Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-06-10
RETR|BUT|ON.
BY PHILIP A~TTERRuRY.
1910. by American Press Asso-
clation.1

Copyright. 1910, by American Press Asso-
c~iation.l
l was at work at Ely easel one morn
ing when l received "A visit from a
lady who was a perfect stranger to
me. | arose to receive her and was
about to ask her how | could serve
her when she said eagerly:
where Is Edward Boria:df"
Edward Borlandr'
Eyes. Do you know where 1 can
find him?''
Il Y heard CT the gentleman"
You painted the picture 'Retribu-
tion,' didn't you, on exhibition at Mar
tine's?''
81 did"
From what did you take my like
ness? l never sat for you.'
my good lady, will you EXPLAIN
Explain. Why harrow my feelings
by forcing me TO ten fhe distressing
story when you must know it already.
Else how could you have painted that
awful scene?'
what awful scene?'
DC cease the pretense of ignorance.
l suppose it was he who told you"
My bewilderment was increasing
rather than subsiding, for 1 noticed q
resemblance, though a very faint one,
between the lady before me and a fig
ure In the picture to which she re-
ferred. In fact, l was ~dumfounded. /
did nothing but stare at her. She went
on speaking in her quick, excited way,
her eyes filing with tears:
at was all my fault. I urged him
to take the money and speculate for
me. The stocks went down. Ten
days after the loss was reported to me
by the brokers he had learned Of 1t
and made it good out of his own
pocket. Indeed, he wrote me tlat
there was a profit. The stupid brokers
called on me for margin during his alb
sence, at the height of the panic. He
had distinctly told them to look to
him and by no means communicate
with me. But why did you call your
picture Retribution?' At the moment
l ~reproached him he had ordered a
check sent me for $4,000. 1 received
it after he had gone"
A light was beginning to break In
upon my brain. l had read of cases
where persons had fancied themselves
the subjects of artists work, and 1t
struck me that 1 had met with an In
stance. l was interested in the lady's
story. Might | not be of service in re-
storing to her a person she had
r1-oncod9 Tho niafI1rn fnn 0nTsrQ-
sponded with the scene to which she
referred. A woman was reproaching a
who had wronged her, while he
stood with bowed head, receiving his
chastisement. The woman was the
principal figure; the man was in shad-
ow and his face not distinctly visible.
1 concluded to temporize with her.
"And did he not defend himself?" l
asked.
mo; he simply stood and looked at
me in establishment. His figure in your
picture doesn't show his demeanor
at ALL"
HE left you with no explanation?"
"None whatever. Ten minutes after
his departure the postman left his let
ter containing his check for what l
had given him-the profit. Profit, in
deed! The transaction cost him $500"
l pondered, while she went on inco-
herently In the same manner as be-
fore. Finally 1 said to her, IF you
will leave me your address l will see
If 1 can do anything for you"
There! knew all the while you
were acquainted with him and that he
CAV you the information which led
to your painting that picture. Oh,
please do tell him how sorry l am for
what 1 did"
Eyes, If 1 find him"
The lady departed somewhat COM
forted, but by no means confident that
L mould arrccnad in gaining for her