The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-10-08
hundred, as though he intended that
L. j l.. Il.

UrattoD, Ialner peeVlshiy, obviously
bored with the landlords inteifer-
ence.
Twelve hundred, said the land
lord
Fifteen" said Monsieur Grafton.
Two thousand francs" cried the
landlord, while the people in the room
began TO look at one another, and to
wonder what this rivalry could por-
tend.
Two thousand five hundred" said
Monsieur Grafton, at the same time
taking the notes out of his pocket book,
and proceeding to count them for
settlement.
The landlord, feeling his dignity to
be at stake-at least, that was the ex-
terror impression-with but little hesi-
tation, capped this last generous bid
with the still more generous offer of
Three thousand.
''Ah, well!'' said Monsieur Grafton,
Struggling his shoulders, and putting
his pocket-booz back into his pocket,
81 really cannot bid any more" Aud
he smilingly went back to his arm
chair.
THAT stops the sale," said the auc-
tioneer, sharply. And a great hubbub
of talk filled the room.
Nor had the sale lasted more than
twenty minutes. The landlord, by his
one bid Tor The picture, had fully COW
cred his tenants debt and the expenses,
SO that all that had been sold of the
good lady's property were three pic
lures, and not stick of the furniture.
Nothing could have been more salts
factory. SO the crowd now dispersed,
each one TO his own home; and many q
surprise was expressed, and many =
criticism was hazarded, as to the Wky of
this spasmodic rivalry for the picture.
Take my word for it, said one good
villager to another, as they wended
their way home through the village
lanes, monsieur Grafton, the picture
fancier, knew what he was about when
he offered a good price for that picture.
he never buys bad picture. If he
offered two thousand five hundred
francs, that picture is worth at least
six thousand. The landlord has got
hold OF a masterpiece, and he knew
that when Monsieur Grafton bid
high
Did you notice." answered the 9TH
or, chow Monsieur Grafton looked at
the picture? Why, he took the picture
i'll his lap, and then he looked at the
back of it, and then he looked into the
corners, and then he turned the picture
upside down, and then he took a mag
nifier and seemed 70 look under the
frame, as though he would discover
some old writing. Depend upon it,
that picture Is a gem. lion Dieui what
Ii is 10 bn0U q thing! Now you or
might have passed over that picture
and never thought ii worth more than
the rest Of them. These SaUants, as
they call them. are wonderful men,"
And precisely the same range of ideas
was passing through the mind Of the
landlord as he carefully wrapped the
picture in piece of silk, and then
Mrappeed it in another soft folding. To
lures, and to have more than covered
the full amount which was due to him
(for he intended to sell that picture for
its full value), were two satlsfactions
which seemed to him 10 compensate
for the unpleasantness of selling up
widow"
The following morning the landlord
started early, to make call upon Mou-
sieur Grafton, the picture-fancier. 1t
was barely ten o'clock when the land
lord arrived, and he was at once shown
into the presence he desired.
Monsieur Grafton received him very
gracously. Monsieur Grafton talked
briskly, and was unusually voluble-on
every subject save that of yesterdays
sale. The more the landlord tried to
Il ~, 4
did Monsieur Grafton lead away from
it, till at last, utterly daunted in every
effort to drag it in, " the landlord took
his hat and was departing. But ma
ture was too strong to be vanqulshed.
The landlord had called with one par
ticular object, and he could not go
away without succeeding. So, SUM
moning all his courage,as he was back
ing out of the room, and as Monsieur
Grafton was suaveiy bowling his adieuX,
he said, abruptly
"Oh! Monsieur Grafton, pray pardon
me for asking you'll know l have no
business TO do so-but aChy did you
take fancy TO that little picture?"
'.Why did take fancy to that little
picture?" echoed Monsieur Grafton, as
though surprised; sthat little picture!
IEBGt little picture? All! you mean the
little picture | wanted to buy, but
which you so unkindly took from me.
Yes, | must say | thought it shabby OF
YOU TO supplant me-" said Monsieur
Grafton, laughing gaily and good-hu-
mOredly.
Now. might / ask you," continued
| the landlord, quite diilidently, "since,
hat
| ter than ] DO: what might be the value,
| the pecuniary value, OF that really very
charming little picture?"
"Pecuniary yalue-that little picture
-pecuniary Yaluen' re-echoed Mon
sieur Grafton, looking surprised; upon
| my word, have not the smallest idea.
/ am sure | never gave the subject a
/ thought. Pecuniary value! Oh! L dare
say twenty francs, or twenty-five francs.
But really, L have not considered the
| point judicially."
Twenty francs, or twenty-five
| francsr exclaimed the landlord, utter
! " unable to hide his disgust; twenty
| francs, or twenty-five francs, it's full
value! You are jesting, Mosieur Grat-
ton. you are jesting!"
"Jestingn' responded the picture
fancier, quite grayaly; why should
| jest upon such a subject? You ask me
very simple question, and | give you
| very truthful answer.
Then why, sir-I say, why sir, >
asked the landlord, with suppressed
| passion, 'did you bid two tho Isanc
| i've hundred francs for that picture?'
Really, Monsieur le Proprietaire. '
| replied Monsieur Grafton, with gray
;ty and an innocence that were quite
crushing, ''you astonish me by Sc
curious question. Ii man takes {
fancy to a picture, or If he wishes tt
| possess it as a souvenir of kind lady
for whom he has the very highest es
TEEN, may he not bid what he likes fol
it? At least uot, sir, were evidently Of
that opinion!''
| Orominent Dnysician SUGGESTS "a