Courier Democrat., 1904-10-20
A COME

does not express just the right idea.
Miss Muir had a collection OF tur-
quoises Of great value. ard certainly
she devoted much time and money to
the pursuit and purchase Of oil paint
unexpectedly in the dark style Of
Velasquez. Now, IL Miss Muir had
been like other rather young and very
wealthy women you would have
promptly and emphattcally dubbed the
turQuoises aud the pictures "fads." But
then there was something about Miss
Muir which seemed to separate her
from the world.
Perhaps it was her great beauty,
which reminded you of some marble
saint, or perhaps it was due to the
fact that the responsibilities Of her
wealth had been thrown on her very
| early and she had taken them very
seriously.
Now, If Miss Muir had not been Miss
Muir. but merely Miss Brown or even
Miss Jones. and had still possessed all
Miss Aluir's millions and all Miss
Muir's beauty and goodness, you would
have unhesitatlngly called Bernard
Graham Il fad" of hers. AS condi-
tions We're, Graham escaped this stig-
matism and was never referred to more
slightinsly than as "the painter chap
that Miss Muir picked up somewhere"
The "where" of Grahams picking up
no one knew, nor is it Of the slight
est Importance to this story.
| Graham was painting Miss Muirs
picture. and this was q work of time.
Miss Muir had no desire to cut short
the sittings, and the artist was ever
discovering something Incomplete or
sadly wanting amendment that could
only be made with the more than fair
model directly before him. But the
picture grew. and the artist knew that
it was gool-this being the greatest
reward that any true artist ever did or
ever will receive to pay for the pains
Of his work. And Miss Muir knew
that it was good, and knew that pres
emily there would he another great
artist placed among the ranks of those
important painters vino see and depict
something more than mere line and
color.
So the picture grew, and the artist
watched alternately his subject and
the canyas whereon colors were super
imposed. But the sitter watched only
the artist and turned from that only
to commune w:th her own thoughts,
her own thoughts being most of the
artist, and next herself, and. last of
all, Of the picture.
At last the picture wanted no more
for its completion. Then Graham,
the artist, and Miss Muir, the mil
lionafress. sat down and ate toasted
mullins and drank tea, and the artist
gazed only at the picture. with now
and then glance at the woman, and
the woman gaZed only at the artist,
with now and then glance at the
picture.
Do you not suspect tragedy? If
so, you must be disappointed, for it
was only comedy, just such COM
edy as occurs every day. that the two
were enacting.
II can hardly understand that it is
finished" said the artist, with the
great contentment that follows on COM
pleted work.
"Nor l." said the woman, with q
great contentmeat of her own. you
have done fins thing
Not I-you and L. interrupted the
artist. Il handed the brush merely;
you gave me the inspiration. See it
now in the picture-that way you lift
your head and look at things afar off
from this world. Some day I must
paint you as St. Cecilia"
"And am 1 really-|ust the picture?"
breathed the woman, so softly that
the man did nos hear her, as she arose
and stood in frpnt of the canvas.
The thought struck her with quick
terror, yet many woman would have
envied her the pale, pure face which
looked out of the canvas. Then re-
assurance came-surely only love could
have guided the brush which produced
such results.
Graham walked to the window, gaz-
ed out momant. and came back to
her.
"You were the inspiration, Miss Muir,
Of the picture that will make newell.
not FAMOUS, Du6 VIII give ue d AaAnc VI
my own. For chat owe you debt
Of the deepest gratitude. There is no
way in which can repay you-the pic
ture itself is yours. will not make q
copy, for could not put into the copy
what I feel to he in the original"
"Your gift is princely one, and l
accept it in the spirit you offer 1t.
But
'aThere must We no conditions, Miss
Muir. have my artistic reward in the
knowledge of work to which l have
given my best My material reward
will come in The orders which this
will bring me. And then owe you a
debt of gratitude for the pleasant hours
of our sithngs.
sMost Of all. I owe you a debt of
lgratitude for placing something else in
my power. Let me show you"
Uncovering q smaller canvas, be
brought It to tho light and said simply:
sa1shot fa tho 0fr1 am nrinn tn marry.