Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-05
PAINTED OUT. .

care what is inside of them, my fancy
being to get. frame and later paint a
picture which shall seem to me suit
able for such a setting.
One day in December, about week
before Christmas, | picked up fine
but dilapidated specimen OF wood carv-
ing in shop ON Sixth avenue The
gliding had been worn nearly away, and
three of the corners broken of, yet as
there was one of the corners still left,
l hoped to be able to repair the Others
from it, As for the canvas inside this
| frame, it was so smothered with dirt
and time stains that | could only dis
tinguish it had been very badly
painted likeness of some sort, Of some
commonplace person, daubed in by a
poor pct-boiling painter to fill the
second hand frame which his patron
may have picked up cheaply as l had
done after him. but as the frame was
all right, / took the spoiled canvas along
with 1t, thinking it might come IN
handy.
When 1 arrived at my studio a
gentleman was awaiting me. put the
old frame against the wall and in
quired his wishes.
II want q. portrait painted" he said
simply.
"Your own, sira" ..
''No," he answered, hesitatinaly,
that of q person who died several
years ago.
| Such commissions are not altogether
uncommon, and though they are seldom
satisfactory, either to the artist or the
client, they are profitable. So | asked
my visitor what he had in the way of
photographs that could give my work
by.
Il have a miniature on iyory," he
said; lit is good likeness. and the
coloring, is exact If you could en-
| told him to show me the miniature.
He hadn't it with him. but said he
would bring it next day, and departed.
vi course, the matter dropped out CT
my mind in short time. was very
busy until well into the evening, when
CHANGED to look at my recent pur-
chase. The light fell on it in such a
way that my attention was attracted
by a slight marking that seemed to
indicate that the canvass had been used
more than once. The original picture
had been painted out to make room
for this coarse daub.
With some curiosity / set to work
with water and soap to clean the thing.
This process brought out the vile
drawing of the upper portrait in ugly
olearness. 1t was the bloated, piggish
visage Of politician clearly, with q
plentiful supply Of iewelry displayed,
as is usual with such masterpieces,
where the features are not considered
| of SO much Importance as q strict
fidelity in the depicting of such articles
as watchguard and seals, finger rings
and breastpins; these were all there, as
natural and hard as reality.
Having got the dirt off, had re.
coulse to spirits of wine and turpentine,
with which, anda plentiful supply of
rags. l began to demolish the poli.
tioian ruthlessly in the vague hope that
might find something worth looking
at underneath.
a slow process that was, as we'll as a
delicate one, so that it was close upon
midnight before the gold cable rings
and vermilion visage disappeared and
another picture doomed up before me
then, giving it the final wash over,
wiped 1t dry and set it in good light
on my easel, while l filled and lit my
pipe, and then sat down to look at it.
"hoe hut hboidbeu IrOm ElaG Vile
prison of crude paint? l did not re-
auire to set it up to know that this
bunglei of the brush had covered and
deflled work as far beyond his COM
prehension as the clouds are from the
cater pillar.
The bust and head Of young woman
of uncertain age, merged Within n
gloom OF rich accessories, painted as
only master hand can RANT who IL
above asserting his knowledge, aud who
has learned to cover his technique. II
was as perfect and natural in its sombre
yet quiet dignity as if it had come from
the brush Of Morori.
A face and neck perfectly cnlorless in
their pallid Wilderness, with The
| shadows SO artfully managed that thew
could not be seen, and for this quality
would have delighted the strong minded
Queen Bess.
At first as looked I saw in the cente,
OF vague darkness dim patch of gray
gloom that drifted into the shadow.
Then the grayness appeared to grow
Lighter as sat from it and leaned back
in my chair until the feature stole out
| softly, and became clear and definite.
while the figure stood out from the
background as if tangible, although.
having washed it, l knew that it lad
been smoothly painted.
An intent face, with delicate nose.
we'll shaped, although bloodless; Inns
and eyes like dark cayerns without n
spark of light in them. The hair
loosely textured, Jet black and |uster.
less, which hid the upper portion of
I the brow, with the ears, and fell in
straight, indefinite waves over the left
breast, leaving the right portion of the
transparent neck exposed.
The dress and background were
symphonies of ebony, yet full of subtle
coloring and mastery feeling; a dress
of rich brocaded velvet with a back.
ground that represented vast receii,ng
space, wondrously suggestive and awe.
inspiring
i was SO fascinated with my discovery
that l sat staring at it until I nearly
fell asleep. in my chair. Then I went
to bed and did not wake till aroused by
a knock. When inquired who was
there recognized the voice of NV
visitor of the day before. Bidding him
be patient a moment 1 dressed hur-
riedly and let him in.
Good morning, Mr.. Masters. - be
said on entering; 1--WE brought you
the MIN"
He stopped abruptly, the word SEEM
ing to choke him. He was ali of n
tremble, the only steady part Of him
being his eyes, which were fixed upon
the easel, where / had left the portrait
found in the battered frame.
"a striking face, is it not?" said.
in good deal of wonderment at his
agitation. II uncovered 1t last piebt' !"
Uncovered it," he repeated vaguely I: