. . . a veneer of retouched beauty that masks corruption.

Christine gasped when she saw her portrait for the first time. She lamented that the picture would mock her for her entire life. Age would steal her color and grace. She wanted the picture to grow old while she remained forever young. Alarmed at her lack of integrity, the artist tried to destroy the painting. Christine stopped him and placed it on the world wide web for posterity . . . a veneer of retouched beauty that masks corruption.

The artist put the finishing touches to his portrait and made sure that youth surmounted integrity and fairness. He portrayed Christine as an artistic ideal of purity that had inspired him to produce his most expressive work.

Governor Locke admired the painting and deigned to meet her. Knowing Locke's poisonous influence, the artist objected. However, Locke met her and flattered her about the virtues of her beauty and the charms of her political machination. He expressed sadness that her youth would fade into ugliness and disingenuousness. She plummeted into melancholy then decided to succeed him by illicit means.

With apologies to Oscar Wilde (1856-1900). Picture of Dorian Gray.

[Christine O'Grady Gregoire]