. simultaneously with this agreeable
news came letter from the purcha ser asking
the artist il he had painted the central fgure OF
the old lady from imagination Because"
continued the writer, the face had so strong
an interest for me that l bought the picture on
acc unit OF it. | dare not say what strange
impossible hopes it raises in my mind But if
you value the ha piness of an old man write
me honestly about this figure" Thus adiured,
the artist FASTENED to state the facts to his
customer. A few days later Mr. Satterlee
received telegram from Chicago from his
correspondent entreating him urgently to have
the Old model in his studio at certain hour on
certain day. The hour and the day came
bringing the old English woman to pose, as she
believed, for another picture. Suddenly a soft
tap was heard on the door. aud on Mr. Satter-
gentleman, who laid bis finger on his lips, en-
Joining secrecy, and entered the studio with ILL
concealed agitation. the next thing that as
tonlshed the artist was a scream from the aged
model. cry of joy from the old gentleman,
ana Mr. Satterlee peeping through his draper.
les TO discover the cause of this extraordinary
commotion, found his two guests In each other 3
arms. At that moment the kindly and diplo-
matte painter discovered that he had immediate
business with Carleton Virgins in an adjoining
studio. Returning half an hour later, he found
the old couple still embracing each
other, God bless you. sir" said
the old gentleman, huskily. I'VE owe it all to
you. l heard she was dead thirty years ago
When came back from that unfortunate voy-
age couldn't find her anywhere, and l left
Canada and went to Chicago have made a
tidy bit of money, and. thanks to you, sir I've
got my dear wife again. Excuse me but |
can't help it," whereupon the fine old GENTLE
man kissed the excellent old lady with hearty
smack again and again.
Mr. Satterlee suddenly remembered that he had
omitted one important matter in his conference
with Mr.: Virgins, and was about to leave tho
happy old folks once mora alone But they
would not hear of such thing, The old gen
tienan pinned mis- wife's ragged shawl over her
bosom gallantly, and the strangely reunited
couple went off to Chicago on the next train
II Walter Satterlee will go to the worlds fair
next summer he will be the guest of honor in
one OF the finest houses in Evanston.