Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-18

"Indeedr
ain the art world, was about to add, {"
furiously; "but it so happens that my name
is rather well known, as no doubt you are
aware"
"Indeed! l never had the pleasure of
hearing il before"
"Indeed?' He really was surprised, and
not much fattered.
"No, really, isn't it surprising? said Jack
rudely-his clumsy way of defending his
sister.
Mark colored up, but he was obliged to
accept the extinguisher. He couldn't ex-
plain what great man he was, from an art
| lists point of view.
swell" said he, willing to be magnani-
nous, "since the offense has been COM
mitted in ignorance, | will not prosecute
this time, on condition that you Immediately
obliterate all these pointing to the twelve
names--"and call in all the-er-pictures
you can possibly get hold Of and resign
| them"
Jack whistled. "Think of Moses!" he
suggested.
Il don't suppose the people who buy
them will like that, said Janet. "They'ye
got trade for Mark Barretts', they say.
l don't know what TO do. Whatever shall
we do, Jack%
There was despairing ring about the
voice that struck Mark She turned to him
again. "If you would just let us send off
this dozen it would give us time"
Mot another picture You have done
me incalculable injury already"
"Tm very sorry. Will You wait just n
minute? should like to consult my father.
He was a painter himself, but last winter he
became blind. That's the reason we have
had to do all this, she said simply.
| To cn9 c1 IL l.
n clue to the whole situation, but he could
hardly believe it yet, it was so different
| from his idea. He rose and opened the
door for her, and was left alone with Jack.
Then there was an awkward pause.
Jack, with his hands in his pockets, looked
out of the window. He had no intention
of being civil to this brute" Mark looked
at the pictures.
Does your sister do many of these
things?"
"a dozen or two week"
"You don't say SO. Why, she must work
| night and day."
"She does, pretty nearly"
"You shouldn't let her work so hard.
She'll kill herself"
"Can't be helped. We've nothing else to
live on" and he whistled to keep down
tears unbecoming in man.
More and more shocked and distressed,
Mark ventured to hope they got good
price.
-Four shillings each, and find our own
stuff"
howl in the passage. "It's only the
children" explained Jack.
"Are there some children?"
"Six of us, and father and mother. 1
say, think you might have left Mark Bar
rett alone. Perhaps you would if you knew
everything"
Il am very sorry-very sorry, indeed! /
didn't know all this, you see. OF course, 1
cannot possibly let your sister go on using
my name; but if you will tell me all, per-
haps can help you little"
But Janet came back into the room very
grave and sad. Marks heart smote him
P~i-f~liy. H. - "-~,.ll..,t lose
sight of this poor family. Janet apologized
humbly for the mistake she had made, said
how sorry her father was to hear of it, and
he would like to see Mr.. Barrett for few
minutes.
A few weeks later, when the Academy
was getting stale, the town hot and weari-
some, Mark Barrett felt it was really his
duty to get little country sketching before
the spring tints quite faded away.
day or two later, and he found himself
looking out of farm house window not far
from Ivy Cottage, and wondering if he
might venture to call. The country is
rather dull without any one to speak to-"a
heathy grave" Sidney Smith called it. So
not many days-in fact, only few hours
elapsed before he was chatting comfortably
with Mr.. Lloyd, talking art, nay, "shop,"
soul refreshing to the ex-artist, although so
tedious to the "Philistine."
Mr.. Lloyd was so delighted to meet
with brother of the brush again
that he became quite confidential,
told him about his own unfinished work, and
what pity it was. "You know Janet can
paint in a fashion, but she can't do good
enough work for that; besides, am afraid
these wretched things she seems to be doing
now won't have improved her style. You've
seen them, of course? Tell me, as an
artist, are they really so very bad?"
"Those L saw were certainly rather
rather-crude, but perhaps she has some
thing better in hand now. Ishould like to
see what she is doing, If you think might
venture. Perhaps 1 could give her few
hints, you know"
"Thank you very much. ] am sure we
are greatly indebted to you for your forbear-
ance altogether; but come into the next
room and tell me what You think of their
work"
Mark was surprised to find his heart beat
strangely at this mild remark. at must
be a touch Of Indigestion" he impa-
tiently assured himself; but he couldn't
help feeling il was a moment that would
stand out in his life when he held Janets
nervous hand in his for second, and she
glanced up at him with proud shame.
For ranged along the wall were twelve
more pictures, exactly like the others
twelve ranges of mountains, twelve bridges,
now in course of construction, and twelve
old women awaiting their scarlet cloaks.
"Still busy, / see, Miss Lloyd"
"She's always busy" said her father,
with sigh. II do wish she could get ont a
little more-not only for the sake of the
fresh air, but am sure if she does not get
more sketching from. nature her work will
deteriorate."
"Mr. Barrett will tell you that that is inn
possible, father" said Janet, half in fun,
half in sarcasm.
Mark colored little. He could not deny
that it was impossible for anything in the
painting line to be much worse; but he
caught faint little sigh from Janet, and
Jack looked out of the window with long
ing eyes.
"Its Jolly afternoon" he said. II say,
Jenny, don't you think we might drop it for
once? Therell be such a breeze on Ripley
Head"
Janet gave him look. "We1l see when
we have done our work, Jack"
Signing not little, but prodigiously,
Jack took up the brush again. THAT means
'neverp" he said. these beasts will take
hours"
Mark hesitated n minute before he de-
scended to the bottom OF the professional
ladder. "If You will allow me to help YOU, /"
he said presently, al think we might finish