The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-05-03
A Pastel Portrait.


Kate M CleBfy In Chicago Tribune.
Tho picture was charming. There waH
no denying That Frank llarwood stood
nt the window Of tho shop and stared
In nt n. M hs had done 0yery day for
the last week Tho execution Of the
work was not faulilsHn. Bone cruditlea
marred II, but the ensemble was be-
wltohing,
The fnoo-that Of Rid IN the first
fresh bloom Of maidSnhood looked back
| ~ you over ono mistlly.drnped white
should. Tho liquid eyes we're laughter
~. the slightly parted scarlet lips had
1 a shy dro0p: there was little round
dimplo In the chin. the hair that melted
| In the soft gown and duHky background
was n wlnd-blown tanEio Of reddish
| gold
HArwood entered tho shop. shutting
out the whlriinR snowfnkoH behind him.
rs that piotufe-the pastel portrait IN
tho window-for nale1" no inquired.
NC. sir" ha was told.
Can you tell me tho name Of the
original?"
Il 90 not know II, Hlr. The portrait
dorn."
"You are sure II lH n portrhit--n not
merely an ideal hoadr'
''rhe artist said 30"
Owe mo his name and address.
| please"
nut when the rising young harripter
| hhd the slip Nnfc In his poekctbook and
WAS out again In tho white wlntry world
no began 10 feel uncomforlably conscious
| that In this particular instance he was
| not acting with the discretion on which
| he ordinarily prldod himself
lie WAS trlne troubled. too. by tho
recollection Of certain conyersation
| held with his aunt the previous even
| Ing Bhe was the dearest old lady In
the @orld ana the most generous. She
! had brought young HArwood up. given
! him the best procurnble education and
! three years of continental travel hut
on one point. the question Of his prob
able marriage. she was inclined. ne
| thought. 10 bo diciatorial
40 you refuse TO meet Mlss Fains.
worth. Frank" she had asked.
"An ruitor-yea." he had replied posi-.
| lively.
Frank felt that ne must see the origl-
nal OF tho portrait. 10 discretion was
throSn TO the winds. and starting on
his quest he reached row Uf high. fiat
faced. dreary. red brick houses In one
of theae the artist must live.
lie found the number. rang the bell,
a surly woman, with "a Hmddsc OF noOt
on her check. opened the door
mir. Vincent Brandt" asked Hnrwood
Third noor back" rho returned,
shortly
Harwood knocked A voice bade him
cnte$ lie went In. The room was
Ia 49,
tackled on the walls An easel and chair
stood IN the center OF the apartment
A handful Of nrc and tiny rheet-iron
stove made the cold OF the place moro
noticeable.
Mr.. nrand. believer
The occupant. an invalid with death
written In his hollow eycs. on his blue
veined hands. bowed assent
IL came" said HArwood. declining the
solitary chair which was profrcred him.
about the picture exhibited In Mereer's
window. II II not for Naloy'
No, sir"
Not at large ngureT"
The artist did not at once answer He
was M and very poor.
Not At any price" he said
You could not make me copyf'
No. sir, The truth Of the matter 10 |
this: The young lady who consented
TO sit for mo for that picture did 30 out
OF her own sweet charity She is 40
beautiful, and makes such fne study.
! faneied her face would bring mo or
derH, whore one less lovely. even n ad-
mirahle a. a likeness. would fail. I
need not cnumrTate 10 you the reasons
why Il would he dlshuu0rnble for me 10
abuse her kindness"
II understand your reasons. Mr.
Brand. and respect them May I give
you an order for llfe-sizcd pastel from
this photograph"
He had fortunately remembered having
In hln pocket the picture Of a nephew
that morning received The commission
would help the poor artist.
A llght tap came 10 the door
May I come In, Vincent" called n
sweet voice.
The door opened Frank Harwood
turned 10 look into the face that had
haunted hin, waking and slecnlnr. hut n
thousand times moro faircr than the col |
orcd erayonS had reproduced Il.
She half drew back at the sight OF tho |
stranger. hut BRAND called TO her.
Come In. Clairel" And then. with |
youthful candor; This gentleman was |
just asking about your portrait"
She bowed slightly. She was all in |
rich furs and deep slowing velvet Tho
elegance OF her attire puzzled Frank |
HRrwood
~ hone the picture is bringing you
orders Vincent"
III Is. indeed" he answered. brightly
wen, II IN late, | must 80, Just
ran In tn see how you were getting on" |
Hc smothercd In NJ OF coughing.
You have the carriager"
mo. ] am on foot"
Il shall see you home. then" the ar |
list said. looking troubled, This "a mot |
the best nclghhorhood In the world, and |
II Is growing dark"
The fierce cough shook him again.
You shall do nothing OF the kind"
she said, pcremptorlly.
Harwood went forward. hat In hand.
"Will you do me the honor ot permit |
ting ne to accompany you9 am
sorry ] have not card. My name is
Frank Harwood"
She had been listening with a somc
what naughty air She smiled now with
sudden friendliness
SHAH he glad II you will come with
mo-" she said, sImply
ON their way she told him about Brand
whom she had known from childhood
He Is dying" she said "It Is bnrd
to help him; no Is so proud"
the house before which hc,paused was
a magnificent one.
Horwood mustered courage to ask II
no might call
NO" she said, gently; and then, as
II repentlng, 81 shall he al Brands
studio on Friday"
She ran up tho steps,
Needless 10 say Harwood was IN the
painters room early on Friday after
noon The number of orders he gave
quite overwhelmed the artist.
she came at last, her face like a rose
over her dark furs.
They met, not quite by chance. many
times. and stlll Frank did not learn her
name. He called her Miss Claire,
One evening when he was leaving tho
studio with her he told tho story OF how
ne had first happened to come there.
Il tell In love with q pastel portrait"