Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-12-30
DELAWARE, OHIO, FRIDAY DECEMBER 80, 1870.

True Aspect, I do Solemnly Enjoin you
/ to Leave Where it Now IS Placed ex-
/ cepting Only should the Estate by En-
barrassment or Loss be about to Pass
from your Ownership, or that of your
Lawful Heirs, in which Event you or
They, as Provided in My VIII, Must
Sell the Painting at its Value. 1t is Es-
teemed by an Excellent Virtuoso in such
Matters, to be Worth Fifty Thousand
Dollars in Goold.
''Your uncle, PETER DYER.
The reading concluded with sort of
angry groan, ending in snort, from
Elkanah.
Where is this picture ?" said the car
penter.
Elkanah rose with a beckoning ges-
ture, and they both passed into the ad-
joining room, lit by lamps and freight,
and all bosky with evergreen. The
jamb or face of the fireplace was panel
ed with solid oak. The right-hand side,
where the picture of Judas had been,
was painted over in oak-grain. On the
other side was a full-length figure, about
two feet high, in a dark gabeFdine, with
a rosy face, gray hair, and short white
beard. the whole enmaTgined by clunl-
sy imitation of wreath of holly leaves
and scarlet berries. As work of art,
| it was utterly worthless, though not with
out a certain pleasing effect, chiefly
owing to the blurring of the outlines,
and the obscurity of the once staring
/ colors which the wood had absorbed
! Aided by the dimness into which its
| hues and lines had fallen, it did have,
as the old man had said, a curious gen
eral resemblance to the gray carpenter,
who stood with lamp in his hand ex-
amining it with a fxity of attention
which it certainly did not deserve.
That it, said Elkanah, with a dis
dainful sniff, as the other concluded his
| scrutiny. That's the precious gem =
Worth about two York shillings. say.
What say you?'
81 am of your Uncle Peters judg-
ment, . replied the carpenter, composed
/ ly. Fifty thousand dollars, l say
Elkanah glared at him, his face ablaze,
! his voice choking with sudden rage
! The carpenter opposed resistance to the
glare, with a look firm, impassiVe, in
domitable as fortress-wall The old
mans anger rebounded from it, bafled,
as lion might rebound, leaPing against
! stone and with a gasp he bounced to
the other end of the room.
''All right, sir, he said, wheeling
about, and coming back with polite
smiles and bows, in which smothered
! fury, sarcastic amusement, and defer
ence were all expressed and Blended
81 respect you very much, sir. / do,
! indeed. And every one is entitled to
| his opinion. Pardon. me, but if you
please, well not discuss this matter fur
ther. I'd really rather not, if you'll in
! dulge me. .
He saw that the carpenter was look
| ing past him, with heaVy-lidded, drain
| ing gaze, into the other room, and he
turned. Faulkner and Emily were there,
vivid in the fre-sheen, murmuring to
each other, in enchanted attitudes. Be
hind, in shadow, at window, with re-
verted head and chewing lip, pale, 81
lent, vengeful, was John. The carpen-
ter, with moveless eyes, was absorbing
it all.
"Oh said Elkanah, with slight
movement my boy John-the one at
the window The others his friend
And that's Johns wife, Emily. Come
in, sir; III introduce you"
whats the friends name p asked
the carpenter, quietly, without moving.
" Faulkner, sir-Michael Faulkner.
Son of the General, . replied Elkanah.
"a sweet boy" said the carpenter, in
a tone of deep affection. "A born
| lover"
Elkanah, already moving to the door,
hirted about, slapping his hands together.
''By the big Pedee A hit" he ex-
claimed. you've said the word. -
And he looked at the carpenter mean
ingly. and with wonder and admiration.
Mrs. Dyer Tom, and Fanny Red
wood at that moment entered the fire.
lit apartment, and the next, the whole
family, gathered in its lights and shad-
ows, were gazing with mute faces all
turned one way in curious wonder and
interest, at what seemed the grand orig
inal'of Peter Dyzer's rude picture, com
ing in with Elkanah from the paneled
room, with his strange aspect of blend
ed youth and age, his child sweetness,
his prophet majesty his look of rosy
innocence and gray wisdom.
"What do you think of that for a
likeness p chirruped Elkanah, proudly
beaming. "At my particular request
he's come off the oak fireplace to spend
the evening. My friend, Mr.. Carpen-
ter. -
They all bowed smilingly. but still in
some wonder, and before the old man
could proceed to the more special intro
duCtions, the carpenter, somewhat to his
amazement, yet in a way quite in keep
ing with his unconventional aspect and
manner, was moving with a sort of
measured alertness among the group,
paying his simple and affectionate ad-
dresses to each person, with the air of
being already on familiar terms with
them, and of knowing all about them
thus establishing himself in close rab-
port with every one, as only man of
powerful intuitions, vivid impressions,
and great magnetic force and dignity,
could have done, and leaving them with
a sense as if something electric and very
sweet had swept through them. To
each he gave his hand with some apt
word but coming to Faulkner, he put
his arm around him, and drawing him to
his breast, lightly kissed him on the
forehead, saying gently, my son.
The tender voice, the unusual daring
action, which sent sweet lightning thro'
Faulkner's veins, left the others with a
soft, mysterious thrill. They stood like
enchanted figures, statue-stiH, in the
dancing lights and shadows of the leafy
room. In the hallowed quiet, the wind
harp was sounding.
''WelI, cried E1kanah, breaking the
momentary muteness, and bursting into
laughter, "this IS jolly Mr.. Carpenter.
you're new face, but we count you an
old friend. l shan't wonder if you turn
out to be Uncle Peters Good Man him
self, after all Make yourself at home,
sir. We all like you well. The com
pany's coming, and hey but Wen have
staving jamboree! There be swinge-
ing supper by and by. And refresh
ments soon. You'll say, sir, that Mrs.
Dyzer's apple-toddy is the best you ever
drank in your life And if Miss Faul1-
ner there, who gets such sweet love
doesn't entirely change charac-
tiers with Mr.. Redwood here, who
doesn't get any-(never mind, Fanny,
my robin, there'I be plenty for you when
you get to the hallelujah meadows, ifI
not sooner)-heH make you a punch,
sir, that you'll say is the best you ever
drank, too. He's a rouser to make
punch, tell you, though he only sips it |
like lady himself And I've Bourbon |