Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-09-11

that the thin gentleman closed his picture
case with a snap that had the Suspicion
of snarl in it, turned abruptly on MS
heels and walked away.
Paul looked after him wistfully for a
moment as he went down the winding
walk, then suddenly scampered across the
grass, lodged under Syringa bush, ana
was mounted upon the fence, ready TO IN
tercept him by the time he reached the
gate.
"Thay, do you make loths Of money
thelling pictureth ~ he questioned, earn
estly.
The martyr of fine arts gave the gate a
slightly vindictive kick, and responded
sarcastically:
"Oh! my, yes; it's highly lucrative,
this is! A few more places like this nice
one, and I'll be worth my thousands"
Paul's dark eyes opened wide. He did
not understand any of it except the "thou-
sands" but that was sufficiently astonish-
ing. He gazed after the departing agent
until he was out of sight, then sliding
down from his post he walked back to
the piazza and seating himself upon the
steps with his chin between his palms, he
settled into fit of meditation. 1t was a
very long one-nearly half an hour-only
interrupted once or twice by chase for a
butterfly and an inspection of birds
nest, of his own manufacture, to see if any
eggs had been laid in it yet. At last he
started up with the air of one who had ar
rived at satisfactory conclusion.
81 thpect I'll thell pictureth mythelf and
buy birdth ready ratified"
To 10 fry6i IN
this grand project to papa, but that gentle
man, being in no painting mood, had gone
out for walk, and Paul found the room
unoccupied. He did not at all fancy
waiting an hour or two for his fathers
return He looked from the window, but
there was no sign of his coming; he sur
veyed the picture on the easel, but it was
an historical scene, and held nothing that
particularly interested him except one up-
finished white cloud.
81 gucth that'th kite" he commented,
scrutinizing critically. "'Twould look
10th better with tail to it, and | don't
thspothe papa'll never think to put any
tail on"
He picked up a brush with an intense
desire to add a beautiful red and green
streamer; but as similar efforts at assist
DAYS past, he laid down the implement
again with sigh, clasped his hands be-
hind him to keep them out Of temptation,
and finally turned away and walked over
to the table. A portfolio with its collec-
ton of sketches lay conveniently within
reach, and he secured it at once. He had
often been allowed to look at its contents,
and it was lust what he needed for his
enterprise why should he wait any
longer?
"Papa thells the big pictureth for mon
ey, and I'll thell the little oneth like the
man." he decided, with nod of satisfac-
ton. Then, as a thought of some posi-
BILE objections fitted into his mind, he
added, with reluctant generosity, 81
thpect III give papa thome of the money,
mavbe-if | have much enough"
That was just and equitable, certainly!
He slipped the portfolio under his small
arm, and departed with clear conscience.
Once outside the gate his courage slightly
faltered. The world looked large, and he
resolved to make a first attempt where he
was acquainted, and accordingly present
ed himself at Miss Grey's door.
"Tm going to thell ever tho many pic
tureth," he announced.
writing, and laughed as she saw the wee
salesman. "Indeedg Then / think l
must patronize you. What shall | buy?"
she asked.
"You can have any of them for Eve
thenth," and Paul deposited the portfolio
in her lap. She turned over the sketches
smilingly until, in among them, her glance
fell suddenly upon bit of writing, and a
4,,c To hDr sc
lifted the paper with hand that trem-
bled. The young artvender noticed
neither flush nor tremor, but it did occur
to him that she was studying one draw
ing long time, and he could not quite
make out what it was picture of, either
"Paul, did papa know you were COM
ing?" she asked, presently.
MOO" answered Paul, just trifle con
fused "cauthe couldn't wait all day for
him, tho took it off the table and come
mythelf; but I'll give him thome OF the
money"
Then this was not intended to meet her
eyes yet. Had it been laid aside to be
completed some other time? Scarcely /;
it was not the sort of message one would
write at different sittings, like an ordin-
airy letter. Had he left it unfinished be
cause he fancied that writing it at all
| would be useless and hopelessy Intui-
lively she felt that this last surmise was
correct 1t explained his slight avoid
ance of her these last weeks--the almost
| imperceptible constraint that had tinged
his manner. And what should she do
with this tell-tale sheet? Send it back
without word, and let the secret find
other voice or d e in silence as the future
should determine? Something in her
own heart cried out in swift rebellion
against that. Keep the paper? That
would never do! She glanced at the un.
suspecting child. How absurdly it had
all happened! A CLEAN of mischief flash
ed over her face, and catching up her pen,
she wrote upon the Read and
approved" then slipping it into its place,
she gave the portfolio back to Paul.
"There! III give you five cents for one
picture, but you may keep it for me until
want it. And, Paul, ! don't think you
had better go anywhere else with the pic.
lures until you ask papa about them.
There are some that he wouldn't want
sold. Take them home, dear, and wait
until he knows about it,"
After having SO far yielded to impulse,
her womanly pride Of course took its re-
venge. She wondered how she could