Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-08

instead Of completing his sentence. and
the color famed proudly into her cheek
as she met his insolent stare.
One hundred pounds She had not
expected the fourth of that sum; it
would keep the wolf from the door for
an indefinite time but it had come too
late to save the boy, and she would
rather die than part with this sole re-
minder OF him. True, she might redeem
her first picture with part of the
sum offered for this one; but she did
not value that in comparison with this
she had painted in her boys last hours
of life. A sob rose in her throat and
she turned hastily away for a moment /;
then she faced the man again.
81 have decided not to sell the pic
ture. / will take it with me-"
The dealers countenance fell rs he
saw q vision OF large profits fading be-
fore his eyes. and he diplomatized.
"As you like, madam; the price l
offered is large enc. You will scarcely
get better, imagine"
81 am not thinking Of the price; 1 do
not wish TO dispose of the picture"
"Yet it is one which might bring you
before the artistic world. Would you
have any objection to my exhibiting it
while you reconsider your decision?"
"No, no, she cried nervously; "Ishall
not change my mind. l must take it
with me now"
81 am anxious for your sake that you
should not miss this opportunity OF OBJ
tanning celebrity, madam. Twill write
you check for G200. VIII that meet
your views ?"
Madeline's brain was Keeling, and she
caught at the chair by which she was
standing to support herself. She scarcely
understood what was being said to her,
but she was conscious of blind effort
to escape with the picture to the attic
where the little form was slowly but
most surely undergoing that awful
change. She grudged every moment
spent away from its side, and she took
up the canvas, saying with calm dig
nifty which silenced the man:
"You have my decision it is unalter-
able"
He watched her as she walked slowly
and YEARLY from the shop; then he
turned away, inwardly anathematizing
feminine unreason and obstinscy. de
had not attempted to induce her to alter
her mind, knowing that she would not
be moved from her purpose.
Half an hour after Philip Vivien APP
peared. His vexation was great when he
learned that the picture was not to be
sold. and he bit his lips angrily.
at is not the loss of the picture that
annoys me, he exclaimed. GO wished
to discover the artist. Did she leave her
address ?"
The dealer hesitated. Was this ruse
to defraud him of his profits? He was
about to deny his knowledge OF Made
lines address, when all at once he re-
membered the print Of the little feet
which had reminded him of his dead
child. We are all, the strongest of us
steel-incased as we believe ourselves to
be-vulnerable at some one point, and
the dealer wss no exception 10 the rule.
He would have robbed Madeline of the
price of her work without conjunction
an hour ago, but he could not wrong her
now, and he answered:
81 have it here the lady wrote it her
SELF"
He handed the sheet Of paper to
Philip Vivien, and the man trembled
violently as he took it, for the first
glance had assured him that it was
Madeline's beautiful handwriting he
saw.
He scarcely paused to see the address.
In another moment he had left the shop
and was in his carriage driving rapidly
towards his wife and child.