The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-12
AN ARTISTS STORY.


mer holidays loaded with sketches to work
up during the winter was sitting at the
portrait of city magnate. 1t seemed q
hopeless task trying to put any expression
into that heavy, podgy, pudding face.
Suddenly there came q gentle rap at the
door. l started. 1t was very unusual
with me to have visitors 30 late In the day
The man who entered was the most re
marka bic man have ever seen. He was
tall and thin-so thin, that, to my over
worked brain and tired eyes, It 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 CHASTITY alder
man was hanging, and he walked with O.
silent shuftie, almost without lifting his
feet, that suggested to me that he might
be mad-I know not why.
He tapped the wet canvas with his
knuckle, and said, still without looking
at me:
L
you paint them we'll You must paint
mine"
He spoke In a quiet, determined way,
rs 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 a 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 or
better.
In two hours Ind completely mastered
his face, but the light of the eyes no brush
could paint. m.--..
''I'm afraid can't see any more to
night" I said. "Can you spare me an
other sitting to morrow"
He rose silently and glanced in salts
fed way at the canvas.
''Same time tomorrow, +" he said, and
then disappeared.
Well, to cut 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.
It was hung on the line, and as you
doubtless remember attracted very con-
sidernb BILE attention. In those days it was
the custom to put fancy background to
lee .,I 4 lad 81. 1,,f
my sketches a wild craggy ravine, somber
and precipitous, which seemed to harmo-
nize with that striking figure. 1t was a
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. 5. ...-
| After the Academy had been opened q
! few days, city solicitor called upon me
4 81 believe, y he said, "you are the paint
| er of picture No. 45s, at the Academy"
! acknowledged was.
| "May | ask, went on 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
| painted"
"His name, unfortunately, do MOI
! know. As for the date''-and opened my
| diary-"yes, here 1t is--Aug. 81"
I "Are you quite surep" said the solicitor
eagerly stretching ont his hand for tbs
book. -. sM
showed him the entry, and he seemed
almost stupefed.
! ibid he suggest that background"
"only by his striking personality. Ihat
a sketch Of 1t in my portfolio and pickle,
it out when the idea was suggested that
| .l.A4 n 1 49, IL. -
u "Thank you" he said. ~ am extreme
ly obliged" And before had time to asl
any questions he had vanished.
About three mornings afterward cam
! across the following paragraph in TIL
} Morning News: "..=.....
: TIE SCOTTISH MYSTERY.
A most extraordinary trial is now attract
ing attention in Scotland. 1t appears that las
SUMMER certain Mr.. Gilchrist was travelin
in Aberdeen with his wife and child. On
morning Mr.. Gilchrist left the hotel ON n noun
= tain expedition, from which he never returned
! The suspicious of his friends were arouse
by the marriage of Mrs. Gilchrist few week
after the disaster with n certain Mr.. Freeman
who had been their travelling companion. The
: could, however, find no traces of foul play.
In this years Academy there appeared
portrait Of the deceased. subsequent investi
CATION showed 1t had been painted three or fou
months after his death. The artist, however
could throw no fresh light upon the mystery
of which the most extraordinary feature wa
that the background-whi ch he selected l.
chancc-was n sketch of tho very district i
which Mr. Gilchrist had disappeared.
: His relatives determined 10 eift the mater
and searching the exact spot in the nlctur
they have found the body, with u rusty dagge
imbedded in his side.
The weapon was at once identified as tn
property OF Mr.. Freeman, who is now on triu
: for the murder of Mr.. Gilchrst
! The prisoner confessed his guilt an
was sentenced to death.-Short Stori2s.