The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-07-28
HIS HONOR's SUB.
BY CHARLES W. ROBSON.

Judge Atwater's scheme was ingen.
ious. 1t deserved success If the art
ist had combined with his artistic
temperament more careful business
habits, and if His Honor's double had
only not-but let US not anticipate.
Promptly at three o'clock this aft
ernoon you are to begin the sittings
for yo r portrait" said Mrs. Angus
tus Arlington Atwater to His Honor
at the Breakfast table the first morn
ing Of His Honor's summer vacation.
But, my DEAR" began her husband,
this is the first l have heard of this
portrait business. and have
planned"
Whatever you may have planned. .
interposed the imperious dame, "can
we'll be postponed. An appointment
with the celebrated NJ Bots de la Tour
cannot be postponed. This great art
list Is making a very short stay in
the city. He Is taking orders from a
very few highly favored patrons. 1t
was only after much persuasion and
an offer of very large recompense
that l secured his services. Perkins,
you may now retire and dust the H.
brary." This to the butler, who had
been serving the breakfast And"
resumed the queen with an air of
finality, as l just said, an engage
ment with NJ. Bots de la Tour is one
to be kept. l will escort you to his
studio at the appointed time"
1t was often said about town that
Judge Atwater ruled from the bench
at the courthouse, and that Mrs Au-
gustus Arlington Atwater ruled from
her throne at their home; and that,
though His Honor's decisions we're
sometimes reversed by a higher court,
from the dicta OF Mrs Augustus Arb
ington Atwater there was no appeal.
1t had even humorously been asserted
that If Mrs. Augustus Arlington At
water should say to her lord, "Pre-
cisely at ten this evening we shall set
out for the moon" His Honor, willy
nilly, would have made his prepare
tons for the trip moonward.
| AAp Ad6t dooOl I1Ou lb no uOuUt n
gross Misrepresentation of the facts.
However, in the matter Of sitting for
his portrait, Judge Atwater yielded
to his wife's command, and three
O'Clock found them at the studio of
M. Bots de la Tour.
Mrs. Augustus Arlington Atwater
posed His Honor, scornfully waving
aside all suggestions from the artist,
arranged with great care the folds of
| the judicial robe, ordered His Honor
to produce bright. intelligent, cheer
full mien. and finally, having seen the
business satisfactorily under way,
majestically withdrew to WELD her
scepter at meeting of the Votes
| for Women Club"
Relieved of the commanding pres
ence of his queen, Hi Honor's
bright, cheerful mien" gradually
gives place to one of quite different
sort. He feels bored He shows it.
He fails to suppress yawn. NJ Bots
de la Tour frowns. Presently the
honk honk Of an automobile is heard
through the open window. It reminds
His Honor of the ride he and his
| friend, the governor, were to have
taken to the Country club. that after
noon, and of the game of golf they
were to have played. He sighs, and
involuntarily turns toward the win
dow, sadly disarranging the carefully
laid folds of his robe.
Mon Dieu!" exclaims the French
man. 'Eet ees imposseeble Eat /
paint zee portrait of monsieur eef
monster ne reste pas tranquil! Eet
ees not zee moving pictures Eat /
makel"
His Honor feebly endeavors to re-
sumo the proper pose. He listens to
| the distant monotonous rumbling of
the traffic in the street, waited into
| the studio upon the warm afternoon
breeze It affects him specifically
His eyes manifest an unconquerable
inclination to close. His chin drops
slightly His respiration becomes
more or less musical. Surely Judge
Atwater is suffering from the somno-
lence Of the sultry summer season
1t is late afternoon, His Honor is
rambling through the woods, hat in
hand, the fragrant scent of pine and
balsam in his nostrils yellow sun
| light trickles in long, wavering pen
ellis through the gently swaying
branches and dances upon his face
and upon the brown carpet of pine
needles beneath his feet A scarlet
| tanager alights upon a bough above
his head, preens it's feathers for a
time, then fits away, flash of scarlet
| against the green background of foil
[ age. d bee, buzzing noisily, darts
| in zigzags about his ears! Suddenly
1t settles upon his bald head
The musical respiration ends with a
[ loud snort. His Honor wakes up with
a start, and strikes angrily at fly
which in peaceful, undisturbed enjoy
ment has been greedily feeding upon
the rich pasture of his bare pate. He
finds M. Bots de la Tour standing over
| him, struggling his shoulders and NUT
tering contemptuously:
ITO paint zee sleeping beauties ees
not cen my line"
When His Honor is fully awake, the
scandalized portrait painter con-
| tinues:
Il teenk | refuse to paint zee por-
trait Of monsieur First monsieur ne
reste pas tranquil. And Eenn mon
sieur holds not himself awake. Que
faire! My time ees veree valuable,
and eet ees not to waste cen zis
manierel"
Il most humbly beg your pardan,
NJ Bots de la Tour" apologized His
Honor aghast at the artists threat
IF you will kindly go on with the
work, l think l can assure you that
will give you no further trouble.
Mrs. Atwater would be much disap-
pointed If anything should prevent
you from painting my portrait, You
shall receive ample recompense for
any loss of time which may have
been occasioned by my-er-lack Of
interest" Thus speaking, His Honor,
knowing how much can be accom-
plished by the persuasion which takes
the form of something substantial
from a full pocketbook, slips a $40
bill into the artists hand, and the lat
ter, somewhat Modified. returns to
his easel. Refreshed by his nap and
frightened by NJ Bots de la Tours
threat, Judge Atwater stoically at
tempts to do all that is required OF
him.
Near the end of the sitting. driver,
str1kingly like His Honor in every de-
tail, came into the studio to deliver a
package. Like flash 1t occurred to
the judge that his double might be
hired to sit in his place.
"YOnng man !" said he 70 the driver.