Connecticut western news., 1885-11-18

at the door. -#..rs.-
 Minna started guiltiiy to her feet, and dashed away the wet spray of tears from her cheek.
 "Come inp said she. -----------
 And to her horror, she saw standing there tall, pleasant-faced young man.
 "What did you please to want2" raid she, rather timidly. :
 "I-I beg your pardon!" said he. But are you the young lady who sent note to Palmer & Co.,, picture deal ersP 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 & Go. to send up an expert to value her picture for the salesroom.
 "Where is the picture?" he asked. "Is this it? ... .
 "Yes," 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 MT. Paul Palmer, genuinely discon- certed. ~
 'Nothing more than might have been expected. said Minna, trying to smile. "Please don't think me foolish! Yesterday fancied that this daub of mine was gem of art. Now my eyes have been opened. know that it is worthlessp'
 MT. Palmer glanced scrutinizingly at the picture.
 ''But." said he, ''are you sure that you are the best judge?"
 "One can trust one's own instinct" said Minna, sadly. "I am sorry to have given you so much unnecessary trouble. But I am not rich, and I thought I had discovered a way of earning my living It is Q bitter dis appointment to me; but I suppose it Is an old story to you, Mir. 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, Hax-gold hair brushed away from her forehead, and the almost imperceptible limp in her gait. It 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.
 "I 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. l am only fraud. Oh, yes," as he looked inquiringly at her, you can take it. The sooner I know my fate, the better it will be for me-" ...... -.
 So MT. Palmer wrapped up the can vas in a piece of brown paper, bowed quiet "good-by," and departed.
 All that day Minna sat in sort of terrified suspense, scarcely daring to breathe. Toward night MT. Palmer came back.
 "Well?" she gasped, breathlessly.
 T am happy to say that the picture is accepted" said he. "I have brought you twenty-five dollars for it. And I would like a pair of smaller cnes-. companion subjects-as soon as you can furnish them"
 Minna Morton gave little gasp for breath.
 "Ohr' she cried, you do not really mean it. Accepted! and more want ed! Oh, it don't seem possiblel"
 "How soon can you have them ready?" said Paul, quietly. "In a month ?" .-..-.-.
 "Yes, in less time than that, answere'. Minna, half giddy with de- light. T shall work day and night. Oh, MT. Palmer, how kind you arel Indeed, indeed, you do not know what all this means for mer'
 If Minna could have been tempora- rily clairvoyant that day-if she could have followed Paul Palmer back to the "art emporium where bis father, half doubled up with lumbago, sal viewing his recent acquisition through an eye-glass-what would have been her feelingsp .a. Paul" said he, curtly, "this thing that you have brought home isn't worth shop-room ?"
 "What is the matter with it.. sir9'' "Nothing-nothing on earth. Int trouble" said MT. Palmer, vindictive ly, "is that there is nothing to it. Il is negative from beginning to end Tell the artist we can find no sale fol such trashp' a.. .-s.z. But Paul Palmer carried back nS such message. He went and cam' often. He spoke words of kindly encouragement to the poor young girl and paid, out of his own pocket, fiber al prices for her efforts.
 And one day he asked her to be hi wife, and Minna promised that sh' would.
 Heretofore" said she, '1 have al