Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-01-23
4 Pastel Portrait.

denying that. Frank Harwood stood at the
window of the print store and stared in at
it as he had done every day for the past
week. The execution of the work was not
faultless. Some crudities marred it. but
the ensemble was bewitcbing.
The face that of a girl in the first fresh
bloom of maidenhood- back at you
over one misty draped white shoulder
The liquid eyes were laughterlit; the slight
ly parted scarlet lips had a shy droop; there
was little, round dimple in the chin the
hair that melted into the soft gown and dus
ty background was wind blow tangle of
reddish gold
Harwood had often determined to enter
and make an attempt to discover the identi-
ty of the original of the picture, but his
courage had always failed him. To day he
forced himself to the accomplishment of his
desire,
He entered the store, shutting out the
whirling snowaakes behind him.
"Is that picture-the pastel portrait in the
window-for sale?" he inquired.
''No, sir" he was told.
Can you tell me the name of the origi-
nal?
81 do not know it, sir. The portrait was
left here as a.sample to solicit orders.
"You are sure it is portrait-not merely
an ideal head ?"
"The artist said So"
"Give me his name and address, please ~
But when the rising young lawyer had the
slip in his pocket-book, and was out again
in the white winter world, he began to feel
uncomfortably conscious that in this partic-
ular instance he was not acting with the dis
cretion on which he ordinarily prided him
self.
He was irife troubled, too, by the recol-
lection of certain conversation held with
his aunt the previous evening. She was the
dearest old lady in the world, and the most
generous. She had brought young Har-
wood up, given him the best procurable ed
ucation and three years of European travel.
But on one point, the question of his proba-
BILE marriage she was inclined to be dictato-
rial
$50 you refuse to meet Miss Fainsworth,
Frank ?" she had asked
GAS suitor-yes," he replied positively.
He was rather tired of having his aunt
assure him that he never would meet anoth-
er girl so beautiful, amiable, accomplished,
altogether desirable as Miss Fainsworth.
Frank" she asked, hastily as startling
possibility occurred to her. "is there any one
else ?"
He hesitated She repeated the question.
He answered truthfully.
"Yes," he said.
"What is her name, Frank ?"
81 do not know"
She looked at him sharply.
"Where does she live?"
II do not know that either"
Frank, she said in low voice, surely
you have not been drinking"
He laughed out boyishly.
"No, Aunt Mary / don't drink. But |
am afraid am nonsensically in love-"
He laughed again now as he recolected
the wondering dismay on his aunt's face
A passer by turned to look at him. He had
reached a row of high, fat faced dreary, red
brick houses. In one of these the artist
must live.
He found the number, rang the bell. A
surly woman with a smudge of SCOT on her
cheek opened the door.
"Mr. Vincent Brand ?" asked Harwood.
Third floor back" she returned shortly.
She disappeared, leaving him to find his
way up as best he could
The stairs were steep, dirty and uncarpet-
ed. A written card was nailed on the door
Of the room of "a third floor back"
VINCENT BRAND
Pastel Portraits"
HarwOod knocked. 4 voice bade him
enter. He went in. The room was large
bare, dreary. Some sketches were tackled
on the walls An easel and a chair stood in
the apartment. \ handful of fire in tiny
sheet-iron stove made the cold of the place
more noticeable.
Mr. Brand, believer"
The occupant, an invalid with death writ
ten in his hollow eyes, on his blue veined
hands, bowed assent
81 came," said Hsrwood, declining the
solitary chair which was profered him,
"about the picture exhibited in MERGERS
window. It's not for sale?"
NO, sir"
"Not at large figure ?"
The artist did not at once answer He
was i'll and very poor.
Not at any price" he said.
''You could not make me copy?"
"No, sir The truth of the matter is SIM
ply this The lady who consented to sit to
me for the picture, did so out of her own |
sweet charity She is so beautiful, and |
makes such a fine study, fancied her face
would bring me orders, where one less love-
ly, even admirable as a likeness, would |
fail. l need not enumerate to you the rea-
sons why il would be dishonorable for me To |