Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-25

the shop to see the face she loved 80
we'll. Some days the little one would
fit in and out half-a dozen times, and
to this most unusual behavior, the
pawn broker had never made the
slightest objection.
When Nina's father died she was ut
terly alone in the world, and after a
little attention from the NOR kind
hearted of her neighbors, the child
had drifted into the care Of woman
who made her beg from morning till
night, her only reward being o roof to
cover her when she slept and portion
of the poor food that had been given
her through the day.
Yes. Nina" Guttman remarked at
last, as the child stood spell-bound be-
fore the portrait, 1.-THE painting is
beautiful; every one viii always say
that; but all dc time, Nina, it is not
your mother. for she, We will say. is in
heaven; yes!'
90 Gnttman dear, 1 know she is in
heaven r the girl replied " but
this is all have now, and l
could not. say to myself, when it is
cold. and the rain pours down, and
my feet freeze with the snow and the
ice, Never mind, Nina. your mamma
is over there, and Guttman dear will
keep her safe; and then l think no
more of the cross people and the cold
streets
go" said the pawnbroker under
his breath. with a little figure stand
ing motionless before the portrait.
Old Guttman had an eye for the
artistic, and this child, bareLeaded,
barefooted, and dressed in rags, with
the look of an angel in her sweet in
fantile face. was picture that he know
his friend Raphael would have craved
to immortalize.
The pawnbroker loved the masters,
and always spoke of them as his
friends. There was bit OF busting
to do in an opposite corner. and when
Guttman turned round again, Nina was
gone
"Ah, Guttman you Won old fool r.
he said to himself when he found he
was alone. And you. my pretty
lady. with de big eyes, hat bewitched
me long enOugh-too long. l sorry
for de child. but / may not keep you
always because of that. When de
shentleman come again and want to
buy you, it will be one, two, tree and
of you CO.
Business grew more lively towards
noon, and the pawnbroker forgot all
about the big eyes; but they looked
out wistfully, nevertheless, On the
strange company in this strange estab-
lishment, and sometimes one visitor
more alive to the beautiful than the
rest would linger moment before the
easel, and forget his troubles in the
charm of this lovely face.
The rest OF this stormy. disagreeable
day passed as usual in the pawnbroker's
establishment. Men and women, old
and young, crept ia with their treas
ures, and after few low-spsken words
with the proprietor, would creep out
again, his money clenched tightly in
| their hands.
In the evening young man of re-
fined appearance came in,hurriedly, and
fawned his watch; large gold repeater.
He was evidently an old customer, for
he said. with a hard laugh, a. he put
the money i'll Lis pocket
81 have got ahead of uncle this time,
Guttmsn. He thinks I have turned
saint, you see. If he should suspect
anything, and come poking around,
keep mum, will your"
Bah I know my business" the
pawnbroker replied.
The young man lit a cigar, and with
another hard laugh, walked out of the
shop.
Two hours later, just as old Guttman
was closing the shop, another gentle
man entered. The pawnbroker's face
frightened as he saw him, for the new
conner was a well-known artist, q man
| whose pictures he was very fond and
| proud of.
GOOD evening. Guttman." the gen
tieman said. pleasantly. Has Frank
been here ?"
Yes" said Guttman, holding up
the watch the young man had just left.
How much did you give him ?"
Twenty dollars"
"Alt right" said the gentleman,
here is your money"
The watch and the money changed
| hands again, and then the artist turned
to the portrait.
"I'll take this home tonight" he
said, if you'll let me have it,
" Yes, all right" said Guttman
Zone, two, three, and off she goes!"
A price was agreed upon, and ther
the artist took the canvas from the
frame, leaving that to be sent to him ir
a day or two. The beautiful lady with
the big eyes THAT had SO long d" made
a fool of old Guttman was carefully
wrapped up. and the artist, with a
pleasant goodnight. walked off with
his long-coveted treasure.
BAIL" said the pawnbroker, q few
moments afterwards, as he stood before
the empty frame.
Bah!' he exclaimed again, with q
shiver, as he put up the shutters, and
hid the three balls from sight for the
next few hours. -
Bah!' he repeated later in the night
as he awoke from q dream about Nina
and her mother. .
Old Guttman made his fire earlier
| than usual the next morning. Some
times the pawnbroker had made a lit
tie more coffee than he needed for him
| self, and. saved q roll for Nina. This