The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-23
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The sittings lasted fortnight. BY that
time the portrait was SO far advanced that
there remained only some part of the dress
and some part of the background. which
could be finished in London. The head and
face were quite finished Even her Lady
ship was satisfied at last that they could
not be improved by any touch or any atera-
ton. The girls face stood out from the
canvas strong and clear, a marked person.
atty She was perfectly happy: the world
was to her the best of all possible worlds.
Her loneliness was of the kind that wants
sunshine; in her hand she had a letter. the
artist introduced the letter just to suggest
the reason for her happiness, which was
greater than could be accounted for by mere
youth.
The last sitting came to an end AS the
clock struck IL the girl arose and turned TO
20.
You have not seen your portrait" said
her mother. 1T is going up to town to-
day. Won't you look at it once before
She sullenly obeyed. Then she turned to
the artist with flush on her cheek and a
new light in her eyes.
How dare you paint me smiling and
laughing! How dare you paint me as If L
was happy?
Il paint your face he replied, "as ma
ture intended it to be- You were made for
happiness You ought to be happy
Made for happinesJ:" she repeated, turn
ing 10 her mother. why am l not happy,
you will be-" said her mother 'In a
very few months you will understand the
realities of life. They are position and rank,
wealth and power. There is nothing else,
believe me. All the rest is wll-o' the-wisp.'
She shook her head. Take your lying
picture she said to the artist, 'out of my
burn it. If life has nothing but position and
wealth paint me with despair upon my
face. That IS what nature intended. She
flung OUT of the room And this was all the
discourse the painter ever had with his
sitter.
The artist took his picture back to Lon
don. He had had a curious experience.
Here was a girl. it was quite clear, going
to be forced into marriage against her will,
and though her heart was given to another
man. Not a meek girl, who would sit down
and do what she was told and then langush
away, not at all; a girl who would make
no disguise of her repugnance and would
go into her new life rebelIiously-perhaps
to end it disastrousy. He looked at his pic
ture. There was the look of possible rebel
lion, of stubborn resolution; the picture, as
all good portraits should do, contained
more than the painter had thought of when
he painted it. II do not envy the man." said
the artist.
He sent it to the Academy. 1t was ac-
cepted and hung in a good position. And the
loneliness of the face caused "a little crowd
all day long to gather round it.
in the morning, the girls mother, accom-
panied by a gentleman. made straight for
the picture. The gentleman was. in all re-
spects. .'cOmme ii fault" properly dressed,
properly grcomed, about thirty years of
age good-lOoking as men go. AS he passed
through the room, one or two who knew
gagged to the girl of that portrait on the
other side--very pretty girl
He stood before the picture, but his face
did not express qualification. He turned to
the mother
This is intended he said. ''by the fell
low who painted it, as a. portrait of Mar
garet."
Yes A wonderful likeness is it not?"
Now if the painter had been present
unfortunately he was not-he would have
understood certain things. For a heavy
cloud fell upon the mans face; his lower
lip protruded in very ugly fashion. Il
should very much like, confess" he said
ito see Margaret resemble this portrait
So far she is as cold as ice. l didn't know
she could smile. confess that / thought
was going to marry a statue
You shall see her after marriage"
YES no doubt" he interrupted. But
will see her like this before marriage Since
she can smile and laugh and be happy when
/ am not with her, shall make it my bust
ness TO find out why she cannot laugh and
be happy when / am with her.
With these words he left his companion
and walked away, and Margaret's mother
sank into a seat with white and terrified
face. The painter had made the girl too
joyous, you see.