The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-10-18
A LIVING PICTURE.

''Show it to mer' cried Daisy, eagerly
I'm simply dying to see it,"
She had entered my studio like whirl-
wind, and made her demand without
waiting to greet me.
Patience, Daisy, patience. What
greater virtue can woman have?'
"Well, it's good thing she can have
it, at all events" she retorted. Its
otherwise with men,"
How little she knew. Had I not wait
ed patiently for years-patiently and in
silence?
"You may not like it when you see
it" with the view OF gaining time. "You
know, portrait painting is most dan
gerous occupation. The painter pract-
cally carries his life in his hands,
"Why paint portraits, then?' she
asked. ''Some Of your landscape
smudges aren't half tad, and
"Daisy!"' I tried to put as much re-
proach into my voice as possible, but it
was wasted on her.
"Oh, you know what I mean, Dick.
You can paint trees which look like
trees. not houses; and houses which look
like houses, not"
"Really?'' l interrupted. ii am surely
a much better painter than 1 thought 1
Was.'
She laughed merrily.
nx @ x 5d,2d a mot %x b %n,rat Are you go
portrait 1 returned. This was true.
had merely said, II am painting the DOR
trait Of the woman l love-" and she had
replied, MY portrait?"
Not in so many words, my dear cousin,
but you said it. all the same.'
sighed deeply. There is an assump-
ton Of friendship about the term my
dear COUSIN" which is not encouraging to
lover.
Then you must know that love you,
"Oh, Dick. Dick: OF course 1 know
that. It's your Only excuse for daring
to paint me at all. y
And you?" l asked.
IL daren't paint you, she returned.
smlingly
She sat down, and as it seemed to be
Idle to attempt to put her off, I went
over to an easel and lifted the cloth
which covered her portrait.
There you are.' l said.
Then stepped back so that 1 might
watch her face. 1 was not at all sure
that she would like the picture. Indeed.
/ was inclined to believe that she would
dislike it. 1t was her portrait, certainly,
and | knew that it was good likeness.
But it portrayed her not as l had ever
seen her looking. but as 1 dearly hoped
she might some day come to look-with
the lovelight shining in her eyes.
Il must go Closer" she said. after q
few moments had passed. and she arose
and approached the easel.
| The movement paced me behind her,
and I waited anxiously for her to turn
around. What would she say? Would
she be angry, or only amused? Would
Its very good, isn't it?''
Her words cut short my surmises, but
her back was still toward me, and the
tone Of her voice told me nothing.
"very, | said, cautiously. do you
Instead of replying she swung round
and faced me-faced me as she had new.
er done before. Her eyes were flashing
humbly.
| "Offended me? Oh. no.
I fastened to apologize.
You really must not be angry, Daisy
You see the portrait was never intended
for-fer the public: but, And there
fore the expression"
''The imbecile expression" she put in
ally to be seen on-er-''
How lucid! - she remarked.
"You will forgive me,'' 1 asked. 81
never meant you TO see the picture, OF
even to let you know that l loved you.''
A loud peal of laughter filled the room
and seemed to go echoing among my
easels.. The sound annoyed me.
tone, cts a very good likeness
She became sober at once.
''In every respect ?" she asked.
| "Well, no-but-" l was looking a
the portrait. and when my eyes agai1
sought her face the words died on m,
! lips.
Anything wrong?'' she asked calmly.
Daisy! It's living picture-in ever!
respect"
''Of course, Dick
"a portrait painter may carry his lif,
in his hands," said Daisy later, "but tina
isn't any reason why he should hide hi
happiness in his boots" - =.