Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-02-07


or some such attempt,
= Bgtit was over the figure Of Christ
that his enthusiasts never faltered. II
was, as he often told us, I'd be his
masterpiece - "Gpmmidge's master7
picce,n he called it--this it wa under,
stood he had Tabpred over eve er since
we first knew him. 1t stood in the
corner. OF his studio with d dingy
white cheese-cloth curtain before it,
and whenever we would e1 ter his
studio he never failed to drop the cur
tain, to conceal it. r'
One day, upon comparing notes, wo
found that Old Grimes hud not been
seen for several days; and VI lille we
were talking, Middlctone, at Once the
most talented and the idlcst fellow
ever knew, came. into the studio, and
with SHOW Of feeling, of vi hich no
one had hitherto suspected hih, burst
forth: -. y.
' ''booli here-they say that old
Grimes IS to be turned out bee cause he
hasn't paid his rent for a yeard now,
amt going to let it be done. If we
fellows can't settle it some way with
the agent 80 that he needn't Be both-
cred in his room, I'm going to petc him
have mine. / never do anything any
way, so It won't matter. The old man
is ull broken up; ;sick in bed; { S hw him
this morning. I've sent for d doctor
for him.. / don't believe he's had
enough to eat for months past.
We went up in body to Old Grimes
studio-there on q small iron bed, be-
side the huge curtained canvas of the
masterpiece, which none of us had
ever seen, lay the thin figure of the old
man-the face drawn and the eyes
closed. His fingers were piclting B, pick
ing INCREASINGLY at the thin blanket
that covered him. -,
Middletone took one of the thin,
yellow, parchment-like hands ip his as
the doctor entered hurriedly an d, with
nod to us, seated himself besi ide the
bed. methodically setting down Ms
hat and case of medicine beside him,
civ w pihH hio W OV~ iopSSo' .
80" he said, turning up the lids Of
the sunken eyes, and peeri1g into
them. Bring that lamp little near
er-thanks."
An interval of silence in the Tfom as
the doctor barred the shrunken breast
and applied his ear "You hdd best
send for his friends" said he, replac-
ing the bed clothing, and rising to his
feet. 1.-THE old man will not last
through the night. There is b total
collapse, and l doubt if he will regain
consciousness. Insufficient nburish-
ment and old age. Ehl No relatives
or. friends outside the building?" he
said, turning and looking at tho gaunt
figure stetched beside him. swell,
there's nothing moro that can do, so
Ill wish you good night, gent lemen.
My fee? Oh, that's all right, ~ he old
man has nothing, you say. l tfied to
paint once myself. You are good fel,
lows. you painters; good night 10 you
ALL" 70:
We sat by Old Grimses' bed BY turns
that night Toward morning he
stirred restlessly, and moisten pd his
lips with water. H..
His lips moved, but at first heard
no sound,
1.-The face of Christ" he murth hured.
"The face! They cannot refuse It,
once find it. 1t will be masterpiece.
So strong, SO mildp' he repeated, fee
bly, waving his hand, and motiontng as
though he were using the'char cdal.
A fine sleet dashed against the large
slylight. The noise Of a passing car
riage in the street below aroused tho
old man. He slowly opened his eyes,
and, gazing about him, they finally
rested on my face. 81.
80" he said, after glancing at me
for a moment, "this is the end, is itG
Well, it's time" Tho clock feebly
ticking in the corner, and the sleet
rattling on the skylight, were the only
sounds that followed. was do4ing :
perhaps l slept-I am not sure. Ill,
Suddenly opened my eyes.
The bed was empty. sprang to my
feet with an exclamation. There
among the huge canvases, befofe the
curtain which hid the masterpiece,
stood the tottering figure of Old Chimes
rushed to his side.
"Charcoal," he said, feebly. ''Give
me a piece of charcoal. -I-Pve'~a
most seen the face. think-I can
draw tin all its purity"
gently persuaded him to re turn &c
bed. The lamp, 1ickering feebly
illuminated the vast height of .the
studio; here and there carved GorbeI
thrust itself forward among the darg
canvases that had. accumulated in.ar
the long years that Old. Grimes had
sought his ideal. /,
Above, the Gothic arches met, and
in the dark blue spaces between them
faint gold stars seemed to twinisle
for this had originally been part ofthe
chapel of the old university. Tht
deep blue of the painted spaces seemed
limitless in the dim light of the lamp
Now and then the squeak of forag4ng
mouse sounded among the canvases
Old Grimes had been breathing hsav
ily; now he raised himself on the bed
md. lifting his arms, cried out: ="
4 1t will be my masterpiece
e-my-palette-my brush9e-
one" ee E
en- propped him up in bed witl
:, placed the palette in the Aol
s left arm, and gave him hi
Middletone entered the
the fellows" said
sands are almost rur
...
.4ss he came bacl
quiet and sad in th'
angel of death: Not I
oxen. but their awe
showed their hearts Iha'
,d. f,
ID ourselves about the bed
feeble motions of the
hand describing line
s,,,