Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1914-05-07
Scheme
By EVELYN SPENCER

One morning John Atwood. mer'
chant. received from his daughter who
was at the time in Paris. a letter ask.
ing him to send all the photographs
of her mother. some years he',d. to her
since she had found AM artist whn
could paint Il portrait frSEl Them CIV
ing the desired lifeiikt expression.
Miss Atwood furthernh hre suggested
that he come over AND attic. to the
matter himself. The fiSt she referred
to wuS Il rising man m ms profession
and would probably require good
price for doing the york.
Mr.. Atwood. gathering the pictures
in his uu;SpSsion. Sailed for Europe
and one day turned up in Paris. He
was at once taken toy the studio OF
Clarence Whiting the artist. who was
to paint the poftrait Mr. Whiting
looked over the photographs carefully.
asked which wnF regarded as the best
likeness Of the original and remarked:
I'VE portrait painters see resem-
&ancps more readily than other per
SONS. To me yIiss Atwood is very like
her mother. But I cannot tell whether
the varied pNlbressionS Of her face are
like her mothers. for photograph has
but one expression. and that IL apt to
he unlike anything ever found ON the
fate Of the original. Unfortunately !
have never sAen Mrs Atwood. ] will
undertake to{ paint the portrait from
the photograph you like best. eniiven
ing it with MHs Atwood's most pie;kS-
ing expressi2l nlIn. Gt her words, Z
make up the p1ftruit from both mother
and daughter. admit that am much
more likely to fail than succeed. but If
succeed the result will be gratifying
to you as well rs to me-"
Mr.. Atwood was favorably impressed
with this and asked the sum that
would he charged for the work when
finished. Mr.. )Whiting replied that.
since he would he unable himself to
judge Of his work. hn 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 1t
was arranged that Miss Atwood should
give him regular sittings.
Miss Atwood mt any sudden an
nouncement that surprised. interested
or pleased her had way of throwing
back her head and looking fixedly Mt
the person making the announcement.
This is a very lame description of it.
but an expression Is Understandable. Mr..
Whiting looked for it in the father
and. not finding 1t. concluded there
were 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 eX-
preston referred to.
Mr.. Whiting worked a hong while be-
fore he produced what pleased him.
making drawings innumerable before
beginning to paint. Miss Atwood rare
ly 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 seeme ed to
require very long time. Mr. Atwood.
whose presence was required I'm Aner-
lea. became impatient y
At last a satisfactory drawing was
made. and after that the work was
spent in smoothing and softening the
lines. but Mr.. Atwood was assured that
! time could be set for the finishing.
He was not permitted to see the pic
ture while 1t was being painted, and
1t was not till 1t was framed and set
up in proper light that he was ad-
mitted to the studio. where 1t rested
on an easel. Whiting and Miss At
wood both watched for the expression
on his face when he should see it.
knowing that success or failure would
be expressed there. The result was
success beyond their expectations. The
widower's face lighted up with an ex-
! preston never seen there since his
wife's death. and he involuntarily put
out his arms as II to clasp her. a living
being.
After feasffng his eyes on the picture
he drew q check book from his' pocket
and asked the artist what amount he