Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-10-02
A NATTER OF VANITY


friends of mine and charming people
especially Maud. She was an artist and
painted very zealously i'll oil colors. She
was in her studio when l called. So |
went up to it and found her enveloped
in a linen apron covered with the varie
gated colors of her palette. She was
working at an unfinished painting, and
so absorbed in it that at first she did
not hear me enter. When she did, she
turned quickly.
"No, it's not Meadows. I'm sorry"
I said sympathetically.
ooh, but I'm very glad to see you"
she answered. "And you are just in
time to help me. Do tell me what is
wrong with this thing" and she point
ed to the canvas.
"That is Meadows privilege" I
said offered her my good wishes and
told her was sure she would be happy.
She blushed prettily and said, "We
are very happy now"
''But how have you satisfied your
conscience:" I asked. II understood
you had vowed yourself to the service
of your art. -
ooh, but I will never give up my
work." she protested earnestly. 'Jack
knows that. He wouldn't want me to.
1 think it is so wrong not to use ones
gifts. Don't you?"
Certainly, and I'm glad Jack sees
that. He must be very proud of you ~
She hesitated. "I'm afraid he is not
naturally very fond Of art" she said,
"but I hope he will soon learn to love
it.
"He is really awfully good about it,"
she went on. "He is going to let me
paint his portrait, and then we shall
hang it in our dining room.''
'That will be delightful" said.
"Look, here are some sketches for
it" said Maud, drawing out some pan
els and charcoal drawings. 'Don't you
think they are like him?"
l recognized Meadows in spite of the
varying expressions Maude had given
him and said so at once. She was
pleased, and just then Meadows came
in.
81 am just admiring the studies for
the great portrait, said genially.
"Ah, yes, they are only rough sketch
es The thing itself will be quite differ
ent, won't it, darling?" he said, with,
imagined, shade of anxiety.
"Mr Raller thinks they are excellent
ikenesses, jack" she said happily.
He looked at me sharply, but bold
ly repeated my opinion.
A fortnight or so passed before saw
anything of Meadows or Maud, then I
met Meadows. He looked worried, and
when 1 asked him after Miss Jeffries he
said shortly, 81 believe she is quite
well, thanks
"And how is the portrait going on?"
cts not going on at all at present"
he answered.
"How's that? Is she dissatisfied with
it?'
"No, she's not" he said, emphasiz-
ing the pronoun.
'Surely you are pleased?" said I.
"Look here, Raller," he said, with
burst of confidence. "That wretched
portrait is undermining my happiness
It's no more like me than that poster,
and he pointed to flaming placard.
I'm not vain chap, you know, but I
do bar being handed down to posterity
looking like criminal lunatic''
But it can t be as bad as that? Maud
would never do you injustice" said.
mot Intentionally, but she swears
to the good likeness, though I can t see
how she can. When suggested it was
bit unf1attering, she said she must
paint what she saw, and that she could
not tamper with the truth of art. I just
laughed and said, joking, that there
was room for a little more truth, and
then she was hurt and said she had 10
idea that men could be so vain.''
And you left it at that?''
Eyes, if you saw the thing you
wouldn't be surprised"
Il should like to see it," l said.
Come along then. Maud is out this
afternoon, her sister told me so. We
will go to her studio, and you can give
me your unbiased opinion.
So we went together and climbed up
to Maud's painting room. The portrait
still wet, was on the easel. Meadows
pointed to it in eloquent silence. l was
silent too, 1t was so painfully realistic
that it verged ON caricature.
"Well," said Meadows, could you
live in the same house with it if it were
your portrait?'
lone might get used to it in time, u
answered.
'Yet she is fond of you," said
"Surely if you ask her to suppress it as
personal favor
"She would only say it was my van
ity," he answered gloomily. "There is
nothing to be done. She must choose
between me and my portrait, unlcss''-
Unless WHAT" asked as he paused
You could persuade her. Tell her it
doesn't do her justice, either of us JUS
tice. Do, there's good fellow. She has
no end of respect for you"
could not resist his appeal and
promised to do my best. "And surely
that is she coming up the stairs now,"
said as we heard footsteps.
Eyes. Well, speak to her now," said
Meadows.
He left me alone in the studio as
Maud entered.