Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-09-13

Among other things, remember that
Enoch had more than once compli-
mented him upon the rugged beauty"
that was the phrase he used--of
his head.
The vanity of the big man was
colossal. He swallowed anything.
From the moment that compliments
began to be flung at him by Enoch
Voyce saw what was in the wind. 1t
was then an easy step to talk Of
photography and my extraordinary
powers, which l blushingly admitted
The man who had suffered as AGRA
ham Powling had suffered was a
celebrity. His photograph especial
ly the photograph of such a remark
able head and face-should be shown
broadcast. Mr.. Powling would be
confering a great benefit and favor
upon young and struggling photog-
rapher if he would give him sitting
which would cost nothing. And
Abraham Powiing, with his large face
wreathed in smiles, consented at
once and promised to call within a
few days.
Now. | honestly believe that in all
that Enoch Voyce did at that time.
and on later occasions, he was actual
ed so.ely by the desire to help me and
to push me into better position. II
was only by sheer matter of acct
dent that brought about such amazing
results. | certainly have thought
once or twice since that certain wiz
ardlike powers were his-a species of
gift of second sight. but of that, in
the case am relating the matter was
to all appearances purely an accident
al one.
Going over in my mind all the cir
cumstances which preceded the visit
of Abraham Powling, to my modest
establishment, | have to set down
first the fact-an amazing one to me
/ then-that l had a client call upon me
on the morning of the day ON which
/ he had arranged to visit me. That
client is not noteworthy, save for the
fact that unconsciously she brought
about the after disaster. 1t was com
parative.y early in the morning, and
/ she was a young woman. | have for
gotten her name. / remember that
she was a particularly fdgety sitter,
and that had to try again and again.
and waste several plates before get
/ ting even a toleraole result. Now it
would be the fo.d of dress that was
wrong, now that the chair was not
comfortable, or again that the light
was in her eyes. l exercised what
patience l could l was particularly
|exasperated because she was not
even a good looking woman. She
was thin and pale and faded looking,
with ineffective features. However,
finally got rid of her, ana set to work
on the best of the plates.
Abraham Powling came in the af-
ternoon with something % an air of
importance. AS a schoolboy would
have it, he certainly put on sire"
He had come a Tong way to oblige me,
and he seemed doubtful as to the re-
suit. posed him and took several
pictures. had little general converse
with him. and was just politely dis
missing him when voyce CAME in.
Mr.. Voyce seemed much interested to
know that the photograph had been
taken, and thanked the big man more
than once on my lehalf.
l 'ost no time in getting to work.
I wanted the pictures printed as
rapidly as possible, lest by chan >e
some other enterprising photographer
should get hold of the man l devoted
the next morning to the business, and
found that | had secured some re-
markably good results. I showed them
to Enoch voyce. who examined them
closely and nodded to express his sat
isfaction.
rs this aIl?" he asked in that
sharp manner of his.
IAN that are of any use,'' replied.
zone plate was spoiled. It has a curl
ors mark upon it. I'm sorry. because,
from the glimpse had of it as I was
developing it. it seemed likely to be
the best in the lot"
Il should 90 on and finish It, if
were YOU" said the old man mo
harm done, at any rate; and it might
prove interesting"
had a curious feeling. as turned
to the spoiled plate, that it might
prove interesting. although I scarcely
knew in what way. However. I devel-
oped 1t pletely-over-deve Il,
in fact, as compared with the others.
And then saw how it was that the
mark had before noticed had occur
red. In the hurry and excitement at
tendant upon having two sitters in
one day. l had got my plates mixed,
and had actually taken a photograph
of the big man. Abraham Powling. on
one Of the spoiled plates of the morn
ing The effect was curious. Ebra-
ham Powling was sitting in a digni-
fed attitude in a chair. while imme-
diately behind him, looking as 1t were
over his shoulder. was the shadowy
figure of the young woman-a mere
ghost" photograph, as It IS generally
known 1t is an ordinary thing, and
has been used again and again to i'm.
pose upon the creiulous for spiritual.
istic and other purposes but in my
case it was merely by accident.
showed 1t. as had done the others to
/ Enoch Voyce. He looked at. it for
long time. with his gray head on one