The Columbus journal., 1884-01-02
Around the Loan Exhibition Han.

Oh MS Dedutl1ul landscapes AioU
York. They were hanging it when ]
came out, and it is a great addition"
said energetic Mrs. Harvey, who was on
her way home from the town hall, where
a loan exhibition was in progress, and
had run for q moments chat with her
neichbor and co-committee in the enter
prise, Mrs. Wells.
THAT is very NICE" said Mrs. Wells.
s'He's . fine young fellow and quite q
genius, but you know him, | sup
pose?"
s.Never met him." said Mrs. Harvey.
'.The family moved away before my adj
vent in town, YOU remember, but l hear
them often spoken Of"
paul was always q great pet of
mine" said Mrs. Wells. HE sent me
his photograph only the other day. He
promises to he as handsome as a mar
as he has been as a 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 a tout 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 a
frolic of some kind, but l would not al
low of her taking it. Ihave not seen it
since, / am sure"
ut is no likely she would take it and
carry it away without leave" said Mrs.
Harvey, but some n coming in just
then diverted attention from the subject,
and the hostess did not reply.
The new picture was the center of at
traction in the hall next morning, and
Mrs. Harvey had plenty to say.
you know, of course, he is an in
innate friend of Mrs. Wells" she run
on. s.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-roon. Agnes was greatly taken
up with it. 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 N artist"
From lip to lip went the story all the
way around the tastefully decorated
hall, and when, early in the afternoon.
Mrs. Wells came in, a bevy of ladies
crr-ror,rIol hnr Of nnon u-ifh vvvOrHo nf
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 drawing-room.
What a treasure it would be for us here!
A gift to you! Painted on purpose for
you, his childhood friend! How you
must feel! Why don't you send an Off
Ger to search her room? Have you sent
word to the preceptress? There she
| comes now with a party from the semi
nary. Her head is as high as ever. l
shan't speak to her, for one. ('Nor L.
Nor ~ I hope some one will lie de-
tailed to watch her. There is no telling
what she may carry away"
What are you talking about? | am
altogether b%ewildered." exclaimed Mrs.
Wells, sinking into 4 chair and putting
mp her hands as II to defend herself. l
can't get at your meaning at all. I have
never seer any of Paul Jenkins work.
and am anxious 20 look at the landscape
| he has 50 kindly SENT" and the old lady
adjusted her glasses. ''Oh" she said,
| as she returned the spectacle case to her
shopping-bag. ..here is his photograph,
l was 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 of
sight in a basket of ~engravings where it
had fallen"
Mrs. Harvey looked ~sheepish. The
other ladies dispersed, saying one to an
other:
.'How a story will grow if once it gets
a good start"
A few conscientious souls took pains
to go around the hall telling the truth
OF the matter, and it was hoped no harm
had been done by the exaggeration.
Five yesss later, far out on a Western
prairie, Mrs. Ha:~vey was asked by a
| relative:
"What became OF ~thasSS-eadful Agnes
Fisher, a seminary girl. yoa know, who
stole an oil painting from thai loan eX-
| hibition you were all so interested in the
last time l was East. There is quit, 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 I got hold of it
and put a stop to it right away. l assure
you. They could hardly believe the
story, but when l told them l 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. If one little seed, even with
its feathery sail, eludes pursuit, you may
run across it any time. far away. the
center of a thicket that it has propa-
| gated. Be truthful, check the idle word.
and be wary of a breath that a soil a
good name as you would be of wound
ing a soul that shall live through all eter-
ty."-W Christian at Work.