Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-08-15
AN ARTISTS TRAGEDY

Did you ask me where [ got that
picture? If you want to listen to me
will tell YOU
The speaker was man not yet III, yet
his hair and beard were white as snow
his black eyes sunken, and a strange and
peculiar look Of age and suffering was
on his face. He seemed like fire burned
out. So far as any interest or enjoyment
to be found in this worlG was concerned,
it appeared that he might as we'll have
been dead
1t was in one of those old towns on the
Rhine [ was travelling, and chance had
thrown me in the way of this man, for L
had stopped for weeks at this quaint
place, finding charm every day that
still held me.
We were both English-that [ was Il
compatriot may have been the reason
that Ralph Curzon had been casually
kind to me.
He had for years lived in a few rooms
from the river The house had been par
TALLY destroyed by fire: Instead of re-
pairing it, CurzOn had fitted UP these
rooms and dwelt there with one servant.
[ was standing in sumptuOusly-fur-
nished inner room, where [ knew that he
passed most of his time. The windows
overlooked the river. 1t was a prospect
that might have charmed anyone; did 1t
charm him?
The picture at which [ was looking was
hung in a perfect light. 1t was draped
in folds of perfect velvet In spite of its
S0mber surroundings, the face looked
down with what seemed an immortality
radiant smile. 1t was the face of a wOm-
an-blonde, glowing, beautiful enough to
haunt one.
looking at it. Plainly he had for the mo-
ment forgotten that anyone was with
him. His eyes told that he was living
over again some time in that unforgotten
past | made a movement, and he start
ed suddenly and turned toward me.
Some men seem to have the power Of
loving a score of times" he said with Il
bitter smile; but | spent all my heart
here. This is Il faint lint of what
Laura Stanton was" motioning toward
the picture odd that [ should feel a
desire to tell you that part of my life.
Sit down..
As we sat by the window, he began:
Eighteen years ago [ came to this
town, and became acquainted with the
Stantons, an English family who had
settled in this chateau.
THE father was a genial. cosmopoli-
tan sort of fellow, much given to patron
iZing poets and artists. [ got my living
then by painting, and I was in love with
my art. SO lily did | read Mr.. Stanton S
character that | thought it possible he
would consent to my marrying his
daughter. Whether he consented or not,
/ intended to have her.
''Eow / loved that woman! 1t seemed
to me that never mortal was SO blessed
as | was when found that she returned
that love- For two weeks | was utterly
happy; for two weeks we lived in the
knowledge of each others love. Laura
had begged me not to tell her father-to
leave it to her, and as soon as she found
a fitting time she would tell him, and
beg him to consent to our union.
In that time of two weeks-ahi could
human being hope for more happiness in
a lifetime than was crowded into those
days. II that fortnight | painted her
portrait. That is it. All that oil and
canvas could do toward Inning that
face | believe / did. | was inspired ;
never had / done work so satisfactory.
AT the end of that time, by accident