The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-11-29

"What and she not know where
it is to hangP Why, Harry, you
wouldn't like to let your canvas go that
way. Mary thinks as much of that
picture as mothers do of their babies.
She wouldn't sell it so."
"Hold on!" said Harry. "You do
not understand my whole plan yet.
The gentleman is collecting to furnish
a house which he expects to occupy
next autumn at the latest; then Miss
Landon shall be informed and invited
to see her own work after it is hung
Seep I'm that gentleman; that house is
to be mine. OF course she'll be invited
to see the picture after it is hung"
And he chuckled in foretaste of her
enjoyment at her surprise.
"Pretty good! pretty good, Harry!"
I exclaimed. stBut meantime what
will you do with itp"
"Why, keep it carefully in your store
room," he answered.
"But are you not afraid that when
she discovers the facts in the case, the
reaction on her feelings will be disas-
trous?"
1 questioned.
"No! no" he replied, spiritedly;
''the sale will so raise her enthusiasm
that her next piece will be the best she
has ever done. All the poor girl needs
in order to excel herself and surprise us
all, is encouragement. And when she
finds out her capacity, no fear for her
then"
Hesitatingly I acquiesced, more
pleased with the ~self-sacrifice and heart
mess of Harry's plan than with its wis
dom.
A day or two later Mary hurried into
my studio, e~xclaiming:
t.Mr. Doran, read, read quick, and
tell me what to dor' and she handed
me a note from the store where her pict-
ure was on sale. 1t ran as follows:
I'll Miss Landonh have the kindness to come
down to our place at earliest convenience
There is a rather singular offer for her picture
and we do not know what to do about it.
MARSH Co."
80! go right down to Marsh's at
once,'' said L. 'tPerhaps your ship has
arrived"
She smiled obviously, and after hest
tating a little, said:
Cant you please come with me to
advise P"
Iconsented, and half an hour later
we were at Marsh's, busily canvassing
the pros and cons of Harry's anony-
nous offer.
When L had satisfied myself from her
words and actions that, as Harry had
said, the encouragement would be
worth more than the money to Mary, l
advised her to accept it, and she didso.
1 cannot say that 1 was absolutely GER
tain that it would prove best in the long
run; but in view OF. having already
agreed with Harry about it, 1 saw no
other way out of my predicament.
That evening the picture, a truly fine
piece, was brought andput safely away,
in my store-room."
Next day Mary seemed SO CHEEKY,
her eyes so clear and eager, her man
ner SO resolute, that / cast my uncer-
tainty to the winds.
''It's all right thought L; and a
'Merry Christmas it truly was to her.
During the week between the holt
days she had other good fortune. I'm
known to Harry or me she had COM
peted for prizes for designs of Christ
mas cards, and had just received the
statement from the publishers that they
had awarded her two premiums of
two hundred and three hundred dol
lars each, the checks for those amounts
accompanying the letter. The girl
was almost beside herself with ioy at
her success, and worthily so, for it was
no mean victory.
"Now," said she, with sparkling
eyes, "if Harry were to say marry
Pm afraid 1 should not say no, for the
way seems clearer than a week
ago" And then with a sigh /:
stPoor Harry 4! 1 wish somebody would
buy his picture just to cheer him up.
o, my! money is the best praise I ever
had"
Later the same day she came close to
my easel, where I was putting the last
touches to a canvas, and, whispering,
said:
tPapa Doran, I'm going to buy
Harry's picture, just to give the pre-
cious hoy. heart and courage. Since
mine was sold he acts like a minor
tune. He don't know about my good
m~istrust, for he don't know that 1 have
Three hundred and fifty dollars, YOU
see, he would think quite beyond nv
purse, especially if, after he is paid, I
Show him that 1 have still untouched
all / got for mine"
As soon as I could get a word in
among her rapid talk, 1 said:
"Ah, no! Mary; don't do any such a
thing. Harry is man enough to stand
waiting. We all have to. Painters
never have flush times until they have
first learned to endure pauperism.
Keep your money, for you will need it
next June"
"Ah! but it won't be lost if it goes to
Harry, anyhow. 1 count it the same
as his now; for what's mine is his, and
what's his is mine"
'.Mary! Mary" exclaimed ], s.you
are too old a woman to talk like a silly
sixteen-year-old. Make Harry a nice
present if you want to-ten or fifteen
dollars-but do not go and fool away
three hundred and fifty on such a no.
ton as that"
81 know I'm twen~ty-seven," said
she; ''but 1 should do such things
where Harry is concerned even if l
were eighty"
And so she would; for all that I could
say made no change in her intentions.
When a woman's mind is "set''-well,
well-an old bachelor ought not
to complete that sentence. And,
more than this; foolish as 1
regarded it, 1 had to help Mary to plan
her device and carry it out, promising
all the time the most profound secresy.
But, my soul! how sorry 1 was that
ever l had anything to do with their
wooing. However, it taught me a les
SOD of sympathy-sympathy for the
match-makers NOT lucifer matches,
but that other kind, POLITICALLY at
tributed to Heaven.
We got hold of an old envelope sent
to Harry in my care, from. Chicago.
Mary scratched off the mail date, and
together, in a disguised hand, we wrote
a letter from a fictitious firm in that
city and placed it in the envelope, sealed
it and cast it into my letter-box, where
most of Harry's mail was delivered by
the postman.
1t ran as follows.