The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-07
the late unsuccessful Moses or Aaron,

But it was over tho figure of Christ
that his enthusiasm mover faltcrcd. 1t
was, as he often told us, to be his
masterpiece "Gummidge's master
piece" no called it-this it was under
stood no had labored over ever since
we first knew him. 1t stood in tho
corner OF his studio with O dinpy
white cheese-cloth curtain before it
and whenever we would enter his
studio he never failed to drop the cur
tain, to conceal it
One day, upon comparing notes, we
found that Old Grimes had not been
seen for several days; and while we
were talking, Middletone, at once tho
most talented and the idlest fellow
ever knew, came into the studio. and
with show of feeling, of which no
ono had hitherto suspected him, burst
forth:
Look here they say that old
Grimes is to be turned out because he
hasn't paid his rent for q year; now, 1
amt going to lot it be done. If we
fellows can't settle it some way with
the agent. so that he needn't be both
cred in his room, I'm going to let him
have mine. 1 never do anything any,
way, SO it won't matter. The old man
is all broken up; sick in bed; 1 saw him
this morning. I've sent for doctor
for him. I don't believe he's had
enough to eat for months past"
We went up in q body to Old Grimes
studio-there on small iron bed, be-
side the huge curtained canvas of the
masterpiece, which none of us had
ever seen, 10y the thin figure of the old
mantle face drawn and the ewes
closed. His fingers were picking, pick
ing INCREASINGLY at the thin blanket
that covered him.
Middletone took one of the thin,
yellow, parchment-lil1e hands in his as
the doctor entered hurriedly and, with
nod to us, seated himself beside the
bod, mcthodically setting down his
hat and case of medicine beside him,
and wiping his eyeglasses.
$50" he said, turning up the lids of
the sunken eyes, and peering into
them. Bring that lamp little near
er-thanks"
An interval of silence in the room as
the doctor barred the shrunIsen breast
and applied his ear. "You had best
send for his friends" said he, replac-
ing the bed clothing, and rising to his
feet. "The old man will not last
through the night. There is total
collapse, and 1 doubt if he will regain
consciousness. insufficient nourish-
mont and old age. Eth! No relatives
or friends outside the building?" he
said, turning and looking at the gaunt
figure stetched beside him. "Well,
there's nothing more that can do, SO
III wish you good night, gentlemen.
My fee? Oh, that's all right. The old
man has nothing, you say. tried to
paint once myself. You are good fell
lows, you painters; good night to you
ALL"
We sat by Old Grimses bed by turns
that night. Toward morning he
stirred restlessly, and 1 moistened his
lips with water.
His lips moved, but ut first I heard
| no sound,
"The face of Christ" he murtnurcd.
"The face! They cannot refuse it,
once 1 find it. 1t will be masterpiece.
So strong, so mildp' he repeated, fee
bly, waving his hand, and motioning as
though he were using the charcoal
A fine sleet dashed against the large
skylight. The noise of a passing car
riage in the street below aroused the
old man. lie slowly opened his eyes,
and, gazing about him, they finally
rested on my face.
49," he said, after glancing at me
for moment, this is the end, is it?
Well, it's time" The clock feebly
ticking in the corner, and the sleet
rafting on the sltylight, were the only
sounds that followed / was DOING
perhaps l slept am not sure.
Suddenly opened my eyes.
The bed was empty l sprang to my
feet with an exclamation. There
among the huge canvases, before the
curtain which hid the masterpiece,
stood the lettering figure OF Old Grimes.
rushed to his side.
Charcoal" he said, feebly. "Give
me n piece Of charcoal live al
most seen the face. think-I can
draw tin all its purity"
gently persuaded him to return to
bed. The lamp, Pickering feebly,
illuminated the vast height of the
studio; here and there a carved corbel
thrust itself forward among the dark
canvases that had accumulated in all
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 twinkle;
for this had originally been part of the
chapel of the old university. The
deep blue of the painted spaces seemed
limitless in the dim light Of the lamp.
Now and then the squeak of foraging
mouse sounded among the canvases.