The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-12-05
Scheme
By EVELYN SPENCER

was at the time in Paris, letter ask
! ing him to send all the photographs
! Of her mother some years dead, TO her
| since she had found III artist who
could paint "A portrait from them Civ
! ing the desired lifelike expression.
Miss Atwood furthermore suggested
that he come over and attend to the
matter himself. The artist she referred
10 vas rising man in his profession
and would probably require a good
price for doing the work.
Mr. Atwood. gathering the pictures
! in his possession, sailed for Europe
and one day turned up in Paris. He
! was at once taken TO the studio OF
/ Clarence Whiting. the artist, ~ho was
/ 10 paint the portrait Mr. Whiting
looked over the photographs carefully.
asked which was regarded as the best
likeness of the original and remarked:
I'VE portrait painters see resem-
blances more readily than other per-
sons To me Miss Atwood is very like
her mother. But cannot tell whether
the varied expressions Of her face are
like her mothers, for photograph has
but one expression, and that is apt to
he unlike anything ever found on the
face OF the original. Unfortunately !
nave never seen Mrs. Atwood. I will
undertake TO paint the portrait from
the photograph you like best. enliven-
ing it with Miss Atwoods most pleas
ing expressions. In other words. l will
make up the portrait from both mother
and daughter. admit that I am much
more likely to fail than succeed. but IL
succeed the result will be gratifying
| to you as we'll as to me-
Mr.. Atwood was favorably impressed
with this and asked the sum that
would be charged for the work when
finished. Mr.. Whiting replied that.
since he would be unable himself to
Judge Of his work, he would make no
price until he learned If the father and
daughter pronounced it success.
The matter being disposed OF. the art
ist took the photograph Of his subject
most approved OF by the others, and II
was arranged that Miss Atwood should
give him regular sittings.
Miss Atwood Ut any sudden an
nouncement that surprised. interested
or pleased her had way Of throwing
back her head and looking fixedly ut
the person making the announcement.
| This is n very lame description Of 1t.
but an expression is indescribable. Mr..
| Whiting looked for 1t in the father
! and. not finding It. concluded there
we're many chances in favor Of its hav-
ing been inherited from the mother.
He determined TO paint the portrait,
! giving the life period Of Mrs. Atwood
about the time she died and the eK
! preston referred 10.
1 Mr.. Whiting worked q long while be
! fore he produced what pleased him.
making drawings innumerable before
| beginning to paint. Miss Atwood rare
! ~ assumed what he was trying to
catch and put on the canvas. and this
materially caused delay. At any rate.
! the painting of the portrait seemed to
require very long time Mr.. Atwood,
whose presence was required in Amer
ica became impatient.
At last satisfactory drawing was
made. and after that the work was
comparatively easy. More time was
spent in smoothing and softening the
lines. but Mr.. Atwood was assured that
a time could be set for the finishing.
He was not permitted to see the pic
ture while it was being painted, and
it was not till it was framed and set
up in proper light that he was ad-
United to the studio. where it rested
on an easel Whiting and Miss At
wood both watched for the expression
on his face when he should see II.
knowing that success or failure would
he expressed there. The result was
success beyond their expectations. The
widowcr's face lighted up with an ex-
preston never seen there since his
wife's death. and he involuntarily put
out his arms as if TO clasp her. living
being.
After feastins his eyes on the picture
he drew check book from his pocket
and asked the artist what amount he
! should fill in for the picture. Whit
ing glanced ut Miss Atwood and saw
there sign which he seemed TO un-
derstand and said. Pardon me for n
moment: | will make out BILL" and.
going TO n desk. he sat down. wrote
something on bit OF paper. held it
before Miss Atwoods eyes; she glanced
an approval. and be handed it to her
father 1t read:
Mr.. John Atwood.
To Clarence Whiting. Dr..
TO painting portrait. one girl. Ethel At
wood.
; Mr.. Atwood was some time getting
J the drift or the matter through his
head. When he did he looked at his
daughter sternly and said:
ETHEL. did you work this scheme:'
Il did. papa" replied the girl. draw
ing short breaths.
"And brought me over here on pur.
pose to turn you over to some one
ciSe:''
THAT was one object. papa"
But by no means the only one," the
lover put IN. Before your daughter
had ever seen mo. looking upon one OF
my portraits. she remarked that was
inst the tiarSon Won needed for the work