Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-06-01

story OF the building 9993 Broadway.
Thus was Jones extraordinary i'm
pudence first manifested to me.
| was rightly Indignant l, man of
fifty, a merchant of high standing in
the community, whose real estate alone
was worth some hundred thousands, the
father of four of the finest girls in the
city, | to be treated as a mere equal by
the lean, threadbare youngster before
me. As to years alone he might have
been my son. l, whose wife was a
leader of fashion on the Avenue |,
the favored guest of the .proudest cir
cles, invited by an unknown dauber to
visit him in his garret The fellow was
verify ignorant OF his place, | could,
of course, afford to be magnanimous |
smiled Internally at his presumption,
aud, being really interested in such an
abnormal specimen of humanity. con-
tented myself with no other rebuke than
a sarcastic bow, and the intimaton that
l would do myself the honor of calling
upon him at his earliest convenience.
jones never WINGED, but making res
pectful bow departed from my side.
saw him moment after conversing with
a long haired brother professional, as
seemingly unconscious of any conde-
scension | had paid him as if | had
never existed.
Now how would my head book keeper
| IL
stances "a man, too, whose salary is
three thousand dollars per annum, while
Jones | know, realizes scarcely seven
hundred. Binks-an estimable man
he is-would have been agtated in ev-
cry feature :Eith pleasure, and, meeting
Il fellow official, would have assumed an
arrogant air befitting the occasion. |
had it; Jones was conceited-all artists
are-he imagined himself a great paint
er. Again looked at him. | like to
study human nature, and am also lit
erary amateur. Letters are my pas
time TO my fondness for them is due
this account. | looked at Jones again,
| repeat, and his manner unsettled my
conviction. Jones was unquestionably
a puZzler! e.! [ determined to act pom
the sarcasm with which I had conclud
ed our conversation. | would visit
him.
a small room, with discolored walls,
hung all over with studies of foliage, of
rocks and mountains. ofskies and river
scenery, presented itself to my gaze.
Here and there was a canvas which bore
IS yet no mark of the brush, while 9TH
ers showed skill in compo ition, and ex-
hibited all the appearance of a finished
painting. Three common wooden chairs,
a taltered lounge, and cheap easel
comprised the remainder of the furni-
ture, with the exception of dingy green
screen, which, like the walls, was pro-
fusely ornamented with sketches in oil
and lead pencil. Jones, clad in rag
ged dressing gown, outstretched his
hand as | entered
His confounded impudence again !!
Such was his manner, however, that in
a dazed state, forgetting the rebuke due
his insolenee, extended my own digits
1t was astonishing that the ill-clad fell
low before me could so impress man
Of the world, used to all varieties of the
human family. As with wardness,
arising from a consciousness of defeat,
seated myself in a proffered chair my
countenance underwent a series of ex-
pressions before the calm gaze of Jones,
| was at first impelled to stern look of
dignity. The frown had, however,
scarcely begun to contract my eyebrows
before | felt myself acting ridiculously
Jones seemed so unconscious of any
ofense rendered. My bewilderment
now made me avert my eyes in besi
tant look about the room, aud suppose
my agitation must have manifested it.
self more absurdly, for | saw an ire
pressible smile lowering over Jones
lips. My emotions were perhaps sim
liar to that of lover before his mistress
when upon the eve of proposal That
such a conccited youncster should so
affect me was too much That hardly
concealed smile why, | actually
amused him | determined at once to
establish myself on my proper footing
You have often wealthy visitors, |
suppose, Sir?' was my harsh remark
1t seems now to me "a contemplate one.
No, Sir. | believe you are the first
gentleman answering to that description
my poor studio has seen A frame
maker occasionally calls; and, like all
Bohemians, see sometimes dun. l
do my best, however, not to be ultra
Bohemian as to that Thus responded
Jones, mildly and courteously.
Courteously Was it so? Would not
his proper courtesy have been rightly
shown by signs of humility? | SO
judged
We'll. Sir, I must say that, for a
man was desirous of giving him a
savage declaration of his inferiority to
NE, but | could not finish my sentence.
Jones looked at me with such peculiar
expression in his eyes that l was COM
PEELED TO stop In what consisted the
power of that expression ? Was it
rage ?-was it surprise could not
declare. tried afterwards to analyze
my own feelings. 1t really appeared to
me that | was oppressed by sense of
my own inferiority-the conviction that
stood on in6rm ground, and that l
would assuredly meet with conqueror
should | offer battle.
1t was all to no purpose my determ-
iuatiou to put Jones down, Jones was