The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-21
AN ARTISTS STORY.

Al the time when my more fortunate
brethren were returning from their sum-
mer holidays loaded with Sketches to work
up during the winter Was sitting, ut the
portrait or L city magnatc. 1t seemed Il
hopeless task trying 10 put any expression
into that heavy, puIgy padding face
suddenly there came Il gentle rap at the
door l started. it was very unusual
with me TO have visitors so late in the day.
The man who entered was the most re-
markablc man have evo- :. on lie was
tall and thin--so thin. that To my over
worked brain and tired e q, it almost
seemed rs il could see rgh = rough him.
His face was II dcuthly white, and his
eyes burned with Il steady, constant light
that frightened me. Their sole expression
seemed to me their intensity, and when
the freight fell on them they turned n
deep blood red like dog $ eyes in the sun.
AT first he entirely overlooked me. al
though had sprung to my feet as he en-.
tered. He crossed over TO the easel on
which the portrait of that ghastly alder
man was hanging, and he walked with n
Silent SHUTTLE almost without lifting his
!ect, that suggested to me that he might
be mad-1 know not why.
lie tapped the wet canvas with his
knuckle, and said, still without looking
at me-:
"You paint portraits, l believe? All.
you paint them well. You must paint
mine.''
lie spoke i'll Il quiet, determined way,
as If he were used to command. Few
words passed between us. He wanted me
10 begin ut once, in spite of the fast fad
ing light, and Immediately placed fresh
canvas on the easel
There he sat like marble, his dcathlike
face immovable, his lips tightly closed.
lworhed away, inspired by the solemn
beauty of his face. y terrible fascination
impelled me, and never worked faster or
better.
In two hours l had completely mastered
MS face, but the light of the eyes no brush
could paint
Pm afraid 1 can't see any more to-
night, said. "Can you spare me an
other sitting TO morrow"
lie rose silently and glanced in salts.
fed way Mt the canvas
Same time tomorrow" he said, and
then disappeared
Well, to cut Il long story short, the mys-
ferrous stranger came and went in the
same silent way for three or four days,
until had finished his picture.
From that day every one who came into
my studio admired the portrait of that
wondrous face. My brother artists adj.
vlscd me to show it ut the Academy. AS
three months had passed, and had never
heard Il word from my silent patron, |
thought there could be 10 harm in doing
so.
1t was hung on the line, and rs you
doubtless remember attracted very con
siderable attention. In those days it was
the custom to put fancy background TO
portraits, and had chosen from among
my sketches Il wild craggy ravine, sombcr
and precipitous, which seemed to harmo-
nlZe with that striking figure 1t was IA
memento of my last summers trip to
Scotland. From all sides congratulations
poured in, and from that day to this /
have never ceased to climb the slippery
ladder of fame.
few days, city solicitor called upon me-
~ believe" he said, you are the paint-
er of picture No i5S, at the Academy"
acknowledged was.
May ask, went OH my visitor look
ing curiously round my studio, ''may
ask, he repeated, 'who was the original
of that portrait and how long it has been
paintcds"
Ellis name, unfortunately, do not
know. AS for the datc"-and opened my
diary-'yes, here it is-Aug. 81"
are you quite sure! SAID The solicitor,
eagerly stretching out his hand for the
book
showed hinrthc entry, and he seemed
almost sttpehod.
Did lie suggest that backgroundf"
only by hiss,ril;ing personality. had
a sketch OF it in my portfolio and picked
1t ont when the idea was suggested that !
ought 10 send ii to the Academy"
"Thank you" he said. ~ am extreme
ly obliged" And before had time to ask
any questions he had vanished.
About three mornings afterward came
across the following paragraph in The
News:
THE SCOTTISH MYSTERY.
y most extraordinary trial is now attract
Ing attention in Scotland. 1t appears that last
summer II certain Mr.. Giichrist was travelling
III Aberdeen with his wife and child. one
morning Mr.. Gichrist left the hotel on aInaun-