The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-08
THE ARTISTS RUsE.

Of Seville, and, pointing out to him a
young girl of 10, Of the gypsy race, asked
him to do her portrait.
The gypsy girl was so beautiful and look
ed SO picturesque, in the midst of the
baskets of fruit she was Offering for sale,
that the painter did not hesitate to accept
the commission.
"If you can paint tho picture in a
months time" said the merchant, "you
may name your own price for it,
Murillo promised the portrait for the end
Of the month and asked 100 golden Philips,
which the merchant agreed 10.
Murillo glanced once more ut the features
and form of his beautiful model, and then
went to see her relations, to ask their per-
mission for the young girl to sit to him.
The gitana relations consisted Of q very
bad looking man, who was her uncle, and
very good looking man, In every sense
of tho word, who was her cousin. The ar
tist talked with them for some time, and
on taking leave of them, shook hands cor
daily with the cousin. To the uncle no
was somewhat colder, for he had discover
ed that he was q selfish and ayaricious
man
Murillo had sitting the very next day,
and the first stroke of his brush already
announced masterpiece when the mer-
chant entered his studio.
1.-The head will he admirable, " said tho
purchaser, In a half patroniZing tone.
~ am glad it pleases you" replied Mu-
rillo; particularly as have made up my
mind to ask you rather more than the sum
originally named"
"But l told you to mention your own
price" expostulated the merchant. You
said 100 Philips, and agreed TO give them
to you. do not think. you ought to de-
mand more than that amount now"
81 am very sorry" said Murillo, "but
find that will be impossible to lot you have
the picture for less than 900. If you do
not like to give so much, there has not
been much time lost yet, and you will be
able to get some other artist to execute tho
commission. But really shall be Obliged
to give 1t up unless you can afford to re-
munerate me for my trouble"
GAS for affording it, returned the mer-
chant, 'you know that am not poor, but
the sum is u large one. After all, l will
not dispute with you about 500 Philips
1t is great deal of money for you to re-
ceiye, but it Is not much for me to give.
"Viow the matter as you please" said
Murillo philosophically, "only let me have
the money"
"You shall have the 600," said the
merchant, with something like sigh. II
will sign an agreement with you for that
amount this evening""
"Wby not at once" suggested Murillo,
"since you are resolved to give it.
"Who knows answered the merchant
perhaps this evening you will be more
reasonable in yeur demands"
ooh, you arc not decided then,' said
tho painter.
Yes, / am decided" replied the pur-
chaser. but l prefer not to sign any
agreement until this evening""
In tho evening Murillo informed tho
merchant gravely and coolly that he could
not accept 600 Philips, but that he must
have 1000.
OF course the merchant refused point
blank In the first instance. Then he hest
tsted, offered zoo, 800, 800, and at last
agreed to give the full 1000. This time
formal agreement was signed.
At the end of the month the portrait
was finished, When the merchant came to
take it away he found the original stand
ing before it in full dress, as if on the
point Of starting for some fcte. By her
side were her uncle and cousin also in
holiday costume, and especially the cousin,
who had evidently got himself up for some
very important occasion.
The merchant paid the 1000 Philips.
AS soon as Murillo had received tho
money and put it away carefully in port
folio, he opened side door in his atclier
and from tho adjoining chamber entered
u priest and two witnesses
The merchant thought he must be dream
ing.
Sir" said Murillo at length, "while
you were bargaining with me about the
portrait of that young girl you were bar
gaining with her relatives for the young
girl herself whom you had already sold to
pirate to be carried into slavery. You
need not deny 1t; your protestations would
be IN vain. for heard all that was going
on from the cousin. The uncle thought at
last that be had better accept my offer
than yours, and as tho young people were
already hCtrOthed to one another | thought
itwould be good idea to marry them and
make you pay the dover. You know now
what | am going to do with the thousand
Philips The uncle would not hear of the
match being arranged for 100 and wanted
600. If you had signed tho agreement for
600 when l proposed it at first, You might
still have gained the day, but Providence
was on ono side and made you blind You
went to the uncle, and, finding as you
thought, that he had received some higher
Tt,rt oh