The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-02-16

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Gated the blushing canvass, "why not
spout 'emp"
"I-1 beg your pardon. don't quite
understand" replied Julia looking good
deal bewidered.
The landlady. in tone OF ill-conceal-
ed pity for her lodger's ignorance, ex-
planned that "spouting" the pictures
meant pledging them at pawnbroker's
for whatever he could be induced to lend
upon them. (
Julia shrank from the idea at first. and
Van was indignant when it was suggest
ed that he should pawn his works OF &c.
MUS last as il they we're fat lions or
Sunday suits; bat Julia had grown more
practical of late-was beginning to come
out. OF her shell, as the landlsdy said
and soon rec ,nciled herself 10 the nos
ton of obtaining small advances upon
her husbands pictures.
The work Of pledgipg them was by no
means pleasant one. OEly few pawn
brokers here and there could be induced
to lend anything upon Vans priceless art
treasures. And those who lent anything
at all lent verv, very little, grumbling that
.'pictures we're q drug in the market"
and suggesting that they we're prepared
to make really liberal advances upon any
articles Of solid commercial value.
In their keen struggles for life both
Van and Julia became emart aud artful
to degree which surprised even them
selves. Van verv soon got to know the
SORT OF pictures upon which most money
,uld be lent aud was lavish in the use
of his brightest colors But to Julia
must be given the idea Of Vans produc-
iag endless copies OF bis most popular
piece-a red cloaked maiden walking 10
q gamboge corn field under brilliant
altra.mariEe sky. Van sobn dropped
into the knack Of knocking of" these
masterpieces at q terrific rate He work.
ed upon some hal'-dozen at once, 6rst
putting on six brilliant skies, then calling
ito being six fields OF waving grain, and
then introducing into each the simple
maiden Ia the excruciating scarlet cloak.
For many week did the young peo-
Pile live upon the proceeds Of their gaudy
manufacture, but there came time when
there was SCAT cely pownbroker in New
York who bad not in his keeping one Of
Vans outrages upon nature. But it be.
came gradually harder to part with them
or any picture at all, and the y,ung peo
pie we're getting terribly anxious about
the future. .
"Van, DEAR" said julia for the thou.
sandth time. I've must have money some
how. I'm getting desperate. / wish oh
how wish I could earn some! But
what can / do1 I vas never Taught
anything useful can play decentlv, it's
true, and l can sing that's one thing l
can do really well. But where can
Sing? / have never sung in public. l
have no recommendations nor introduc.
tions. / shall never make anything by
singing"
"I'm afraid you're right, darling" said
her husband, gloomily, as be clinked the
few half dollars remaining in bis pocket.
You could never make public appear.
ance unless" s"-and here he emiled at the
quaintness OF the idea-s.unless you
make 1t 10 the public stres,s, like that
girl we saw with the crowd round her the
other night, don't you know7 How de-
lighted your smiable parent would be II
be knew it. Wonder what he'd do?"
Julia was always ready to laugh at q
quaint coneeit, even 10 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-
senting nature. and'in that pleasing oc.
cupation very soon forgot about old
Slsdger and the cantratice Of the pave.
ment.
All that day Julia Was exceedingly
quiet and thoughtful.
"Vsn, dear" said Julia suddenly. when
they had been sitting talking for some
time after tea, "I'm going out"
.All right" said Van, "rm ready
Where do yon want to go2 ?"
"Oh, not far; there are several little
things TO buy. I 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 alone2"
"For q woman's reason-because
want to. Now, don't be angry, Van
You must let me have my own wsy.
won't come to any harm / promise you.
And Van gave in of course.
i But he had q fresh remonstrance Il
make when be saw Julia wrap herself in
q faded old black shawl and put on ,
bonnet which had lnng seen not only ii
best but pretty nearly it's worst days.
"What on earth are you putting OF
those areiched old things fort be in
quired. "We are poor enough, goodness
krows, but you have some respectable
clothes left, anyhow"
| "For the sake of economy. dom
care how I look about here, and Will
that she hurried out.
Julia walked rapidly looking neitbe
to the right nor left. She feared if sh'
proceeded slow, or hesitated. the coursg,
to carry out the resolution she bad made
might ooze away.
At last she arrived near her father
house, handsome corner building. Il
was about 9 o'clock and old Sam and hi
guests, for he was giving dinner party
we're in the brilliantly lighted dining
room.
Sam Sladger had changed q good dea
since his daughter's departure from
home. He looked aged and haggard.-
He missed her sorely, and yearned t
have her back with him; but he ha(
stuck stubhornly to his determination
to have nothing further to do with her
i He had found, too, to his bitter an
noyance, that the opinion of nearly al
bis friends was that he had treated BIZ
daughter with undue harsbness and se
verify, not to say actual cruelty. HI
feared that Vandeleur might he driver
by poverty to resort to any shady mean
OF getting living that might presen
themselves, and he was filled with
vague terror that he might thereby fint
himselt-the respected Sladger-involv
ed indirectly in coma scandal brough
about bv his son-ln-law.
j The old man then was not happy
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