Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-11-24

A
ing at the folly of of-ring SC
worthless a piece at public sale
sit is certainly my best work,
he niurmur,d pittously to him
self. He ventured to glance a,
the picture as the auctiolle.r hell
it in a favorable light. There
was certainly a beau iful fresh.
ness in the lich foliage,- a trans
parency in the water, freedom
land life in the animals. The
steeple, the trees, the whole land
lscape, showing the genius of an
artist. Alas! he felt the last
throb OF an; artists vanity The
dead silence continued and, turn
ing away he buried his face in his
hands. CA
"Twenty-one thalersr' faint
voice called oul The stupefed
Ipainter gave stattSTot .joy,. and
and looked to see who had ut cred
1those blessed words 1t was the
picture dealer to whom, he was
first to 60.
''Filty thalers!' cried the so
norous voice Of a tall man in blac ;.
There was a moments silence
"One hundred thalers r at length
cried the picture dealer, evidently
piqued aud anxious. .a
-Two-hmdred L..
"Three hundred y -s ''sTs.
"Four hundred p
"One thousand thalers!"
Another profound silence; and
the crowd pressed around the two
opponents, who stood opposite
each other with flushed and an
CRY faces.
The tall stranger bid fifteen
hundred thalers.
Two thousand thalers.!" tiIun-
der d the pi, ture dealer, gTancing
around him triulnpllantly fT #
"I'en thuusandI i v"ciftrated
the tall man. his face crinisun
with rage, and his hands cleliched
convulslvely.
The dealer grew pale, his frame
shook with agitation. Ills voice
was suffncated but after twu or
three efforts he cried ont:
"Tweuty Thousand T.
His tall opponent bid forty
thousand. Tlfe dealer hesitated.
His adversary laughed "a low
laugh of insoient triumph, and
the crowd gave . .Ini,rinur of adj
miration. The picture dealer felt
his peace at stake, and called out
iu sheer desperation:
FIFTY thousan,i!!' sf
The tail man hesitated, tue
crowd was breathlcss. AT length !
tossing his arms in defiance, he
shouted .-7t .....rsvg
"Ol hundred thousand p ad- t
ding an impatient execratiofl a.
gainst his adversary. The crest
fallen picture dealer Withdrew. +!
The tall victor bore away the
prize. He passed through the
wondering people, went out, and
was going along the street, when.
a decrepit, lame, humpbncked
wretch. tottering along by the aid
of a stick, presented himself be-
fore him. The stranger, threw
him q piece Of money, and waived
his hand as if dispensing thanks. I
"May it please your honor, per-
sisted the supposed beggar, Il am
the painter of that picture. He :
rubb d his eyes, for he had barslly
yet been able to persuade him
self that he had not been dream
ing.
The tall man was Count Dunk
plsback, one of the richest noble
men in Germany. He stopped
and questioned Duhobret. Being
of the truth Of his
statement, he took out his packet
book, tore out a leaf, and wrote
ON it a few lines. I#s1 &
Take it, FRIEND" he said. "lt !
is the check for your money.
Good morning" - -
Duhobret invested his money
aud resolved to live luxuriousty
tor the rest of his lie, cu1tiya,ing
painting as a paslilne,. BIZ &,
though he lad borne priyatliai !
and toll, prosperity was too much
for him. Indigestion carried him
IF. His picture had long AN lpn-
hred place in the 1cabineto Count
Dunkelsbach, andlthe curious in
tilent of its purchase was eften
r lated. l.aftel ward pas ed mo
the possession VI the, King oI' Bai
varia. .sstaf-, ,sssi '@a +