Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-26
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DAILY SHORT STORY
TREASURED IMAGE.
[Original.l

obseauies were ended. Then the king set
about perpetuating his beloved wife's
image in his heart He called together
the artists of his kingdom and told
them whatsoever would paint portrait
If his queen by which he could re-
member her rs she was should be en-
nobled and an estate given him. Then
he ordered that all the ikeneSSes the
queen had ever had painted be hung
in a gallery, where competitors should
have free access to them.
More than Il hundred artists compel
Ell, and when all were ready their pic
lures We're hung in n gallery by them
selves and the king went in 10 examine
them. He passed. up on one side and
down the other, shaking his head ut
the portraits.
They have painted her as an old
woman" he said. DO they consider
that my beautiful wife was an octoge-
marian? Take Athem away. I'll have
none of them"
Some Of the artists who had pro-
duced the best pictures. hearing the
kings criticism, asked for another trial.
which was granted. They softened the
lines in the queens face and made her
look ten years younger than she had
been at the time of her death. She
had died at fifty and none of the pic
lures made her look over forty. The
king was still dissatisfied. declaring
that he woOIld rather trust TO his mem
ory unaided than have il influenced by
such Iikenesses. This discouraged the
artists. and not even for the chance of
title and Il fortune would any of them
try again.
one day u young man sought an in
terview with the king. declaring that
he had been sent from King Ohio, Il
neiGlIbOring monarch, To paint the dead
queens portrait. He claimed TO be the
royal. portrait painter and an artist of
skill. He demanded. on behalf of King
OthO. that if his portrait should be &C
ccpted the recompense should be the
hand of King Carts daughter, the
Princess Ida. for King Otho'S son. the
Crown Prince Ralph. y proposition
with this marriage in view had been
made before, but King Carl. whose
kingdom was much moro important
than that of King Ohio. had declined.
Now that all his own artists had fail
ed, and thinking that what he asked
was impossible. King Carl agreed TO
the terms.
The artist asked that lie might have
sittings of the Princess Ida in order
to catch any expression of her mothers
she might have Inherited. The request
was granted. and every day the prin-
cess went into the gallery where the
likcnesSes Of the dead queen were
l,ay foo
lures all he cared 10 copy, but in order
to bring different expressions to her
face he chatted with her necessarily
and she was so delighted with his con
versation that every day she looked
forward eXpectantly to the time for her
sitting. Long before the picture was
completed she wished that the prize if
won might he given 10 the artist rather
than the crown prince.
Finally the artist announced that his
portrait was ready for the kings in
spcction. Since this was an affair of
state King Carl summoned his min
listers to attend him, and with great
ceremony the royal party swept into
the apartment where the picture rested
on an easel. The moment the ministers
eyes rested on the portrait they looked
at each other in establishment. They
saw the queen not as n woman of fifty
or of forty, but at twenty. Some said
il was the Princess Ida and not the
queen at all Nevertheless all main
tanned silence till the king had spoken.
Hurrying forward he bent over il and
kissed the lips. For a time lie was
lost To all save the contemplation of
what seemed to delight him excessive
ly. then. turning. he said:
My lords. there is my beloved wife
as clearly defined as II the image had
been painted from the one carry in
my heart. To me the portrait is price
less. for having it constantly by me I
shall be able to keep my wife in my
memory as L knew her in life. Let the
foreign minister announce TO King
Ohio that the portrait is accepted. and
make arrangements for the wedding
between the Princess Ida and the
Crown Prince Ralph"
When the artist departed from the
kingdom the princess wept bitterly
that he had not won the prize for him
self instead Of for his sovereign. He
pressed her hand at parting and as
sured her that she would find the
prince 4 loving husband.
When Prince Ralph came in state to
the nuptials he arrived in the night
and went ut once with his suit TO his
apartments. The next morning King
Carl and the princess awaited him in
the audience chamber with all the
court assembled to receive him. When
the door opened and he entered there
was = hum Of SurpriSa Ha was tho
artist who had painted the winning
picture.
OF course the princess was happy and
the king was especially happy in hav-
ing for i son-in-law one who had en-
abled him to keep his wife's image in
his memory. AS for the prince, he
had in disguise competed for the
prize. had fallen in love with the prin-
cess and learned that the king was
treasuring in his heart the image Of his