Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-11-24
Around the Loan Exhibition Hall.

came out, and it is great addition"
said energetic Mrs. Harvey, who was on
her way home from the town hall, where
loan exhibition was in progress, and
had run for moments chat with her
neighbor and co-committee in the enter
prise, Mrs. Wells.
''That is very NICE" said Mrs. Wells.
''He's fine young fellow and quite a
genius, but you know him, l supposep"
sNever met him." said Mrs. Harvey.
1.-The family moved away before my adj
vent in town, you remember, but hear
them often spoken Of"
paul was always great pet of
mine" said Mrs. Wells. HE sent me
his photograph only the other day. He
promises to be as handsome as man
as he has been as child and a YOUTH"
and Mrs. Wells went to the center table
thinking to put her hand on the cabinet
photograph of her young friend
''Why, it is not here, nor here" she
said going to q side-table, and finally
making tour of the handsome rooms,
looking upon the piano. mantels, cabi-
nets and tables, and calculating: ''Why,
it was here, ON a bracket, at first, and
then upon an easel. The last time l
noticed it, Agnes Fisher and Helen
Brooks were looking at it. Agnes
wanted to carry it up to the seminary to
show the girls, just for fun, you know;
such young things are always up to
frolic of some kind, but l would not al
low of her taking it. 1 have not seen it
since, am sure"
lit is not likely she would take 1T and
carry it away without leave" said Mrs.
Harvey but some one coming i'm just
then diverted attention from the subject,
and the hostess did not reply.
The new picture was the center of at
traction inthe hall next morning, and
Mrs. Harvey had plenty to say.
--You know, of course, he is an in
inmate friend of Mrs. Wells,n she run
ON. HE sent his picture not long
ago, but she can't find it anywhere.
The last she remembers of it was of
Agnes Fisher looking at it as it sat on
the easel on the center table in her
drawing-room. Agnes was greatly taken
up with 1T. just like her, you know,
and she was determined to carry it
away with her. 1t is too bad, so many
of his old friends would like to see it
now that this painting is calling atten-
ton to him as an artist"
From Hip to lip went the story all the
way around the tastefully decorated
hall, and when, early in the afternoon,
Mrs. Wells came in, bevy OF ladies
surrounded her at once with words of
coincidence.
'''That dreadful Agnes, Fisher! "A
church member, too! The idea of her
stealing'an oil painting, framed on an
easel and all from your drmwing-room.
What aftreasure it would be for us here!
A gift to you! Painted ON purpose for
must feell Why don't y0usend an Off
certo search her roomP Have you sent
word to the preceptressp There she
comes now with party fre1n the semi-
mary. Her head is as high as ever. !
shan't speak to her, for one ('Nor L '
Nor ID hope some one will be de-
tailed to watch her. There is no telling
what she may carry away"
What are you talking aboutp lam
altogether bewildered." exclaimed Mrs.
Wells, sinking into a chair and putting
UP her hands as if to defend herself.
can't get at your meaning at all. have
never seen any of Paul Jenkins work.
and am anxious to look at the landscape
he has so Kindly sent, and the old lady
adjusted her glasses. '-OhT" she said,
us she returned the spectacle case to her
shopping-bag, ''here is his photograph,
Twas sure you would all like to see It
How do you do, Mrs. Harvey" as'that
lady drew near. IL found my young
friends likeness after you Left last night,
and here it is. 1t had slipped out I'd
sight in aIbasket of engravings where ID
had fallen.''
Mrs. Harvey looked sheepish. The
other ladies dispersed, saying one to an
other:
allow story will grow if once it gets
good start
A few conscientious souls took pains
to GO around the hall telling the truth
of the matter, and it was hoped mo harm
had been done by the exaggeration.
Five years later, far out on Western
prairie, Mrs. Harvey was asked by q
relative:
"What became of that dreadful Agnes
Fisher, a seminary girl, you know, who
stole an oil painting from that loan ex-
hibition you were all SO interested in the
last time was East. There is quite a
little Vermont colony about us here, you
know, and she had acquaintance among
them who tried 10 get her in as teacher
Of our high school, but l got hold of il
and put stop to it right away, assure
you. They could hardly believe the
story, but when l told them / was there
in the hall when the loss was made
known, they had to give in"
when the thistle seed is scattered to
the four winds, it is hard to get it to-
gether again to destroy it, =" sighed Mrs.
Harvey. eff one little seed, even with