The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-31

frame to try and carry it Off with fear
and trembling.
Mr.. Tibbyer looked it up and down
for n few moments, apparently weigh
ing it UP in his mind, as if it had been
a heap of bones.
| watched his countenance eagerly
and saw deep frown gradually devel-
op itself followed by purple glow OF
Indignation. knew that lit was all
up"
THAT my Portrait" he exclaimed.
THAT the likeness Of Hossian Tibbyerl
Sir! you've either mistook your busi-
ness or you're insulting me. | wouldn't
ave it 'ung in my hown 'ouse, let alone
in the court room of a noble Hinstitu-
tion! It's a fraud, gentlemen; a down
right fraud, and the man as painted it
ought 10 he prosecuted for slander. Ill
decline to approve of 1t. Hi believe 1t
is subject to my approval, his 1t not
Mr.. Chairman
And he turned his glaring eyes on the
chairman of the committee, who looked
at me, as much as to say:
Il told you So"
Then, answering the iratc Tibbyer,
he urbanely said:
Certainly Mr.. Tibbyer, and unless
you approve of it we cannot accept II
from Mr.. Paignton."
well, Does any on you think 1t
good portrait demanded Mr.. Tihby-
er, with a scowl at the committee gen
orally.
They all very wisely held their
tongues, with the exception of one who
was bolder than the rest.
II shouldn't take it for you,' he de-
clared; still, it is not quite like you
but then. you know, I am no judge of
art"
Hart he bowed" roared Mr. Tibb-
yer: its no hart TO paint picture or
a man so that e looks more like hape
than a 'uman bein'! I'd paint better
picture with burnt stick on white
washed wall--and we won't ave it!'
/ felt mad, but I restrained myself
and kept my language ordinarily polite
as I told them, as straight as | could,
that one could only make bricks of the
quality of the clay one had to work
with, and that the portrait was as good
as they could obtain elsewhere.
Mr. Tibbyer however, stalked out of
the studio in high dudgeon, and he was
/ llltthlN IOllONtu ny lllt
ing me alone with my bette noir.
The painting of the wretched thing
had interrupted me in finishing a land
sCape which l had hoped to get hung at
the forthcoming exhibition; and after
a day or two, when my disappointment
! had somewhat worn off, it occurred to
me that ! might convert Mr.. Tibbyer's s
| portrait into something else.
! did not care to let the last day for
sending in go without submitting some
thing, and the portrait was so ugly that
| it would readily adapt itself to any viii
, famous fancy which might inspire me.
l studied it from all points and an in
| spiration seized me. l made an on
| slaught upon it with the brush, and
! painting in cooked hat and epaulettes
| and facings, Il furious-lOOking beard
! and mustacheS, swords and pistols ad
| lib, and other etCeteras, with a back
J ground of smoke and fire. called it
| The Frecbooter."
1t really did not look bad, / thought:
and, wild as the idea seemed. deter
mined 10 send il i'm and let it take its
| chances.
so my Freebooter was duly dis
patchcG to the academy. and series
of surprises We're in store for me.
! First: | received the usual notice of
its acceptance.
Secondly: | found that my eXtem-
| porized Freebooter was hung in a
prominent position Cas, of course, all
| freeboOters ought to be-. And some of
! the critics actually spoke favorably OF
| it.
Thirdly @nd most surprising of alD:
some three weeks after the academy
had opened, l was sitting in my studio
one morning, painting hard at q COM
mission for a dealer to keep the not
boiling when who should walk I'm but
Mr. Tibbyer!
My hist dream was that he had come
10 nave another look at his Dortrait
perhaps in the hope that / could alter
1t to meet his satisfaction; but 7 was
Immediately and agreeably undeceivad
circumstances alter cases" and no.
lore Mr.. Tibbycr had left felt tbat bo
was not such bad sort Of fellow after
all 81 'e'
Mi Paignton, he began "Ir,,
sorry as there was any trouble about
lhat picture q mine; but Hi don't lilo
H. and that's a fact, 50 we won't saw
no more about that. But" he contjn.
ued there's my Wife; she's been n
the Kyle Academy. Him sure hi
uluh know that you was so good a
hartist as to be exhibited therel" n
bowed at the left-handed complimenO,
were iurnlshin' a new house, as
ave punt, you know, and Mrs. Tibb-
Ser's taken fancy to d picture of
yours "A Freebooter, it is-an' she
wants me To buy it for the dinin'-room
don't pretend to know much about
hart but know that picture what's
good enough to be exID'ted at IN,
Ryle Academy must be up to some.
thing Q bowed again. Not always,'
thought ID, 80 I've determined TO buy
it. What's the figger?"
Il priced it at G4O,"I replied.
1t seems a lot O. money for one pic.
ture," he returned; but you had a
deal O trouble over that one, so
won't bate you. I'll take it,"
Between my astonishment, by joy
and my inclination TO burst out laugh,
ing at the absurdity of the whole
thing, l could not speak and for a few
moments / took refuge in a fit OF
coughing.
I'm sure I'm much obliged to you
| said, as soon as I could trust myself
to answer him, land also To Mrs. Tibb.
yer for having done me the honor tc
choose my work. l must say that ]
think it has made a picture"
Yes" he replied; "Tve been an haC
a look at it, and it's fine lookinl
picture-just what my idea OF murder.
in freebooter ought 10 be! OF course
Iii don't know rs il was yours till
looked at the catterlOgue; but thai
| Mnnld n maln no llffarnncn 10 nnn %