Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-12-30

not be blamed for that As for Charlotte,
he might make terms with that proud
young lady yet. Altogether the evening
passed not unpleasantysfor him in plan
| ning Improvements on his new property.
New Years Day dawned OF Stoneport,
bringing Joy to many hear" and striking
! like knell on other lives rat found their
| burden greater than could DC borne All
nature smiled beneath rloudlcss sky
| the snow was rose-f1ushed on the slope
and the shubbery glistened as if powdered
| with diamond dust; the harbor, where
two schooners rode at anchor, was a deep
blue. Stoneport did not keep the holiday
especially, although it still adhered to the
Puritan belief that New Years Day
should be sanctitied rather than Catholic
| Christmas On the hill the young ladies
appeared in pretty dresses of blue and
pink, and there were cake and wine on
the sideboayd, should the young men call
The shops We're open. At ten O'Clock a
man passed along the main street, paused
before Mrs. Bamber's show window, shad-
ed his eyes moment and walked on.
Mrs. Bamber observed him with the habit
ual curiosity of the resident of a small
place. He was an insignificant person in
gray coat, with red whiskers and
round face. That was all. Pale and anx-
ious after sleepless night, she stood with
her eyes fixed apprehensively ON the clock.
1t could not be long before Hiram briggs
would do his worst. The shop-bel rang
sharply.
"What do you ask for your pictures,
ma 'amY"
" Five thousand dollars, (" muttered Mrs.
Bamber, abstractedly, still staring at the
clock.
What was thats The insignificant
stranger in the gray coat had reached for
the pictures, and was unceremoniously
striking off the splendid gilt frames with
his stout cane.
mercy! Stop What are you doingg"
Mrs. Bamber ran nimby to his side and
arrested his hand.
II don't want these frames" said the
stranger, contemptuously You set your
own price, and will give you five thou
sand dollars"
Mrs. Bamber sank down on stool in
speechless establishment. How unreal
everything had become-the snowy street,
the shop, the man in a gray coat Surely
Nanny would soon tap on her bedroom
door and tell her it was time to get up.
Then, by sudden and not unnatural
transition of awakening, she became shs-
picious and vigilant. Her visitor wasted
no supcriluous words; his broad, rudy
face betrayed not trace of emotion as he
produced a crisp bit of paper dipped a
pen into Mrs. Bamber's ink, and began to
write.
T" If you are not cheating me, let me see
the money" interposed Mrs. Bamber,
sharply.
He wiped the pen, restored il to silver
sheath in his pocket, and took up the
draft.
Very good" was his sole comment,
and he went out
Mrs Bamber laughed Historically.
Would he ever returny Perhaps he was
a maniac. 1t seemed an hour before he
returned and counted out pile of broad
shining gold pieces that made pleasant
clinking music as they fell in a glittering
heap. Five thousand dollars!
Still phlegmatic, and apparently un-
moved, the purchaser folded the pictures
beneath his ample coat and returned to
the Stoneport Hotel, where he was the
solitary guest. Once in his chamber his
reserve melted; he beamed in broad
smiles, and rubbed his hands with sub
dued chuckle of triumph.
+" Dirt cheap!" he said to himself, and
fell t. studying the dim canvas with the
aspect OF connolsseur. He then wrote
the following letter:
To the Right Honorable the Earl Of Il:
My LoRr-I have the satisfaction OF in
forming you that have found the three pict
rres, after two years search In the States.
They were in the possession of an ignorant
woman, keeping shop IN an obscure town of
the New England coast, who sold them TO me
for 81 600. The pictures are undoubtedly the
missing originals Of Raffaclc Sanzio, and
will complete your Lordshp's collection. |
tracked the Italian, Luigi Carnole, to the
haunts OF his race in the city OF New York,
and was Obliged to proceed with greater ca,l-
ton from the fact that he appears to have
been actuated by revenge In the theft OF the
pictures. Your Lordship will be better able
to determine than | am whether this revenge
was loyal attachment to the palace Of his
master, the Duke, and consequent rage at the
dispersion of It's works Of art TO foreign lands,
or d more strictly personal motive. He made
no effort here to sell the pictures as originals
to dealers or private individuals, and after
quarrel with some OF his countrymen he dis
appeared, in company with another Italian.
Pursuit led me across the Plains 10 the Pa
ciic, where ! found the second Italian,
wandering musician, only to learn that he
had parted with Luigi Carnole six months
before IN the city of New Haven In the
latter place he had lived in poverty and bad
health, and was ahie To follow his steps 10
my present locality, where he died. ! return
TO England by the next mail. have the
honor 10 subscribe myself,
Your Lordship's most humble and obedient
servant, ALsERNoN SMITH
Mrs. Plat sat in her best parlor her
eyes swollen with weeping, and the cur
tains drawn to exclude the curious Chances
OF Stoneport. She held fast TIE hands Of
her son and Charlotte Eaton, and trembled
at the stroke OF the clock. The Young
people gazed sadly at each other across
the black figure of the mother, who was