The morning call., 1893-06-11
The Story of a Partisan
Photographer.
A DOG ACTS THE FAIRY
From Poverty and Despair to Conn
petence and a Joyous
Home.


order 10 work on a Government order. a
canvas of seventy yards square which his
atelier could not contain. he had rented
down there an immense shed. in which he
| had isolated himself for months, intent
upon his task, desiring to finish it before
| winter.
On going out he pointed to the skylight
of photographer at the top Of neigh
boring house and said to me:
IF it makes no difference TO you we will
go up there. Ihave to get some proofs of
my picture"
"All right! Let's 60 up.'
We cl mbed to the fifth floor and stopped
at little door on which, upon black
plate, were these words in gilt letters:
Marcellus3 photographer
"Hello!" / exclaimed, that's promis-
ing name! 'Tu Marcellus erisp"
"The poor DEVIL" responded Jean. II
doubt whether he will ever be anything
else but what he is, a poor photographer
on the outskirts of the city. And yet
he has known much harder times than at
present. It's an interesting story and quite
touching. | will tell it 10 you while L am
working But Just take a look al the
stuffed dog which is in the ateleI."
a young woman with sweet face and
an amiable air opened the door for us.
| "Ah, it's you, Monsieur MOrinp eX-
claimed she in clear voice on recognizing
| Jean. MY husband will be with you i'm
med lately. He is just finishing your
| proofs Please come in."
We entered the ateller. where, upon
some pieces OF carpet. t1axen-haired boy
| of 3 or e years was playing with lead
soldiers. The young wife gathered up
his toys and said, taking him by the
| hand:
Come, baby? Pardon. messieurs
And with smile she led out the child
and left US alone. Immediately l perceived
a sort OF niche in which beneath a globe
| placed upon carved shelf was displayed
frightful stuffed dog-the one about
which Jean had spoken to me. 1t was
mongrel cur. cOrpulent, ugly and with the
hair off in spots. regular canine monster.
"What horrorT' l exclaimed.
"Chut! that's, Mira, the beneficent fairy
of the housel Don't speak i'll of her?"
Nj. Marcelus came in. He was small
man, thin and dark, with curly nair, clad
in threadbare green velvet jacket and pin X
lsh pantaloons-a most singular rig. He
handed the photographs TO Jean. VINO
declared himself satisfied and paid for
them. Then we took our departure.
| A quarter Of an hour later. indolently
stretched out in fauteuil, | was listening
to my friend, who, perched on the rounds
of his tall ladder. was relating to me the
! promised story.
ut was ten years ago." said he, ''that
Marcellus perched up there where you saw
| him. But at that period the quarter was
| far from being as thickly populated as it
! is to-day, and it was the oldest idea in the
world, when even the wine merchants had
! to shut up shop from lack of patronage, to
! open photographers establishment here
| The poor devil was not long in finding
this out. Ia spite of his showcases full
| of portraits and his seductive advertising
| banners the business amounted TO moth
! ing. He had little money put aside
which had been left him by his mother;
| this he soon exhausted and, one fine morn
ing, when about TO have his goods seized
| Tor rent, having not"a centime left and
having gone hungry for twenty-four hours,
| he gave way to despair. and resolved to
| die. 49,.
"He went downstairs and entered the
adjoining charcOal-dealer's shop to buy
bushel of charcoal on credit. Pere Bar
| bazange, the dealer, was not in. 1t was
| his daughter Louison. one of the few pat
irons Marcellus had had since his installa-
tion, who waited on him. Louison was
pretty in spite Of the handkerchief tied
round her head and the black dust which
streaked her pleasing face. and he had, at
various times flrted trif1e with her with
out being too unfayorably received. But
that morning he WAS reserved and chilling
The somber thoughts which were coursing
through his brain did not dispose him to-
ward gallantry.
L will stop and pay for this soon, be-
fore | 60 away. mademoiselle! said he as
he went out.
'''Y ou are going away, Monsieur Marcel
lus" exclaimed the young girl in aston
ishment
Yes. replied he. I am going away-on
a long journey. | can't make enough here
to buy water with to drink
'Louison was not stupid. She read the
despair in the eyes of the photographic
and linking that with the purchase of the
bushel of charcoal and the announcement
OF the long journey. guessed his tragic
! resolution. Her little heart beat with
great thumps. But what should she do?
How could she save him? Speak to her
| father? That was not TO be thought of,
The old charcoa al-deale could not endure
the photographer. Notify the Commissary
OF Police? She dare not do that. And
besides suppose she should be deceiviDg
greatly troubled. But time was passing
and perhaps already up there! An in
splratiOn came to her. A well-Io-do old
lady lived in the house"
"Bigrep interrupted |, "you are thor
| oughly informed"
myself are very close friends. He told me
all about it-between artists, you know.
But TO continue:
That well-so-do lady, Nine. Versepuy.
iiVed alone with an aged dog. Mira, her
only love- She was kind hearted. very
charitable woman and had frequently
shown interest in Louison. The latter did
not hesitate. Leaving the shop in the
care OF the concierge, she ran up the stair
way anG rang the bell at the door Of Mime.
.versepuy. who opened it herself, with
Mira IN her arms.
Oh. madamer cried the young girl.
You, who are so kind and so rich. must
prevent great calamity.f
A great calamityv What calamity,
my little OneP You are all upset
es, madam, one Of our nelghbors-a
very nice young man-is about to sui1ocate
himself
TO suffocate himself! A young man!
because he is in love with you, perhaps!
On. no, madami exclaimed Louison,
pushing. Not because he Is in love, but
because he is in want
nv, The poor fellowI And who is heP
Where is hep
Ihere-next door-the photographer
Inc photographer !-another IN trou-
oie! But what can l do, my dear?'
/ .. Oh! madame. you could
IN one stopped. not knowing what to say.
men. suddenly, she exclaimed:
GU could have your portrait taken!
fes, that's it; it would restore hope to
MIN ana would. at least, enable him TO get
some thlng to eat to-day.
| ana she added. ingenuously:
:, orders are paid for in advance!
feste! You are posted, little one!
And the old lady smiled shrewdiy.
'Oh madame make haste, | beg of