The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-09-05
My Pauper
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by and came toward me. He was
dressed in crossbar suit, straw hat
with brown ribbon and tan shoes. l
mention these details because they are
important to my story. His clothes
We're rather the worse for wear, but
there was refined look about him
lie approached me, lifted his hat po
litely and asked permission to look
over my work.
He first made few pleasant re
marks about what had done, then be
gan to talk about pictures In general,
artists, schools, values in short, such
matters as are usually known only to
artists. asked him II he were of the
profession. and he replied that he was
not, nor had he ever touched brush.
From art he began to talk of literature,
and l was astonished at the variety
and scope Of his reading. by this time
he had thrown himself on the grass
lighted cigarette first asking my per
mission) and began to fit from one
subject to another like n bird on the
crest OF successive waves, for he seem
ed to have the faculty Of gathering the
eliminating principles from every sub
ject he touched.
you say you are not an artistf' ]
remarked.
mo"
"Nor literary manf
"No."
"You certainly can't be In business"
'Oh, no. would be like FISH In air
In business
"Then, will you kindly tell me what
you aref"
He smiled and. turning on me pair
G. handsome eyes in which twinkle
was set In melancholy. he replied:
IL am a pauper arIstocrat.'
GLOW would you like to make n
sketch of mef" he said abruptly. II
mean take me for model II you will
lend me your shawl and few bits OF
your fnery | win pose for you M an
Italian bandit You may make II sketch
by which to turn an honest penny"
81 prefer you M yourself" said. In
that indolent position
| sketched for half nm hour. then let
him change his position for rest, then
worked another half hour.
can you give me another sitting to.
morrow" ! asked.
"Ob, yes" he replied "my time II
not valuable"
He gave me several sittings on diner
ent mornings, then one morning when
he had promised to come failed to do
so. This was the last OF him He
passed away from me as though spirit
ed into another realm. II seemed as II
the green on the young trees had sud
denly Drowned, ms II the landscape had
lost It's freshness. the water It's sparkle.
The portrait was unfinished though
nearly complete, and left II M II was
When | returned 70 the city late In
the autumn had not forgotten my
pauper aristocrat. do not approve of
people useless to the world and To
themselves. but this man was so frank
So engaging SO utterly devoid Of pre-
tense. He had without leave walked
right into my heart ond made himself
at home.
One day during the winter while
scanning u newspaper ! came upon
personal;
Information wanted Of Reginald Wal
lace Chandler. who was last seen near
Liberty, Sullivan county, n. Y. during
the previous spring lie then wore
orossbar suit. straw hat with blue
band and tan shoes.
Ny heart stood still This was my
pauper aristocrat. For what could he
be wanted? Was Il for crime for re-
turn to confinement | thought over
every possible contingency, dreading Co
give Information OF him for fear OF
inIuring him. At last | took the pic
turc | had made OF him and, going TO
Che address given In the advertisement
told OF my meeting with him. was
informed that his uncle. worth many
millions had gone down, with his
whole family. In a terrible marine dis
astcr that had occurred during the past
summer and Reginald Wallace Chan
der was sole heir at law to the prop
erty
Since | could give no information
OF him. number OF photographs were
made OF my picture and sent 10 de-
tectiye bureaus in different cities. The
picture itself was placed in window
on Fifth avenue In New York, and the
dealer directed to send any one max
Ing inquiries about II To me. one
day | was told that n young man
desired 10 see me In the drawing room.
| went there and found my paupcr
arIstocrat He wore the suit he had
worn In the summer. though he had
procured derby hat
Pardon me-" he said. "for coming
here, and for leaving you so uncere'
moniously I felt that | was drifting
where | had no right 10 drift. When
| saw that picture in the window yes
terday and knew that by II could
find you | tried TO resist the tempta
ton. All the acts OF my life have
been failures. How could they be
Otherwise
"Reginald Wallace Chandler" said
"you are a millionaire"
This Is how /. an artist. became rich
without talent. My husband procured
small government appointment IN
South America. and during revolu
fion conducted some government bust
ness so skillfully that he was appointed
to diplomatic post In Europe, where
wealth was required in lieu OF the
small salary 1t has been lately ru
mored that he liz 10 be brought home
for still more important work In Wash