Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-08-23
The Picture On the Cuff.
BY HARRY HOW.

month. He was a man worth know.
ing. His honest and genial-lookin,
face spoke truly of the honor of hi,
heart within, and his friendship wa,
something to be desired. Moreover
he was clever, very clever, an(
among his associates was freely re
garded as an artist who some day
would be with the much-coveted r.
A. after his name. was, therefore
particularly happy when he asked
me to come round and smoke Il pip,
with him in his studio. 1t was typi
cal Bohemian little den in Chelsea
studio among studios, for 1t was
situated among a number of sucf
"painting rooms" in a building
specially designed for the purpose
His greeting, as l anticipated, was
most cordial. We lighted our pipes,
and, as though we had known one an
other for years, he took me by the
arm, and, walking me around his
studio, commenced pointing out the
various curios and the like hanging
upon the walls and crowding corners
in picturesque negligence.
One curiosity" in little black
and gold frame, however, seemed to
impress me more than anything else.
1t was linen shirt cuff, and on it,
drawn in pencil, was the face of a
beautiful girl. / recognized the fea-
lures at once; it was the face that
figured in his celebrated picture,
Tired of Life" which created such
sensation with the public, and
made such marked impression on
the art critics two years ago at one
Of the great art exhibitions in Lon
don. Franklin noticed and under
stood my curiosity.
"Sit down, old fellow" he said
pointing to basket chair covered
with lowered cretonne. Curiosity
aroused, eh?"
/ admitted that it was.
"Well," he said, Il am just in the
humor for telling the story, and l
think you will vote it pretty one
yes, and as romantic as the finale OF
it was happy. This is linen shirt
cuff" and he reached it down from
the wall, land the face you see there
was the one which went into my
Tired Of Life.
i told him / recognized it as soon
as / saw it.
II was walking along the embank-
ment one day little more than two
years ago." Franklin commenced,
trying to hit upon good subject for
a picture. paced up and down the
water side for an hour or more, but
still without an idea. / was just
about to turn down the road leading
back to my place when / saw a wo-
man coming along. Her eyes seem.
ed to be fixed upon the water. / had
never seen such a sorrowful face be-
fore; so pale and so sad; there was
trouble written on every feature. Yet
it was a very beautiful face, and it
seemed to inspire me in an instant,
and the subject ! had been in search
of appeared to be mine at last. Now,
you must know that / have habit
of sketching q striking or character
istic face upon my cuffs likely to
stand me in good stead for introduce
lDH lhIO u PiOkulOs lOl
me the woman stood quite still for q
few moments leaning over the stone
work and gazing dreamily into the
water. My pencil was out in an in
slant, and her face was quickly trans
ferred to my cuff. i felt very excl
ted. Here, here was my subject! the
very thing. But possibly she might
pose as model for me, / thought.
Better still.
II crossed to her, and, raising my
hat, spoke. She started and looked
at me with fear and trembling. /
apologized to her for the strange in
SEPARATION that her presence had sug-
gested to me. / told her / was an ar
fist; that her face had given me an
idea that might possibly bring me
fame and fortune. Tired of Life, /
should call it. Again l apologized
as l further explained to her my idea.
She stared at me vacantly.
1T will be the picture of young
and beautiful woman" said, ga
zing dreamily into the water by night,
and seeing in the dark stream rest
ing place for her and her troubles.
Would she become a model for my
picture?" I saw how poorly she was
clad, so I felt i should not be insult
ing her IL told her i would pay her
for her services.
She started and trembled at my
request. She looked at me in q way
/ shall never forget.
"'Do you know-do you know, she
said, but no, of course, you cannot,
/ must 60; please let me go. / can
not do as you ask.
''The woman made movement.
You seem in trouble l said,
and putting my hand in my pocket
we'll, the truth Is, old fellow, / gave
her q sovereign. l shall never forget
the grateful look she gave me; there
was 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 II she thought anything more of
my proposal to come and see me.
She took the card, and with thank
full face turned quickly and hurried
away.
"We1l. / started on nv picture,