The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-06

at PGSsonier.
Explain, Monsieurr' he said.
Gal, yesr' said Poissonier. ga copy
Of INFAMOUS picture. A friend of mine
asked permission to copy it."
He smiled, showing mice-like teeth.
Katrina turned, went to the wall OPP
posite, and pulled aside the maroon
curtains looped up there. They covered
a small door like pantry slide. On the
other side of it was stereopticon, q
complicated form of the magic lantern.
"Let us 60" said Herr Flamensbeck.
"This fellow is played out"
CHAPTER V.
But though MaX's rivals were thus
disposed of, his task was yet unfinished.
1t was one thing to put them out of the
way. quite another to do what. they had
failed to do. But he bided his time, babe
Katrina be of good cheer and wait a
favorable opportunity.
Herr Flamensbeck was painting the
portrait of the dashing and gay Countess
of Rudelsheimer She was famous for
her beauty, for her caprice, her volatile
spirit, her expensive caprices, her flirta-
tons that caused plenty of gossip, her
varying and childish moods, from the
most extreme hilarity to tears and pout-
ing, for which, it was said, her husband,
the Count, was responsible, in Gliding
| her follies.
| The picture was almost DONE 1t was
Herr Flamensbeck's masterpiece with
out doubt. He was finishing it with
great care. Such splendid flesh tints,
glowing with the Astounding life that
saturated every part of her; such chances
of the eyes, that seemed to challenge
the spectator to a conflict of wits and
raillery
He left it satisfied that his achievement
and hugging his triumph warmly to his
breast
Next morning as he came near it.,
slowly absorbing its beauty and his
power to create it, as one sips deli
cious wine, he noticed curious and
hitherto unseen expression. The mirth-
fulness and gayety of the face were
tempered by another mood mingling
of surprise, veXation, triumph and
grace. There was piquancy and sauci-
ness and defiance and pretty anger.
What has brought about this change?
As sure Us he lived there was drop of
water, which must have accidentlv
fallen upon the portrait, just under the
eye that suggested my lady, after
slight storm with her liege lord.
Flamensbeck would have given all his
talent to have preserved that look. 1t
would carry him to the very heights of
fame, He seized a brush. Perhaps he
could reproduce it, He studied it,
carefully apprehended all the possible
effects, and then proceeded to wipe the
drop of water away, preparatory to
painting tear
"Holy Moses and the prophetsr' he
cried who has done this? He alone is
worthy to be my successor"
"Max did it," said Katrina, coming
from behind lot of old furniture and
rubbish with which artists studios
are Uttered, dragging her lover by the
hand.
''Sor' exclaimed the father; ''then he
is the one we've been looking for all
these years?n
EYES," said Katrina, ''the one you
have been looking for, discovered him
long SINCE"
CHAPTER vi.
"Come. Max" said his wife, three
months after their marriage, ''you must
90 at it. Father is gllmbling that YOU
have done nothing since that famous
morning. | can hear him say under his
moustache that you're mountebank,
like those others.'
'And SO am,'' said Max, coolly.
''Dear Max, you don't mean to say
you don't know how to paint beautiful
pictures after all these years of absence
and work?"
Il don't mean to say anything at all
about it. | can paint just one thing"
"What's thatp''
"a drop Of DEM"
"And that is all?''
THAT is ALL"
"All-those three years"
81 learned only that; but can do that
better than anybody, living or dead"
"Father will turn us out of the house
when he learns it." ~
Il am willing, SO be it you go with
me. That is ali thai learned to paint
it for"
Katrina was right. The angry father
trundled them out of the house as soon
as he knew how limited the accomplish
mentS of his daughters husband were.
But it was the best thing that could
have happened to him. For, spurred by
necessity, he began to turn his one talent
to account. In the course of year or
two Klopstag society was fairly buzzing
with new specially in art. A dozen
pictures of the sort had been produced