The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-02-03


Van was indignant when it was sue-
gested that he should pawn his works OF
genius Just as if they we're fiat irons or
Sunday suits. But Julia had grown
more practical of late--was beginning to
come out of her shell, as the laDdlndy
said-and soon reconciled herself to the
notion Of obtaining small advances upon
her husbands pictures.
The work of pledging them was by no
means pleasant one. Only few pawn
brokers here and there could be induced
to lend anything upon Vans priceless
art treasures. And those who lent any
thing at all lent very, very little, grumb-
ling that ''pictures were drug in the
market" and suggesting that they were
prepared to make really liberal advances
upon any articles OF solid commercial
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
piece-a red-cloaked maiden walking in
a gamboge corn field under a brilliant
uitra-marine sky. Va1 soon dropped
into the knack of knocking Off these
masterpieces at 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 simple
maiden in the excruciating scarlet cloak.
For many week did the young peo-
pie live upon the proceeds of their gaudy
Tanufacture, but there came a time
when there was scarcely O pawnbroker
in New York who had not in his keeping
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, for the thou
sandth time, ''we must have money
somehow. I'm getting desperate l
wish, oh, how l wish could earn some !
But what can l do2 l was never taught
anything useful. can play decently,
it's true, and con sing; that's one thing
l can do really we'll. But where can l
sing2 | have never sung in public. l
have no recommendations nor introduc-
tions. | shall never make anything by
singing"
''pm afraid you're right, darling"
said her husband, gloomily, as he clinked
the few half dollars remaining in his
pocket. "'You could never make a pub
lie appearance unless" and here he
smiled at the quaintness of the idea
"unless you make it in the public streets,
like that girl we saw with crowd round
her the other night, don't you knowG
How delighted your amiable parent
would be if he knew it. Wonder what
he'd dol"
Julia was always ready to laugh at a
qnaint conceit, even in the midst of their
poverty. But she did not laugh now.
She started as Van spoke, and turned
quickly away from the table. Van rose
also, went to his easel, began misrepre-
sentiEg nature, and in that pleasing oc-
cupation very soon forgot about old
Sladger and the cantatrice of the pave
ment.
All that day Julia was exceedingly
quiet and thoughtful.
''Van, dear" said Julia, suddenly.
when they had been sitting talking for
some time after tea, '1'm going OUT
"All right" said Van, 'I'm ready.
Where do you want to goG"
"Oh, not far! there are several little
things to buy. can get them quite
as well by myself. You needn't
! come"
Needn't come But don't like
your going out alone at night, dear.
Beside, why should you go alonei''
'For woman's reason. Because
want to. Now, don't be angry, Van.
You must let me have my own way. I
won't come to any harm l promise you"
And Van gave in, of course.
But he had fresh remonstrance to
make when he saw Julia wrap herself in
faded old black shawl, and put on a
bonnet which had long seen not only its
best but pretty nearly its worst days.
"What on earth are you putting on
those wretehed old things forl" he in
quired. 1--WE are poor enough, good
ness knows, but you have some respecta-
bic clothes left, anyhow"
''For the sake of economy | don't
care how look about here, and with
that she hurried out
"Julia walked rapidly, looking neither
to the right nor left She feared if she pro-
ceeded slowly, or hesitated. the courage
to carry out the resolution she had made
might ooze away.
At last she arrived near her fathers
house, handsome corner building. It
was about O'clock, and old Sam and
his guests, for he was giving dinner
party, were in the brilliantly lighted
dining-room.
Sam Sladger had changed a good deal
since his daughters departure from
home, He looked aged and haggard.
He missed her sorely, and yearned to
have her back with him: but he had
stuck stubbornly to his determination to
have nothing further to do with her.
He had found. too, to his bitter an
noyance, that the opinion of nearly all
his friends was that he had treated his
daughter with undue harshness and