The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-11-24
but they cost five cents, and you
haven't any five-cent pieces to throw

haven't any hVe-cenC pieces TO throw
away"
And so, with a loving kiss, she dis
missed the pink-cheeked little factory
girl, who was always so kind to her;
and then she sat down in the Upas
shadow of the dismal whitewashed
wall, and cried:
II knew it all along" she declared.
"You are a hideous little imposter!"
Ito the %simpering figure in the fore
ground). "And you" Ito the cat)
"are simply a thing of wood. And 1
am not an artist at all If"
"aat, tat, tail" came a soft knock
at the door.
Minna started guilty to her feet,
and dashed away the wet spray of
tears from her cheek
"Come in!" said she.
And to her horror, she saw standing
there a tall, pleasant-faced young nan
"What did you please to want?"
said she, rather timidly.
Ell beg your pardon!" said he.
"But are you the young lady who sent
a note to Palmer s. Co., picture deal
ers? My father has an attack of lum-
bago this morning. and he is unable to
come out. He has sent me in his
stead"
Minna colored deeply as she remem-
bered that in her elation of the day
before she had actually been so foolish
as to write to Palmer & Co. to send up
an expert to value her picture for the
salesroom.
"Where is the picture?" he asked.
els this it?"
EYES," Minna answered, with an
odd, choking sensation in her throat.
''But-but-"
It was of no use. The tears would
come. She sat down in the cushioned
window-seat, and hid her face in her
hands.
"Has anything happened? asked
Mr.. Paul Palmer, genuinely discon-
certed.
Nothing more than might have
been expected" said Minna, trying to
smile. "Please don't think me foolish!
Yesterday 1 fancied that this daub of
mine was q gem of art. Now my eyes
have been opened. know that it is
w%orthlessr'
Mr.. Palmer glanced scrutinizingly
at the picture.
But" said he, 'are you sure that
you are the best judge?"
"One a trust ones own instinct"
said Minna, sadly. II am sorry to
have given you SO much Unnecessary
trouble. But I am not rich, and 1
thought I had discovered a way of
earning my living. 1t is a bitter dis
appointment to me; but I suppose it is
an old story to you, Mr.. Palmer"
Paul was silent. In the course of
his business he had witnessed many
trying scenes. but his heart ached for
this pale little girl, with the sunny,
t1ax-gold hair brushed away from her
forehead, and the almost imperceptible
limp in her gait. 1t seemed to him as
If he could read her story almost as
plainly as if it were written on her
face in printed sentences.
Suppose you let me take the pict-
ure home and submit it to- my fathers
opinion?" he said. calmly.
II do not believe it will be Of any
use," sighed Minna. at seems as if
my eyes had been unsealed all too late.
I am no artist. 1 am only a fraud.
Oh, yes" as he looked inquiringly at
her. '.you can take ii. The sooner T
know my fate, the better it will be for
So Mr. Palmer wrapped up the can
a in a piece of brown paper. bowed
a quiet "good-by,'.. and departed.
All that day Minna sat in a sort of
terrified suspense. scarcely daring to
breathe. Toward night MI. Palmer
came back.
"Well?' she gasped, breathlessly.
Il am happy to say that the picture
is accepted" said he. g" have brought
you twenty-five dollars for it.. And I
would like a pair of smaller ones
companion subjects-as oon as you
can furnish them"
Minna Morton gave a little gasp for
breath. s..
"Oh!' she cried, "you do not really