The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-03-17
AN ARTISTS STORY.

on the mantelpiece and gazing down
into the fire, unfortunately 1 have
made np nv III nd ne er TO he Inter
viewed. ! am afraid | cannot make
an exception even for you.
Theu, seeing the -. =" mans face
fall, ne added ndly
However, If you promise 10 sup
press my name, | will tell you the
story OF my first success and even II
you do not care 10 publish II, you
will have something TO take back TO
your editor.
81 began life very low down on the
ladder OF pros Gritty My attic-studio
was in Goosegreen, Hammersmith,
and here / used to spend my time
chiefly in enlarging p aotographs for
firm fdgeware Road.
1T was in the autumn Of lS-(and
then put dash, don't you knew"
and the eminent Academician crossed
over o. see that IL was put down
right Yes, that's IT, go on.
'At the time when my more for
tunatc brethren were returning from
then summer holidays loaded with
ter ] was sitting at the portrait OF a
city magnate 1t seemed hopeless
task trying TO put any. expression into
that heavy, pOdgy, pudding face |
struggled on reproducing the photo
graph until | could smell the smell
OF a city dinner and see little scraps
of turtle floating in the air. Then
i threw down my pencil ana gave IL
up IN despair.
THAT was too much for my empty
stomach The whole air OF the room
was impregnated with that bloated
alderman, W TN his tiny pig-likc eyes
and dilateG nostrils smiling for feed
] lighted my pipe aud threw myself
back In low wicker chair, sick OF
my inartistic artists life and dis
gusted with my work,
-. ".uddenly there come 4 gentle rap
at the door. | started. 1t was very
unusual with me TO have visitors so
late in the day.
The man who entered was the
most remarkable man | have ever
seen He was tall and thin-so thin,
that, so my overwOrked brain and
tired eyes, 1t almost seemed as II |
could see right through him.
His face was deathly white, and
his eyes burned with steady, con-
stant light that frightened me.
Their sole expression seemed TO me
their intensity, and when tho fire
light sell on them they turned deep
blood red, like dogs eyes in the
sun.
at first he entirely overlooked
me, although ] had sprung To my
feet as he entered lie crossed over
20 the easel on which the portrait Of
that CHASTITY alderman was hanging,
and he walked with "A silent shu l'e.
almost without lifting his feet, that
suggested To me that he might lie
mad-l know not why.
"He tapped the wet canvas with
his knuckle, and said, still without
looking at me;
You pa mt portraits | believe?
All, you paint them well; YOU must
paint mine
"le 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 fading light and l
immediately placed fresh canvas on
the easel.
There he sat like marble, his
death-lil:c face immovable, his lips
tightly closed.
II worked away, inspired by the
solemn beauty OF his face. A terri
bic fascination impelled me, and l
never worked laster or better.
lin two hours / had completely
mastered his face, hut the light OF
the eyes no brush could paint
PPM afraid can't see any more
tonight. / said. Can you spare me
another sitting tomorrow
He rose silently, and glanced in a
satisfied way a. the canvas.
same time Tomorrow he said
and then disappeared.
"'Well, TO cut long story short, 4"
went on the famous II. A.. the
mysterious stranger came and went
in the same silent way for three or
four days, until / lssd finished his
picture.
When the last sitting was over.
be held out his hand. Thank you
he said; at last have had Justice
done You might keep the picture
until j bring the money and then
be disappeared
"from that day every one who
came into my studio admired the
portrait OF that wCndrous face. Ny