Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-05-15

On the day appointed by Mr.. Blen.
der, Miss Stratton repaired to the
studio, and the completed portrait was
unveiled before her eyes.
She surveyed it for some moments
in silence.
"You don't COLL this q likepess?" she
at length demanded, very abruptly.
Gan excellent likeness, madam, re-
turned Mr.. Blcnder, composedly.
"But-but"- surveying it first from
one side and then another-''it looks
ten years older than it should do. And
it's too thin--and sallow. And the
smile is not at all like me. I'm sure
the corners Of my mouth don't turn
mp like that. Why, it's positive
smirk! No one would ever imagine
that it was intended for me"
81 beg your pardon, madam, but I
have faithfully represented both the
feature and expression, and consider
the coloring unusually good and true
to nature" said Mr.. Blender, polite
ly, but firmly.
sits o perfect fright" said Miss
Stratton.
Mr.. Blcnder shrugged his shoulders
in q deprecating manner. ald the
lady's face became very red.
"You promised me good likeness,
sir" sho said, 'tfor which agreed to
pay you one hundred dollars.
MIR. Blendor bowed.
~ do not consider this likeness
at oil. 1t must bo altered"
ITO alter it would be to destroy the
likeness.
"You decline to mako any change,
such as I might suggest?"
Mr.. Blender replied that he was not
accustomed to paint portraits after
the suggestions of tho sitter, but ac-
cording to his own judgment: that he
allowed mono but perfect likenesses 70
60 forth from his hand and under his
namc, though he made point of add
ing whatever softening touches could
be iudiciously introduced. He had
done so in this instance.
Miss Strntton glared OF him indig.
nantly. Here was insult added to in.
jury.
Gail that l have to say is, that do
not consider tho picture O likeness,
and must decline to take it, she said,
resolutely.
''Do you mean, madam, that you
decline to pay for it?"
Certainly, sir I cannot be ex-
pcctea to throw away hundrod dol.
lars on caricature such as this" she
replied, Indignantly.
Mr.. Blender then proposed to rotor
the question of the likeness to any
person whom sho might select; and
Miss Stratton Immediately sent across
the street for the grocer and his wife
with whom she had dealt for score Of
years.
"Now, Mr.. Green" said she, as
soon ns they entered, ''just look at
this picture and -rsit me II you-c coIrd
ever have imagined that it was intend
ed for me?'
Mr.. Green smiled with recogniz-
ing smile, but receiving an admoni-
tory nudge from his wife, looked SOL
emn and doubtful, and shook his head.
''Lor'l" said Mrs. Green. "Why,
you don't mean to say, Miss Stratton,
as it was ever intended for you?"
"Mr. Blender calls it O likeness, -
said Miss Stratton, with sarcastic bit
terness, "and expects me to pay one
hundred dollars for it as such. I call
it caricature. Look ut the smirk,
and the head thrown back, and the
long nose and hard, black eyes, with
no shade about them. No, Mr..
Blender, I will not take this picture.
You have heard what these good peo-
pie say. and I am certain that my
most intimate friends would not rec
ognize it.
every good, madaml" said Mr..
Blender, with great politeness. "You
are perfectly sure that no ono would
recognize the portrait as your own?"
"Pcrfectly."
"l am satisfied" said the artist,
stepping back and bowing, as the lady,
followed by the grocer and his wife
passed out.
And when tho door was closed on
them he smiled to himself in very
peculiar and significant manner.
Somo days after this, Miss Stratton
was passing down the main street,
when her attention was attracted by O
group of passers-by, who had stopped
in trout of fashionable book store.
Glancing at the window, her foot.
steps were instantly arrested, and she
stood still, breathless with surprise
and dismay.
There was her portrait-the identi-
col portrait which she had pronounced
caricature-only that while the fig
ure remained intact, the rest of the
picture had undergone complete
metamorphosis.
The garden was changed to sunny
glade in wood; the fountain in the
background had given place to gipsy
tent, and before the thin, smirking,
befrizzlcd figure in lace and velvet
stood beautiful, dark-eyed young
girl, in simple, graceful gypsy costume,
intently studying tho palm of the
lady's hand, while two roguish faces
peeped ut them from behind n tree.
The picture was labeled, "Telling
Past Fortune.
"Why, it's tho image of Miss Mill
cent Stratton !" seid one and another
of the beholders. "Did you ever see
such likeness? He, he, he!"
And in tho midst of the exclama-
tions and tho laughter, Miss Stratton
behold the new minister coming up
the street, evidently bent upon seeing
what had attracted tho crowd.
Not for worlds would she have had
him behold her painted IN this char
acter; and she instantly rushed into
the store nnd confronted the proprio-
tor.