Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-05-17
astenod at once to secure his scr.

Blender was Miss Stratton.
To-be-sure, his charges were onor.
mous-quite ruinous, indeedEbut
then, as Mrs. Goldsby, the former
jewelers. wife, supercilious,v re.
marked, there was .stho same differ:
ence in high and low art as in real and
Imitation diamonds. If ono would
have the genuine, ona must expect to
pay accordingly; and everybody knew
what Incredible prices were paid for
oil paintings nowadays"
And Mrs. Oldborough, who had no
diamonds, but boosted of pedigree. oh.
served that s'of course it was neces.
sary for every old family to keen mn
its family portrait gallery" So she
meant to have her own likeness taken
and hung beside that of her grand
father, the Judge.
1t required long timo for Miss
Stratton to consider in what STYLE she
would have her portrait taken.
Finally she decided upon full
length figure in tho midst of q garden,
the faco shaded and softened by rink
parasol, and her hands full of roses.
This would serve, to display her
helght and tho dignity of her carriage,
and also allow of considerable piotur-
esqueness in her dress, falling grace
fully about.
She gave tho artist several sittings,
and being then assured that no could
complete tho portrait with the assist
ance OF photograph left with him for
the purpose, she waited in pleased an
ticipation of the result.
On the day appointed by Mr.. Blen.
der, Miss Strntton repaired to the
studio, and the completed portrait was
unveiled before her eyes.
She surveyed it for somo moments
in silence.
'You don't call this likoness?" she
at longth demanded, very abruptly.
An excellent likeness, madam" re-
turned Mr.. Blonder, composodly.
"But-but"-s surveying it first from
one sido and then another-''it looks
ton years Older than it should do. And
it's too thin--and sallow. And the
smilo is not ut all like me. Pm sure
tho corners of my mouth don't turn
mp like that. Why. it's n positive
smirk No ono would ever imngino
that it was intended for me-"
81 beg your pardon, madam, but
have faithfully represented both the
feature and expression, and consider
the coloring unusually good and truo
to naturel" said Mr.. Blcnder, polite
ly, but firmly.
"Its n perfect fright" said Miss
Stratton.
MIR. Blcnder shrugged his shoulders
in deprecating manner, aud tho
lndy's face became very red.
"You promised me good likeness,
sir, she said, ''for which 1 agreed to
pay you ono hundred dollars.
Mr.. Blendor bowed.
81 do not consider this q likeness
at oil. 1t must be altered.
TO alter it would be to destroy tho
likeness.
"You decline to mako my change,
such as l might suggest?"
Mr.. Blender replied that he was not
accustomed to paint portraits after
the suggestions of tho sitter, but &C.
cording to his own Judgment: that he
allowed mono but perfect likenesses to
GO forth from his hand nnd under his
name, though he made point of add
ing whatever softening touches could
BIO iudiciously introduced. Ho had
done so in this instance.
Miss Stratton glared Mt him indig.
nantly. Hero was insult added to in.
jury.
"All that have to say is, that do
not consider the picture n likeness,
and must decline to take it," she haid,
resolutcly.
edo you mean, madam, that you
decline to pny for it?"
Certainly, sir I cannot DO OK
pected to throw away hundred dol
lars on n caricature such us thisl" she
replied, Indignantly.
MIR. Blender then proposed to refer
the question of the likeness to any
person whom she might select; anil
Miss Stratton Immediately sent across
the street for the grocer and his wife
with whom she had dealt for q score of
years.
"Now. Mr.. Greon." said she, as
soon as they entorod, "just look at
this picture and tell mo if you could
ever have imagined that it was intend.
ed for me?"
Mr.. Green smiled with recognize
ing smile, but receiving an ndmoni.
tory nudge from his wife, looked SOL
emn and doubtful, and shook his head.
''Lor' !" said Mrs. Green. "Why,
you don't mean to say. Miss Stratton
as it was ever intended for your"
"Mr. Blcnder calls it likeness, >
said Miss Stratton, with sarcastic bit
terness, "And expects mo to pay one
hundred dollars for it as such. 1 call
it caricature. Look at the smirk,
and tho head thrown back, aud the
long nose and hard, black eyes, with
no shade about them. No, Mr..
Blender, will not take this picture.
You have heard what these good PEG
Pile say, and 1 am certain that my
most intimate friends would not rec.
ognize it"