The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-06-21

foreigners are mad!"
"What do you mean, monsieur?" sald
the inn-keeper, uncommonly interested;
"What | say will give one hundred
guineas for that painting" answered
the young Englishman, getting Oft his
horse.
sThat picture is not to be sold," said
the sign-painter, with an air of as much
pride as if it had been his own work.
"No," quoth mine host, " for it IS al
ready sold, and even partly paid for in
advance. However, if monsieur wishes
to come to an arrangement about it, 1t is
with me he must treat.''
"Not at all, not at ALL" rejoined the
Flemish painter of signs, +" it belongs to
me- My fellow-artist here gave me a
little help out OF friendships but the
picture is my lawful property, and | am
at. liberty to sell it to any one please
"What roguery!" exclaimed the inn
keeper, "my Rising Sun is my proper
ty, fastened on the wall of my house.
How can it belong to any body else?
Isn't it painted on my boardP No one
but myself has the smallest right tc it. F"
"I'll summon you before the magis-
trate!" cried he who had not painted
the sign.
"I'll prosecute you for breach of
covenant" retorted the innkeeper, who
had half paid for it.
Gone moment" interposcd another
energetic voice, that of the Mterloper;
sit seems to me that | slght to have
some little vote in this business.
70 ,orhf ha
painter. "Instead of disputing on the
public road, let us go into Master Mart
zen's house, and arrange the matter
amicably over bottle of beer"
To this all parties agreed, but am
sorry to say that they agreed in nothing
else; for within doors, the dispute was
carried ON with deafening confusion and
energy. The Flemings contended for
the possession of the painting, and the
Englishman repeated his offer.
"But suppose that / don't choose to
have it sold?" said the author
"Oh, my dear monsieur" said the
innkeeper, 81 am certain you would
not wish to deprive an honest poor man,
who can scarcely make both ends meet
of this windfall. Why, it would just
enable me to lay in good stock of wiz e
and beer''
"Don't believe him, brother!n said
the painter, "he is an old miser. | am
the father of family; and being a
painter, you ought to help brother
artist, and give me the preference. Be-
sides, am ready to share the money
with you.''
"He!'' said Mr.. Martzen. "Why,
he's an old spendthrift, who has no
money left to give his daughter as a
marriage portion, because he spends all
he gets ON HIMSELF
"No such thing; my Susette is be-
trothed to an honest, young French
cabinetmaker; who, poor as she is, will
marry her next September
ga daughter to portion!" exclaimed
the strange artist; " that quite alters the
case. | am content that the picture
should be sold for a marriage portion.
| leave it to our English friends gene
rosity to fix the sum-
81 have already offered" replied the
best bidder, "one hundred guineas for
the sketch just as it is; l will gladly
give two hundred for it if the painter
will consent to sign it in the corner with
two words.'
"What words?" exclaimed all the
disputants at once.
The Englishman replied:
"PIERRE DAVID"
The whole party were quite dumb
now; they were struck dumb with as
constituent. The sign-painter held his
breath, glared with his eyes, frantically
cIasped his hands together, and fell
down on his knees before the great
French painter.
"Forgive mel" he exclaimed, "for-
give me for my audacious ignorance!'
David laughed heartily; and, taking
his hand, shook it with fraternal cor
diality.
By this time the news of the discove-
ny had spread; the tavern was crowded
with persons anxious to drink the health
OF their celebrated visitor; and the good
old man, standing in the middle of the
room, pledged them heartily. In the
midst of the merry-making, the sign
painters daughter, the pretty Susette,
threw her arms round her benefactor's
neck.