The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-04
i.The woman made a movement.


You seem in trouble ] said,
and putting my hand in my pocket
well, the truth is, old fellow, / gave
her a sovereign. ! shall never forget
the grateful look she gave me; there
was a smile there, and tears were in
her eyes. She took the money with
out word, but | read all she wanted
TO say. gave her my card, and told
| her if she thought anything more OF
my proposal 10 come and see me.
She took the card, and with thank
full face turned quickly and hurried
away.
Well, / started on my picture,
and day by day it grew. / seldom
had TO refer TO the sketch on my cuff
though / kept it carefully, for the
woman's face was too yividly inn
pressed upon my memory. j must tell
you that at that time we had an old
man here, named Glover, who used
to clean and dust our rooms anu do
odd things about the place in general.
He was quiet, say little sort OF old
fellow-a man, should say, who had
evidently seen a bit OF trouble as
well as better days. We men used to
talk to him pretty freely, and he al
ways evinced a deep interest in the
various pictures upon which we were
engaged. But ! never knew him so in
terested in any canvas as he was in my
Tired Of Life He was silent about
it, however, and seldom spoke. used
TO surprise him OF a morning some
times when / entered my studio for
work. There he would stand before
my easel with wondering gaze, watch
ing my picture growing, and evidently
wondering what was TO come next.
There on the canvas was the river by
night, the lights reflected in the water,
the bridge in the distance, and some
river craft lying idle by the waters
edge. Just by the parapet stood a
woman in black-a shawl loosely
thrown about her shoulders, her hat
old and shabby her face-'Tired Of
Life
II had not quite completed the
painting on the woman's face, it was
not realized yet, but the old man was al.
ways looking at it and apparently was
wondering what expression and what
features would eventually be placed
there. All this time / had not seen
or heard anything OF the woman who
had suggested the character TO me.
1t wanted Just month to sending-in
day and ! had only another days
work on the face and / should be
through in capital time. spent the
whole Of this day on the features OF
the woman and just as it was getting
dusk surveyed my work with salts
faction. II could not have been bet
ter and ! heartily shook hands with
myself. The following morning when
/ entered my studio and opened the
door saw that which made my heart
almost cease TO beat. i stood holding
the handle Of the door and could not
move, my whole frame was trembling.
The face OF the woman had been cut
out Of my picture! In moment |
had pulled myself together. | shouted
out for 'Glover-Gloverp but no re-
ply came. l rushed round my fellow
artists rooms. The old man was not
there, neither had he been there that
morning, for their rooms were un-
swept and untidy as left the pre-
vious night. The whole truth flashed
across me, Glover was the miscreant
who had ruined and stole my work.
| remembered il all then-his interest
in my picture, his anxious waiting,
waiting waiting for the woman's face
TO appear on the canvas. The
wretched thief and robber,' l NUT
tered. And in the midst of all this
the great question rang through my
ears and haunted my brain-'Who
was this woman that induced this
man to want the picture of her face?
Search was made for him, but he had
gone none knew where.
1T was a supreme effort, tell you,
but ! did it-l did it | had clear
month before l should have TO send
in my work, and set to md painted
the whole thing again. You remem-
Der what success il was, and think
/ may say truly that had | never
painted Tired OF Life, should not
be what am to-day.
1T was the day before the opening
OF the--Exhibition. / was sitting
thinking quietly in my studio when
heard a rap at the door. cried,
Come in. The door opened, and
there stood-the woman had seen
on the Embankmentl Her face was
still pale, and the lines Of trouble
were not entirely efraced, but she ap-
peared more composed and contented.
She was better dressed too. 1t was
such sudden surprise to me that |
practically jumped from my chair.
She was the first 10 speak.
q" oh, sir" she said, forgive me
this; should have come before.
Tell me, tell me, have you painted
the picture you spoke to me about =?
II you have ii is all mistake it will
not be true now. 1t might have been,
but you came TO me as friend in
need. Tell me, sir, have you painted