Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-01

IosT--FIvE DOLLARs.

through WHICH TIC occHt VI A.1N0
borne into the low, old fashioned pasior.
Her box of color tubes stood on the noor
reside the easel, and the palette and
brushes, with the paint still moist and
odorors upon them, lay upon small
table near bT.
dimpling smile, using the nsnistick 20
aid her rs she enumerated tne RoOo
r,oinfs Of her picture, 81 think II will
80 rnuster. mother dear. Confess now
mat I manage those bits OF sunlight ana
shade with the skill of an old master.
And am not represented as large az
ife.' only more COT 90,
"And what shall you cal IT, dearf'
asked Mrs. Kendall, fair, brown haired
widow, who looked very much hike her
FINDER the Liiacs,' Think. 1t don't
look very modest. ! suppose, to paint
oneself, but, in the dearth OF models,
was compelled TO do So"
"As IL prettier model could be de-
siredr' exclaimed Mrs. Kendall, with
notherly pride.
Yes, il was pretty model and a very
pretty bit of painted canvas Overhead
hing great punches Of the fragrant lilac
blooms framing an exquisite, smiling,
girIish face. Her hand was stretched
inward, and the loose sleeve had slipped
carelessly back. disclosing the rounded
white arm. Her apron was almost niied
with great odorcus lilac punches, while
sbe was Just In the act OF plucking an
other. Over all tho sunli ght streamed,
warm, bright, golden.
AZ shall 90 TO New York with II my
self" said Nan, land make. oh, ever 20
much money on il, mother dear linen
we shall have new carpet, for this one,
Though almost hidden by rugs innumer-
able. is undeniably shabby. And shall
Oct INV piano tuned, and buy those new
waItzes Hetty spoke about last week,
and-aud I'm sore / don't know what
Ali | thank the fatss that they have
dacreed old furniture 10 be very stylish
and NICE for I'm afraid / won't get
enough TO buy anything new in that
direction.
aDon't build too many air castles,
EaInette." said her mother, warnin2iy,
"for you may be disappointed, AFTER
But brave little Nannette's hopeful
ness was not dashed in the least. She
had worked 20 long On this picture-had
been 80 painstaking! Surely In the great
CITY. ten miles away, there must be some
one who would admire 1t and buy It.
Not quite week later Mr.. Curtis Van
Tassels sauntered listlessly into one OF
tbs downtown cafes toward dusk, and
settled himself, with dissatisfied sigh,
AZ one of the many small tables covered
with The whitest, softest damask, and
glittering with silver.
business had been unusually dull dur
ING the past week, Notwithstanding the
fact that il was early spring, and Mr. Van
Tassel's affairs had suffered more than q
little. Hence bis unwonted perturbation
of mind.
So preoccupied WIS he that he did not
notice he had vis-a-vis till coffee and
rolls had been brought him.
The cloud lifted suddenly from his
handsome forehead, and he glanced with
deep interest at the girl opposite him
Nannette Kendall herself. Curtis Van
Tassel thought IL was enc OF the most
beautiful fa:es he had ever seen-exqui-
site In its modelling, perfect in its con-
tour. Her eyes looked sad and disap-
pointed, az II ready to drop tears.
Yes, Nan had met with a great disap-
pointment. She had been unable to dis
pose of the picture around which hel
hopes had conferred 70 long, and now
she must return home even poorer than
before.
She had walked about the city all day,
not quite despairing of success until
She approach OF evening. Then, fearful
lest her mother might be anxious, abe
had left the picture at kind hearted
bookseller's, who had promised TO sell il
for her IL possible. she had decided 10
take the five o'clock train for home, but
she had missed it, and now even her
brave heart quailed little at the
thought Of riding home alone at nigh,
on the cars.
Faint from lack of food, she had en-
tered the cafe, never dreaming she was
guilty of extravaganza unparalleled,
as IL Was ono of the most fashionable
and expensive restaurants in the great
city.
Poor Nannettel Her head was aohi ng,
ner nerves tingiing; her eyes were hot
with unshed tears Ut modification and
disappointment. What relief IL would
have been II she could have INDUCED in
a good. hearty cry! But even that little
boon was denied her IN this huge, bust
ling, marrying, noisy, selfish city. (rhe
adiestiveB are Mans own.)
Her repast finished, Nan put her hand
into her pocket for her shabby little
purse. The next moment she uttered
An exclamation Of terror aud disniay.
The purse and money were both gone.
Her waiter stood beside her with out
stretched hands, q faint smile of inore-
dulity ON his smooth oountenance. Peo-
pie who couldn't find their purses were
by no means rare.
:. but | have lost itr' faltered poor
Nan, pale and trembling with genuine
terror and distress; "or else some one
has stolen il FROM me-my purse with
i've dollars in it."
Curtis Van Tassel heard every word.
He looked at Nan critically and at the
same time sympathetically. The trou-
bled look In tho brown eyes was so
painfully apparent that he did not for a
momen. share in the suspicion Of the
waiter.
A brilliant idea came TO him. Stoop-
ing down. quick as thought he abstracted
five-dollar bill from his own wallet.
Nan did not SEQ the action, bus the
sharp sighted waiter did.
II beg your pardon" Curtis said,
quickly and coarteously, "but think
this must 10 the missing bill. l found
Il beside your chair just now. Doubt
less you have tess::ss 70 out of your own
purse and laid IL beside your plate and
then forgotten it. Very luckily | Glanced
10 look down."
"How can ever thank you, sirr' Nan
exclaimed. while the servant gave Cur
tbs slight wink and discreetly kept all
knowledge Of the little ruse to himself.
30 long as he was paid. IL was no bust
ness OF hts from whose pocket the mo-
uey came.
But diligent search on Mans part,
aided by both the waiter and Curtis Van
Tassel, brought no purse to light, and
she WAS compelled tn 90 home without it.
How the money could DO there and not
the purse was a mystery she was unable
10 solve.
Only q day or two later Curtis Was
passing Harrison's book store when a
painting In the window attracted his
attention. Its execution WAS graceful
and vigorous. bat IL was the central
figure In ID that he noticed. Ii was the
very girl whom he met at tie cafe.
am fool" he thought. az he en-.
tered and asked the price of the picture.
But for all that he bought il, paying a
hundred dollars for il, though Mr.. Har-
rison declared that the artist would con-
slider seventy i've dollars munificent
sum.