The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-12-31

did not let my brother see what
felt; and James, as you know, wa
lone of those dear good creatures wh(
never see anything they are not alb
solutcl y told or shown. -
But [ was half afraid that + hac
opened the door to a good deal Of lis
comfort in the future; for Ashley
would do about money as he hao
done ubout,the' Bcdsssw, e taking f.,
granted that lie coti11 Fave what eve,
lie asked for, and that james could
help him with money--from that bal
ance at his banker s--as he could
help him with 4 room from his liberal
arrangement Of lodging. Not. that
he was selfsh--you' must not think
that; bat he was thoughtless. Was
he not an artist? and could he, there
fore, be anything but thoughtless?
Besides, he did not know the revcr-
ential feeling that James and l had
for him, and how we would have rath-
or sacrificed ourselves than see him
want anything that VIC could get for
him
OF course Ashley believed in the
BANKERS balance. and, from the ease
with which the loan of five pounds
had been had, assumed that more
might be had as easily; and not long
after his return from the north--for
his mother got better, against all ex-
pectation--he asked James for on-
other loan; this time to enable his
mother and sister to come up to Lon
don and make home with him. Aud
when he spoke of his sistcr--his dear
and beautiful Coral saw, what |
had long suspected, that one cause of
my brothers intense attachment to
Ashley was in his love for Cora. 1t
was almost pathetic te watch the ex-
preston that came over his face
while Ashley was speaking. If only
Cora could be brought to London If
only he might sometimes see her
:, Ashley wanted twenty pounds
If five could only be had by pawning
my ring, ask you. George, where
could twenty come from? James was
in an agony, and l was powerlcss to
help him. If sorrow and pain could
have brought these men their happi-
ness they would have had it without
much delay; but what could a weak
and ignorant girl do for them? Alb
nothing! ! saw James lock
round the shabby room, and l saw
where his eyes rested. BY rare good
fortune he had been commissioned to
paint portrait for one of those So
called patrons Of art whose patronage
consists in getting the best produc-
tions of clever young men, yet un-
known, at merely nominal prices.
1t was for rich merchant to whom
James had been introduced, and it
was to Ic thirty pounds when done.
Could he mortgagesit !? There was
no use in asking Hawes to give him
an advance. He thought he had
done great things in giving him the
order at all? and there was every
probability that if he paid him on de-
livery he would charge him per-
centage on the transaction, and make
a profit out Of his "cash down." No,
there was no use in going to him -
He had lent my brother ma gnifcent
silyer-gilt hanapcr which he wanted
into his picture. 1t had
been a prescntation-piece from some
society or other, and the merchant
was very proud Of his cup. 1t was
a hideous thing, artistically speaking
but 1t was worth some hundreds Of
pounds. .@
My brother looked at this tankard.
| do not know what made me do it.
but | took it up quietly, and busted
It with my apron. s-1s &9.5=-.. T.
Il hope this has not got scratched
Or hurt in any way J.! saiG; asd it
was rare that l spoke before Ashley.
you remember Mr.. Hawes is COM
ns for it tomorrow, Jamie?"
"What shame that a fellow like
hat should have such a thing-and
70 vilcly ugly too!'' said Ashley.
''It is worth only the weight Of met
II; but that is being worth some
hing he added as if rejecting. =.
''Ies, it is hidoously ugly-crimin-
lily ugly!' said james; "but it cost
10 end Of money, dare say. Old
Hawes, | know, sets great store by
t, the old rhinoceros. Blu; as it is,
t is too good for him. And to think
hat we should be at the orders of
such man!--that wo should be oblis-
ID to put such a thing as that into
,ur work
He spoke in an artists injured
ono. | have often noticed that art.
SITS are injured when they are en-
'loyed by men who do not understand
Irt-Philistines as they call them.
Better send it to the smelling
,ot.' laughed Ashley.
say laughed, but it was bitter
'nccr rather than laugh.
James flushed, and trembled. 1t
,ever occurred to me as possible that
NY brother could do anything so dis
Us deal with another mans
my dear, jamie. the very
'oul Of chivalrous feeling!-and yet |
somehow feared Ashley's suggestion.
knew how he loycd that man, aud |
Knew that lie, quite as much as Ash
ey, waited to see Cora and Mrs. Gra-
,am in London. But wishing ard
loing, cnvying and stealing, arc two
liffcrant things: and though | trem-