Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-03-14
Az ARTISTS STORY

At 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 at the
portrait Of "A city magnate. IL seemed q
hopeless task trying TO put any expression
into that heavy, podgy, pudding face.
Suddenly there came gentle rap at the
door. started IL was very unusual
with me TO have visitors so late in che day.
The man who entered was the most re-
markable man have ever seen, He was
tall and thin-so thin, that, to my over
worked brain and tired eyes, II almost
seemed as II could see right through him.
His face was deathly white, and his
eyes burned with "a steady, constant light
that frightened me. Their sole expression
seemed To me their intensity, and when
the freight fell on them they turned a
deep blood red like dogs 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 a
silent shuttle, almost without lifting his
feet, that suggested TO me that he might
be mad-l know not why.
He tapped the wet canvas with his
knuckle, and said, still without looking
at me:
"You paint portraits, I believer All,
. you paint them well. You must paint
mine"
lie spoke in a quiet, determined way,
as IL he were used To command. Few
words passed between us. He wanted me
to begin at once, in spite Of the fast fad
ing light. and Immediately placed fresh
canvas on the easel.
There he sat like marble, his deathlike
face immovable, his lips tightly closed.
worked away, inspired by the solemn
beauty OF his face. A terrible fascination
impelled me, and never worked faster OF
better.
In two hours had completely mastered
his face, but the light of the eyes no brush
could paint.
"l'm afraid can't see any more to
night" said. "Can you>spare me an
other sitting to morrow"
He rose silently and glanced In a salts
fed way at the canvas.
"Same time tomorrow" he said, and
then disappeared.
Well, to cut a long story short, the mys-
terious 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 ad
vised me TO show it at the Academy. As
three months had passed, and had never
heard word from my silent patron,
thought there could be no harm In doing
SO.
IL was hung on the line, and as you
doubtless remember attracted very con
siderable attention. In those days IL was
the custom TO put fancy background to
portraits, and | had chosen from among
my sketches wild craggy ravine, sombeI
and precipitous, which seemed to harmo
Dize with that striking figure. IL was q
memento Of my last summers trip tc
Scotland From all sides congratulations
poured in, and from that day to this
have never ceased to climb the slippery
ladder of fame.
After the Academy had been opened a
few days, city solicitor called upon me.
"I believe, "he said, "you are the paint
er of picture No. 45s, at the Academy"
acknowledged / was.
"May ash" " went on my visitor, look.
ing curiously round my studio, "may
ask, f" he repeated, "who was the original
of that portrait and how long IL has been
paintedW
ellis name, unfortunately, l do not
know. As for the date"-and opened my
diary-"yes, here it is-Aug. 81"
care you quite sure'" said the solicitor,
eagerly stretching out his hand for the
book
/ showed him the entry. and he seemed
almost stupefed.
"Did he suggest that background
"Only by his striking personality. Ihad
a sketch of 1t in my portfolio and picked
it out when the idea was suggested that
ought to send It to the Academy"
"Thank you," he said. 81 am extreme
ly obliged" And before had time to ash
any questions he had vanished.
About three mornings afterward came
across the following paragraph In Th'
Morning News;
THE SCOTTISH MYSTERY.
A most extraordinary trial is now attract
ing attention in Scotland. 1t appears that las
summer a certain Mr.. Gilchrist was travelling
in Aberdeen with his wife and child. One
morning Mr. Gilchrist left the hotel on noun
tain expedition, from which he never returned
The suspicious OF his friends were aroused
by the marriage Of Mrs. Gilchrist few weeks
after the disaster with a certain Mr.. Freeman
who had been their travelling companion. They
could, however, find no traces Of foul play.
In tbfa Apadany al d