The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-01-30

not sell. By the time all Julia trinkets
had been turned into money, and actual
starvation was staring the young couple
in the face-for dealers and art shop
keepers wouldn't even look at poor
Vans productions now-the landlady
who was getting anxious about the rent,
which was rapidly falling in arrears,
volunteered this-to Julia--very mystic
rious piece of advice.
IF you can't sell 'em,' and she indi-
Gated the blushing canvass, 'why not
spout 'em?'
Il beg your pardon, I don't quite
understand, replied Julia, looking a
good deal bewildered.
The landlady, in tone of i'll con-
cealed pity for her lodger's ignorance,
explained that 'spouting' the pictures
meant pledging them at pawnbroker's
for whatever he could be induced to
bsEd upon them.
julia shrank from the idea at first,
and Van was indignant when it was
suggested that he should pawn his works
of genius just as if they were fiat irons
or Sunday suits. But Julia had grown
more practical of late-was beginning
to come out Of her shell, as the landlady
said-and soon reconciled herself to the
notion of obtaining small advances up
on her husbands pictures.
The work of pledging them was by
no means pleasant one. Only few
pawn-brokers here that could be induc-
ed to lend anything upon Vans price
less art treasures. And those who lent
anything at all lent very, very little,
grumbling that pictures were drug in
the market, and suggested that they
were prepared to make really liberal
advances upon any articles of solid COM
mercial value.
In their keen struggle for life both
Van and Julia became smart and artful
to degree which surprised even them
selves. Van very soon got to know the
sort Of pictures upon which most money
could be lent, and was lavish in the use
of his brightest colors. But to Julia
must be given the idea of Vans produc
ing endless copies of his most popular
piete-a -cloaked maiden walking in
a gamboge cornfeld under brilliant
ultra-marine sky. Van soon dropped
into the knack of knocking off these mas
terpieces at a terrific rate. He worked
upon some half-dozen at once, first put
ting on six brilliant skies, then calling
into being six fields of waving grain,
and then introducing into each the SIM
pie maiden in the excruciating scarlet
cloak.
For many week did the young peo-
pie live upon the proceeds of their gaudy
manufacture, but there came a time
when there was scarcely pawn-broker
in New York who had not in his keep
ing one of Vans outrages upon nature.
But it gradually became harder to part
with them, or any picture at all, and
the young people were getting terribly
anxious about the future.
van, dear, SAID julia ror the .hAur-
andth time, I'VE must have money some
how. am getting desperate. Iwish,
oh, how l wish l could earn some! But
what can I do? 1 was never taught
anything useful. I can play decently
it is true, and I can sing; that is one
thing 1 can do really we'll. But where
can | sing? have never sung in pub
lie; | have no recommendations nor
introductions. l shall never make any
thing by singing
4 am afraid you are right darling
said her husband, gloomily, as he clink-
ed the few half dollars remaining in his
pocket. 'You could never make pub
lie appearance unless and here he
smiled at the quaintness of the idea
unless you make it in the public street,
like that girl we saw with a crowd
around her the other night, don't you
know? How delighted your amiable
parent would be if he knew it. Wonder
what he would do!'
Julia was always ready to laugh at
their poverty. But she did not laugh
now. She started as Van spoke, and
turned quickly from the table. Van
rose also, went to his easel, began mis-
representing nature, and in that pleas
ing occupation very soon forgot about
old Sladger and the cantatrice of the
pavement.
All that day Julia was exceedingly
quiet and thoughtful.
wan, dear,' said Julia suddenly,
when they had been sitting talking for
some time after tea, I'm going out.
'All right said Van. I'm ready.
Where do you want to go?'
ooh, not far There are several little
things to buy. I can get them quite as
we'll by myself. You need not come.
Needn't come! But 1 don't like
your going out alone at night, dear.
Besides, why should you 60 alone?'
sFor a woman's reason. Because l
want to. Now don't be angry, Van.
You must let me have my own way. l
won't come to any harm 1 promise
you.' And Van gave in, of course.
But he had a fresh remonstrance to
make when he saw Julia wrap herself in
faded old shawl, and put on bonnet
which had long since seen not only its
best, but pretty nearly its worst days.
what on earth are you putting on
those wretched old things for2' he in
quired. 'We are poor enough, goodness
knows, but you have some respectable
clothes left, anyhow
'For the sake of economy. l don't
care how I look about here, and with
that she hurried out.
Julia walked rapidly, looking neither
to the right nor to left. She feared
that if she proceeded slowly, or hesita-
ted the courage to carry out the resolu-
ton she had made might ooze away.
At last she arrived near her fathers
house, handsome corner building. 1t
was about nine O'Clock, and old Sam
and his guests, for he was giving din.
ner party, were in the brilliantly lighted
dining-room.
Sam Sladger had changed good