The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-12
PANsY's PORTRAIT.
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.

PANSY'S PORTRAIT.
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.
The following story used to be told by
an artist, "a little queer in his mind"
whenever he could get listener;
The sign upon the door-posi of my
dwelling commended me to the public
as Carl Vincent, Artist" but the public
did not seem much interested in the fact,
and had begun to realize that time is
long, life short, and money ditto.
My landlord wanted his rent, and there
was so little Of the true Bohemian in my
nature that l wanted linn to save it.
1t was bare little room, that studio of
mine. had neither old tapestry, tiger
skins or brio a-brac to embellish it with
The artist life had dreamed of when
l left my fathers country home to come
20 town, seemed fading into foolish
dream. They had refused my picture at
the Academy, and accepted that daub Of
Tomkins, and life looked very dark to
me.
l had arrived, in fact, at a rather des-
perate state of the blues, when became
aware of a clumping noise upon the
stairs-the sound Of heavy boots and a
cane.
As the sounds ceased at my door, 1
opened the window, put my pipe out
upon the ledge, shut the easement again,
and seized my partette and mahlstick-
The next instant short, important
knock was followed by the appearance
Of = gentleman, who might be described
as also short and impatient
"Nincent?' he inquired.
bowed.
He looked over the bannisters, which
were very near the door, and called to
some one below:
Come up; this is the right place"
And in a moment more two ladies' made
their appearance. One was matronly,
pretty, rosy and overdressed, and enter
ed ny studio confidently, looking about
her, and at me, through folding eye
glass, in a eondescended manner.
The other was young, pale and beauti
ful. Looking at her one thought of
lilies Of the valley before rude hands
have plucked them from their stems.
She followed the others with bent head,
and eyes vailed by the great almond
shaped Ids. l might have faneied her
manner a curious sort Of affeetation but
for the meek and childlike simplicity of
her expression
FASTENED to do the honors of my
studio, and placed seats at once. The
old gentleman lowered himself into his
cautiously, as though he had experiences
Of chairs which were not reliable. The
young girl did not even notice the bow
with which offered her another. She
glided past, and became absorbed in con-
temptation of a picture which hung in
the farther end of the studio.
Meanwhile the old gentleman cleared
his throat and inquired, abruptly;
"Did you do stunts?"
q beg your pardon" said greatly be-
wildered.
81 said, did you do Stunts?" he repli-
ed. Stunts, and Mrs. Stunts, too,
think, and their little boy ?"
/ began to understand that he spoke
of a rich grocer whose portrait / had
painted.
Il had that honor" replied.
"You got him down fine" said the gen
tleman. WAS it your idea or his to
have that package of 'digestible gustatiye
grains, only 10 cents the half pound, on |
the table at his elbow ?'
~His entirely" said, flushing little;
for that rather iIlegitimate addition to
work of art had been a sore subject with !
me ever since Mr.. Stunts exhibited his
picture at the art gallery of which he
was patron, and the critics had alluded |
TO it humorously Ellis own entirely, l !
assure you"
at was capital idea, whoever struck |
it" said the old gentleman. Il thought
of having something of the sort intro
duced into mine, but my wife here don't |
think il would be the thing"
Il agree with the lady," said 1.
~l'm in notions myself" said the gen
tlemsn, "and many a thing might be
worked in. But no matter. Settle it be-
tween you. 1 don't know much about
art but can pay for the pictures. You
can do Us both. I'll wear a swallow-tail,
and l want Mrs. Cranch to have low neck
and short sleeves and diamonds. You
can do diamonds, 1 suppose, Mr.. Vim
cent"
1t was not a time for show of profes-
sional modesty 50 declared tha; could
do diamonds.
That's all I stipulate for, besides the
neck and arms" said Mr.. Cranch. "Wen,
when can you do Us, Mr.. Vincent ?"
made a pretenee of examining my
engagement book before chose the
morrow for the first sittings.
Then stout Mrs Craneh arose and set
tied her wraps, and Mr.. Cranch buttoned
up his coat, and looked about him.
"Pansy," he said, wouldn't you like
to be done, too? Don't you want your
piciure7"
The young lady, who had all this
while been standing quietly before the
sketch in the far eoTner Of the studio,
turned at this and advanced toward Us,
saying, as she came.
@Oh, no, papa, not mine"
@Just as you like; if you don't want it
you needn't have it though it would
look well over the eargs," said Mr..
Crznch.
Il xr-os r.roc-.al,- ~ .hsu rnoraanf that a |