The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-17
He hesitated, and his hand trembled

He hesitated, and his hand trembled
as he said:
"Would = fifteen g11ineas be too
much ?''
Fifteen p said. seg
81 should take great pains with it
it would be long task" he said, eager
ly; and there was troubles in the
wrinkles of his forehead. s'But if you
think it too much"
''I think it an absnrd price, sir"
said, testify, for Eden had said he was
very poor. "Why, Mr.. Elden gave
four hundred for bit of scrap can
vas"
BY very clever artist, sir, he said,
with grave smile.
"Look here said, Mr.-Mr.-
Grantly: You make gooc picture of
it, and I'll give you fifty guineas.
he flushed, and looked panied.
Less than half would pay me well,
sir, he said.
"Tut, tut! stuff, man! Elden told
me you were poor and hard up. You al
ways will be if you are not more of man
of business"
"Sir !" he exclaimed, rising and look
ing at me angrily. {" I came here ex-
pecting the treatment
He stopped short, reeled, sank into his
chair, covered his face with his hands,
and sobbed like a child.
My dear sir-I-really-I- didn't
mean-" [ stammered, perspiring at
every pore, for the position was most
painful.
"No, no." he said hastily, 81 beg
your pardon. But-but," he continued,
striving manfully to master his emotion,
81 have been very i'll, sir, and I am
weak. | have been unforttlnate-ali almost
starving at times 1 have not broken
bread since yesterday morning. coul
not without selling my colors II am
much obliged-forgive me-let me go
back to town. Oh, my God, has it come
to this ?"
He sank back half fainting, but start
ed as I roared ont, "Ge away p for
Cobweb was coming into the room. 81
Thank you," he said. taking my
hand as he saw what I had done. alt
was SO kind of you"
"My dear fellow" I said, ''this is
terrible;' and I naopped my face.
[ ran out to find Cobweb in the hall.
cried, with tears in her eyes. "What
kind surprise But is any thing wrong ?"
''Artist little faint" / said. "Here,
the sherry-biscuits. Stop away a bit. :"
I ran back with them, and made him
take some wine, and, thus revived, he
rose and thanked me.
e'What are you going to dos" ! said,
staring.
said quietly, but with his lower lip trem-
l,1f ~ - T., Al
task. l thank you, but it is too late. I
am not we'll"
1 looked at him as business man,
and in that brief glance, as In reFeia,
proud mo- s . as.s, H. oe1a d. poor, .
tie with the world. I saw the man who
had sold, bit by bit, everything he
owned, in his struggle for daily bread,
and, as I looked at him, [ felt ashamed
that I should be so rich. and fat, aud
veil.
"Mr. Grantly." said, taking his
hand, '' am rough man, and spoiled
by bullying people, and having my own
way. L beg your pardon for what I have
said and am going to say. You came
down here, sir, to paint my little girls
portrait, and you are going to paint it
before you go back to town; and when
you do go, you are going to have fifty
gaineas in your pocket. Hush not
word, sir. My old friend Eden told me
that you were a gentleman and man of
honor. Tom Elden is never deceived.
Now, sir. please come into the dining
room and have some lunch. Not word,
please. II good food won't bring you
round, you shall have the doctor; for, as
the police say" continued, laughing,
"' you're my prisoner but on parole"
He tried to speak. but could not, and
turned away.
"All right" said; call right" and
I patted hinn on the shoulder, and walked
away to tie window for a few minutes
before ] TUNED back to ind him more
composed.
That afternoon we all three went out
into the wood, and made Cobweb stand
as had seen her on that day.
Grantly was delighted, and insisted
upon making sketch at once; and then
the days W )re on, with the painting pro-
crossing slowly, bnt in a way that was
wonder to me, SO exquisite was every
touch, for the artists whole soul was in
his work
Those were delightful days, but there
was storm coming 1quite took to the
young fellow, though, and by degrees
heard from him his whole story-how,
young and eager, he had, five years be-
fore, come to town to improve in his art,
and how bitter had been his struggle.
till, just before he had encountered nv
friend Elden, he had been really, liter
ally dying of sickness and want.
1t was happy time, that, for when
the painting was over for the morning
we gardened, or strolled in the country
our new friend being an accomplished
botanist and a lover of every object that
we saw. / used to wonder how be had
learned so much, and found time to paint
as well.
I say it was happy time for the first
three weeks, and then there Were clouds.
Cobweb was changed. I knew it but
toe well. I could see it day by day.
Gr.ntly was growing distant, too, and
strange, and my suspicious grew hour
by hour, till was only kept from break
ing out by the recollection of Tom
Eldon's words" He is gentleman and
a man of honor" sr = eszas
Tom Eldon never was wrong" said
one morning, as I sat alone. ':and for
man like that, after my kindness, to
take advantage of his position to win that
girls love from me, would be the act OF
the greatest scoun-''
May come in, Mr.. Burrows ?" said
the voice of the man of whom I WAS
thinking.
Yes, come in,' I said; and there We
stood looking in one another's eyes.
'He's come to speak to me-" I said,
and my heart grew very hard, but con-
cealed my feelings till he spoke, and
| then | was astounded.
I" Mr. Burrows !" he SAID tive come
to say good-by.''
"Good-by." I said.
Yes. sir, good-by. / have wakened