Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-08-29

| ~A f'GP'NN'i'S PN" -
l am free to confess / could not SC
the great merit of Toms painting, a
though the impromptuous little arts
continued to insist on its having tn
most favorable place in the room.
"Don't you see, my very dear sir,
he argued, sunless you get the light il
that direction, you miss that charmin,
effect in the middle distance9n
l fancied once or twice | saw sly
smile lurk at the corners of the mouth
or twinkle in the eyes, as with unwav
ering good temper and politeness, Mr.
Bouverie replied:
Every true indeed.'
Having deposited my precious load
| was about to retire, when, following
me to the door, he said
l"Don't forget this day week, the
24th. Don't be later, as 1 shall be
glad to make an end of this-settle all
claims, and return to his lordship tc
supcrintend the hanging of the pic.
lures. Good day; think 1 can con.
gratulate you beforehand on the sale
of all of your pictures"
Sanguine with the hope which these
parting words raised, l returned to my
studio more enthusiastic than ever.
and more grateful, if possible, to my
good friend, Charley, who had afford
ed me the opportunity of establishing
such a valuable connection.
The time seemed to pass slowly un-
til the appointed time, and being pret-
ty well left to myself,-except a visit
or two from Tom Farcombe, who call
ed, apparently, for the purpose of find
ing fault with my works and extolling
his own,-had plenty of time for in
dulging in those delightful dreams of
future fame and competence, which
the farewell words of my new friend
had so materially encouraged.
l had had one or two misgivings as
% the price l had affixed to each pic
ture. Had | asked enough ? Did
he paintings really possess more mer-
t than | had modestly believed9 The
Marquis of - was a staunch patron
If the art / had always heard, and
vas very rich. On the other hand, /
hought l had erred perhaps on the
light side, and the moderate demands
night all the sooner secure patron,
vhen he found works of value at a
easonable sum.
Yes, altogether I had acted wise
art, 1 concluded; and l busted my
elf with laying in for other land
capes for sketches beside me.
On the oath I determined to walk
uietly up to Wimpole street, in the
nrly part of the day, so that 1 might
G beforehand with the rest of the ar
SITS, obtain the settlement, as propos-
! by Mr.. Bouveric, for the accepted
ictures, and in case of any being re-
cted, return with them quietly to my
udio.
L was surprised, therefore, on arriv-
g at the address, to find that the
hers had acted on the same impulse
myself for l found the door open
ID the hall full. But l found that
ey were engaged in furious alter
tion with the landlady of the house.
oudest among them / could distin-
lish Tom Farncombe's violent and
rsistent demand:
"But where is Mr.. Bouverie9 /
sist on seeing Mr. Bouverie "
"Good gracious, gentlemen y cried
c landlady, "what on earth is the
cd of asking me? How should l
low9 He took this ground floor for
week said he was picture dealer,
d left for Liverpool four days ago,
king all the pictures with him.
"Then, by Jove Y cried Charley, as
new light suddenly flashed upon us,
nc fellows a swindler, and we have !.
en- done y '.''.' ia nE
"And the scounarel, by this time" /,
claimed another, "is on trip to :
nerica, and all the paintings with Z
M q aasb n n-t o
Du' uiu nc ieaVe nothing behind q
IA letter or a paper, or anything a
could trace him byg" joined in the :
rd, as the recollection of hours of
Sious and unremuneratcd labor pro-
bly, REQUIRED to him.
'He left nothing but a picture, !" re- n
ed the landlady. $,
"A picturer' we all seemed to say
once. f.rE sa8H ll -sbs6
Yes, sir; and a pleasanter and Ii
re honorable gentleman i never Il
wv, for he not only pad the full el
sk in advance, but at parting, madc W