The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-07-25

fatigues and cold Of the night, with
his brain disturbed by hunger and
anxiety, he sat down on a bench
placed against one Of those glass
cases which contain Egyptian anti
quities, and began to look, without
seeing them, at the curious objects
displayed around him. By degrees
his eyelids closed his head dropped
on his breast, and he fell into trou.
bled sleep, which did not prevent his
hearing the slow and grave step of q
guard, who was solemnly promenad-
ing the vast galleries.
Frederic, without perceiving it,
had rested his elbow on the s lass
which covered the case behind him.
Suddenly he felt this glass give way
beneath the weight pressing upon it,
and break. Judge Of the terror ot
| the young man, now suddenly ar
oused The guard would soon per-
ccive the accident, and come to de-
mand the value Of the broken glass,
perhaps see in it an attempt at theft.
And Frederic no longer has even the
slight sum necessary to pay this ex-
pcnse. What shall he do, what will
become of him? While he was tor
mentlng himself with such thoughts
the poor young German feigned to be
asleep and dare not moye his arm,
although he felt a violent pain in his
elbow, caused by a bit Of glass, or
contact with some sharp object
':lf some miracle does not eXtri-
cate me from this difficulty said he,
d" AIN ruined O, why am not the
posscssor of a talisman, which would
give me the power to Danish from
this saloon the formidable guard, who
has. perhaps. already seen me? %
lie had scarcely formed this desire
when he heard the steps Of the guard
become fainter, and at last die away
in the distance. Frederic opened
his eyes. 0, happiness he alone
remained in the saloon. To rise and
hasten rapidly into the picture gal
lery, that he might lose himself in
the crowd, was for him but the affair
Of a moment.
There, surprised at his good for
tune, cut Of breath, exhausted, he
began to look at his own picture, be-
fore p numerous group was collected.
{" o." said Frederic, " il the mis-
fortune which has pursued rne would
at last cease If some one would only
buy my picture but it is folly to
think of it. Because | have extri-
Gated myself from a ridiculous posi-
tiou, can hope to succeed in every
thing? Alas do not possess any
talisman to ensure this.
Scarcely had this thought formed
itself in his brain, when two persons
LETT the group assembled before his
picture. One was Il respectable old
man, the other youth, we'll known
for his immense fortune and passion
ate love Of the arts.
" Charles - said the old man to
the latter, " ALLOW me to purchase
this picture. / demand this as
proof oc friendship. l have but a
short time to live, and you are my
sole heir. Let me become the owner
of this wonderful painting -
The young man replied, {" give
it up to you, but on condition that
his next picture shall be mine, and
that you will allow me to order one
to-day, before the second which you
wish to have from him as q compa-
nion picture. .
"Be it SO, replied the old man !:
"but you arc very tvrannical. -
Frederic thought himself the sport
of a dream but he was quickly as
sured Of the reality of what he had
heard, when the youth and the old
man advanced towards him, with
SHlllcS vi tlitii u Jo.
"Sir, said the youth, ''pardon
me for speaking to you of business
in this place, but my uncle, the
Prince of --, desires to be intro
duced to you, and to become the own
er of your picture. -
{" Yes, sir, it belongs to me. and |
entreat you to receive its value on the
spot" added the old man: present.
inc to Frederic a package of bank
bills. II desire besides, sir, sec
ond picture Of the same dimensions.
&" And | two similar ones,' said
the young man "aud il order that
you may be pledged to me, and form
no other engagements, allow ne to
pay YOU in advance. y
"And you will give US much plea
sure" resumed the prince, If YOU
will dine at my house to-day. You
will meet there several Of Your coun-
trymen: here is my address. Adieu,
Sir, till evening.
Both went away. Frederic re-
maiued stupefed. He held in his
hand thirty thOusard f'anS in bank
notes!
"Is it dream? or have | lost my
senses?" he exclaimed.
The movement of the arm which
accompanied this exclamation, made
something fall at his feet; it was two
little bits Of glass, which had re-