Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-16
THE SAILOR OR ARTIST.
BY MRS. n. a. DESS1sON.


lCOneiuded
"You saw YOU have the original Of this paint
ing" exclaimed the gray haired man to tall,
stately, foreign-looking artist twill you do me
the favor to show it to me Z"
The young man rather reluctantly moved to
the side closet, and opened the door, took from
the shelf an ancient picture, the design Of which
could Just be discerned through smoke and the
tinge of time.
His visitor reached his hand out nervously
and srasped the painting. "HOw much how
much" he eagerly exclaimed, after examining
it closely, "will you take for this !"
al cannot sell it," replied the artist coldly.
al will give YOU four hundred for II, /" said
the old man hesitatingly.
-Four thousand could not buy it, ," was the
prompt answer.
"Pshaw l will give you two thousand"
The painter shook his head.
Lord Elgin has already offered me five thou
sand"
"Hai Iput it down. then, to six thousand; /;
will pay you in cash"
al know it is of great value" said the artist
because it IS the only work Of the kind extant.
and the production Of one Of the Old masters.
| am ambitious to keep it in my possession, and
though l am not wealthy, as tell you, nothing
will tempt me to part with it at present"
bending his tall figure to scruiinize the painting
again, " then l suppose l must be eOntented
with copy. You will DO me the favor to call
on me this evening as you promised my niece,
/ who Is by birth an American lady, has often
wished to be introduced to her talented coun-
| tryman."
The artist bowed assent, and his patron left
him.
Edwin Alger strobe rapidly back and forth
/ In his richly furnished studio. HIS mind was
far from his occupation, although every few
moments he would cease his walk and change
the position Of a statue, that the light might
fall on it more softly, trace the imaginary line
of beauty with his finger upon the hall covered
canvass that stood in the centre Of the room.
Yes, / am exalted-I, the once neglected
sailor the poor man-of-war's-man," he muir
INJURED audibly; " l am comparatively independ-
ent, and had / an object for which to labor,
could cJin wealth. But | am alone, and des-
tined to be forever, for cannot love; and yet
| my dreaD,r he exclaimed suddenly "why
should it not be fulfilled l''
A gay pa-tyin Pemberton Square impatiently
| awaited the entrance Of Edwin Alger, whose
few but choice productions in the laie eXhibi-
ton had elected almost extravagant admira-
tion. Sir Edward Perkins, the old basOnet in
whose house they had assembled, sat near the
blazing fire, and beside him his lovely niece,
simply yet richly attired, with one soft hand
resting on the back of his chair, while she was
eagerly listening to his description Of the old
picture.
"a declare to you my love, I would give al
most my whole fortune to possess it; for / see
by an ancient illuminated manuscript that
have, that it is by Flemmish master-his name
has passed from my memory HOw-by the des-
cription l am certain ! am correct. l only
hope young Alger will not be bribed by Lord
Elgin to part with it, he has already a superb
collection"
AT that instant the door was opened, and the
expected Alger was announced. The young
lady was introduced glad, frank smile light
ed up her features as she held forth her hand
The artist turned deadly pale his brain reeleii
in this beautiful being he had recognized sweet
Emiline Mcpherson, but she had forgotten him.
Nevertheless she was struck with his appearances
more interested than she had ever been before
in strangeF-and when they parted there was
sweetness in her farewell" !" and a sudden
tinge on her fair cheek, that gave glorious
dreams to the slumbers Of the young artist on
that night
Weeks and months passed by, and Alger had
won the fair American it only needed the con
sent of her proud uncle to make them the most
blessed Of m5rtals.
(" So you are still Stubborn ssid the Bar.
onet, one day, alluding to the picture you viii
not part with it p
"Give me the price ask and it is yOuIs,
said Alger.
" Name it young man." exclaimed the Bar
onet, eagerly grasping him by the shoulder.
az The hand of your niece, !" whispered Ager
hardly above ahreath-
"An unexpected honor, trnly," said the Bar.
onet, heartily " Ny dear sir, take her l shal
be proud Of the eOnnectiOn-sO young, so sue
cessful, who knows to what height you may
ascend She is too republican 70 marry title
and 6you love her-why, take her but where.
everyou 90 remember, l claim that beautiful
picture"
1t was not long before welding took place
at the BarOnet's pnncely mansion, and Alger
: being strongly pressed to PrOlong his stay in
London, consented 10 pass n few years more
among those who had 50 well appreciated his
genius. Riches poured into has Golfer his
wife was a fortune as he termed it, but to him
fortune herself alone. "Why do YOU wear
such puzzled look, my dear ~ be asked Eme-
line, Ond day as she sat gazing strangely at
him.
"Why, ever since knew yOu," she replied,
" there has been at times an eIpessiOn on your
face that reminds me Of something can't re-
member what, If you can make that out" she
added, laughingly.
Her husband smiled mystenously.
Something that must have happened when
/ was very young, is connected with that sin
gularly yet joyful expression; there that is it,
now your eyes fash again. I wish could
think"
"Be thinking, my dear, while leave you for
few moments" he replied as be left the
room.
In short time servant came to tell her that
her husband wished her to come into the little
east room. 1t was iayOrite cozy place, where
the newly married pair often sat together over
looking the Thames with IFS bnrdens Of treas
| ure.
As she opened the door, she fairly screamed
/ with astonishment; the room had been ingen-
iOusly fitted up so that it resembled a portion