The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-11-24

smoke aud ange Oh sisife- ss
II Ills visitor reached his hand cut nervousiy
and srrsrej the painisns. 'sil,w much J
how rnucht'' he eagerly exclaimed after
examining il c!ossiy, .:whas will sau take
i FOR thisla
II eanno, sell IL" replied the artist coldy.
81 viii give yon four hundred lo- it. TIE
old nan said hssitatinely.
..foar thousand could net buy it, was
tie prompt answer.
"Pshas. will give you two thousand"
The painter Shook his head.
"Four thousand.n
..Lord E,gin aas already offered ne Eve
I thousand.
Ella! rus it Down then 4. SIX thousand,
I viii pay rau in cash."
81 know it is of great values" replied the
artist. ..beeaase ii is ,he ouly work exsant
/ of The kiGd. and the psadaeiion Of cae Of
the ell masters. ! am ambitious to seep il
/ in my possession, and although am not
wealthy, as tel! you, nothing will tempt
me TO part with it at present.
/ "Very well, }" exclaimed the old gcniieman,
bending his tall figure to scrutinize the
+ painting again, ''then | suppose must be
contented with the copy. You will DO .ae
the favor to call ON ms this evening az YOU
promised: my niece, who is by birth an
I American Lady, has often wished to be in-
troduceI to her talented eouhtrymau.
/ The artist bowed assent, ard his patron
lef, hila.
/ Edwin Al-ar strode rapidly back and forth
| in the richly furnished studio. lis mind
was far from its occupation, although every
| few moments he would cease bis walk and
change the position Of statue, that the
/ light nigh; fall upon it more softly. or trace
some imaginary line of beauty with his in
ger upon the half covered canvass that stood
+! in the centre of the room.
/ "fes, am exalted-I. the once neglected
! sailor: the poor man of -war's $ man he ut
tered auGhbiy: "the great aud the powerful
court my company. am comparatively
/ independent, and. had some object for
which to labor, might coin wealth. But
am alone, and determined to be forever.
+ for caunct love and yet my dream.' ex-
claimed suddenly, "why should it not be ALL
fulfilled -
/ A gay party in Pemberton Square awaited
/ imIatienliy the entrance of Edwin Ager.
whose few but choice productions in the
/ late exhibition had elected almost extraya-
CANT admiration. Sir Edward Perdins, the
/ old baronet in whose house they were as
semhled. sat near the blazing fire. and before
him stood his lovely neiee, 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 pic
+ turc.
/ Il declare to you my love, would give
almost my fortune to possess it. for see By
/ an Old illuminated manuscript which have.
/ that it is BIZ a Flemish master-his name
has passed from memory now; by the
description, | am certain that must be cor
rect. only hope Young Algcr will not be
bribed by Lord Elgin to part with it to him, ,
he Sas already superb collection"
A. tina. instant the door was opened and
T the expected. artist announced. The Young
lady was iatroGaccd, glad, frank smile
| lighted up her features as she held forth
her hand. Alger turned acadly pale; for a
moment the room swan rounl. and his brain
reeled; in this beautiful being he had re-
cognized Emeline Mphprson. but she had
| forgotten him. Nevertheless, she was struck
with his appearance more interested than
she had ever been before ia stranger, and
when they parted there was a sweetness in
her "fareweIl' and n sudden tinge on her
fair cheek that gave glorious dreams to the
slumbcrs of her worshippers.
Weeks and months passed by. Ager had
won the fnr American: it needed only the
consent of her proud uncle 10 make them
the most blessed Of mortals.
$50 you are still stubborn: said the old
baronet one day, alludr to the picture;
'you will not part with 2"
"Gjvc me the price ask, and it is yours"
said Algcr.
'Name it, young man ~ exclaimed the
bnronet, eagerly graSping him by the
shoulder.
'The hand Of your ueic,," whispered al
ger, hardly above his breath.
"An unexpected honor. truly" said the
haronet heartily: "mv dear sir. take her:
| shall be proud Of the connection: so Young.
so successful. who knows to what hcigh.
you may attain. She is too republican to
marry title and if you love her-why, wed
her: but wherever you SO, remember, claim
the pictnre.'
IL was not long before there was q we'd
ding at the baronct's princely mansion. and
Alscr, being strongly pressed to prolong
his stay in London, consented to pass few
wears more among those who had so well
appreciated bis genius. Riches rourd iuso
his Golfers. his wife was "a fortune'' as it
is termed, but to him fortune in hcrsdf
alone.
"Why do you wear such puzzled look,
my dear 2" he asked Emeline one day as
she sat gazing strangely at him. ....
sWhr. ever since | knew you. she re-
pIiod. ''there has been at times an express
sion On your face that reminds me Of some
thing. can't remember what, if you can
make that OUT" she added laughingly. .
Her husband smiled mysteTiously.
"Somethirg that must have happened
when was very young. is connected with
that singular yet joyful ezpression--hcre,
that is it. now your eye flashes wish
could think"
"Be thinking, my dear, while leave you
for few minutes,' he replied, as he lef,
the room.
| n short time a servant came to tell her
/ that her husband wished her to come into the
/ li.;le East room. . s.....
| It was a favoritc, cozv place, where the
newly married pair often sat together. over
/ looking the Thames, with its burdens Of
+ treasures.
/ Is she opened the door she s.nod dumb
with astouishment; the room bad been
/ fitted up so that it resembleti portion of a
ship. The great oaken chest was raraded
with open lid against the wall, and there
stood Jack Halliday, tarpauln on his
head, and a navy collar. worked with white
stars, thrown from his finely moulded
! throat.
/ SMv husban1r csn II be noss;hIes e,c'a;-n