Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-07-31

which she selected a costly diamond
set. earrings, brooch and bracelets.
1t is awfully hard to give them up,
but / must, for Roberts sake. l am
glad these were not papa's last gifts,
for 1 could not part with them if they
were. / wonder how much they are
worth. L will take them down TO Me
Lanes and see. l know they must be
quite valuable
She returned from McLaIe's the
following afternoon, very happy little
woman, for did she not carry in her
purse, carefully tucked away In her
dress jacket, the sum of three thousand
dollars?
why, what makes me feel so happy?'
she sald, as she placed the money in
her jewel box. L have just parted
with my beautiful diamonds, and yet
feel as glad as though l had Just re
ceiyed them. Let me see. | have
saved eight hundred and forty dollars
on our board, and have three thousand
for my jewels. | still lack eleven hun
dred and sixty dollars of reaching five
thousand, and how can 1 ever get that
much? l cannot sell papa's last gift,
or Roberts wedding gift TO me. What
shall do!' And she burst into tears.
After a while she calmed herself and
began TO think. Presently all the clouds
cleared from her face as she grasped an
idea which presented itself TO her mind.
'I have heard or women earning
money to help their husbands, but what
could L do? L never earned dollar in
my life Have L any accomplishments
that L could turn into money! Here
her countenancs frightened up again
with sudden thought. Yes, l have
i'll L know how Mr.. Black once ad-
mired my crayon portraits, and asked
me If l would like orders to fill. How
insulted l feltl will now say to my
pride, Get thee behind me, and go to
see Mr.. Black, But l must keep this
from Robert, for he would never allow
such a thing
The next day, habited in a neatly fit
ting cloak, with hat TO match, Mrs.
Sinclair visited the studio OF the artist.
She had determined that unless il were
necessary she would not reveal her
identity, therefore she simply inquired:
is this Mr.. Black?'
1T is, madam. What can do for
you?'
Are you in need of an artist?'
Il am sadly in need of a good artist.
L can get plenty of half-fnished ones,
but no real artists.
Are you Wllllng 10 Try meE
'ln whose employ have you been?'
No ones. have worked only for
myself
Il hardly think you would meet my
requirements; still, if you wish IL, you
may try. When can you commence?'
AS soon as you desire. What are
your termsl'
4 viii pay fifty dollars portrait if
you suit me; l can supply you with all
the orders you can FILL l would like
you 10 commence work at once
Very well sir, l will begin to-mOr-
row.
After a few more bus iness arrange
ments, Mrs. S.nc air took her depart
ure, feeling that, as she had received
the artists approval in years past, shs
would not fail in securing it now.
Mr.. Black was more than satisfied
with Mrs. SInclair's ability, and showed
his appreciation of it by allowing her
to work in her own Toom-a privilege
rarely granted to any one. How ami
mated and interested she became! The
| work was real pleasure TO her, and she
found that by applying her=elf closely
she could complete portrait III a week.
a few weeks after the engagement
with the artist a lady made her appear
ance in the studio, who desired a pic
ture made of scene on a tropical
island. She had nothing for tine artist
to copy from, but would give him a
description Of what she desired, as she
had seen it on a recent voyage
The lady was referred to Nellie, who
did the work 50 fully to the strangers
satisfaction that she rewarded her sub
stantially for it, in connection with the
fifty dollars rappiya1 from Mr. TR1arLE
SO absorbed was Nellie III her pict-
ures, and in the object for which she was
working, that the days were not half
long enough. New life seemed infused
into her being; the bored look had en-
tirely disappeared. Her husband
noticing this change, said, one evening:
why, Nellie, | believe humble life
agrees with you. You grow more
beautiful every day. Had / known II
would affect you so favOrably, l should
have advised the change some time
ago.
Perhaps L should not have been so
willing TO make il then,' said Mrs. Sin
clair, with a meaning smile.
As the days sped on, Robert Sinclair
grew more and more Respondent and
haggard. Nellie watched HIM with an
aching heart, and worked harder that
she might place all the more money III
his hands when the time came for her
TO do1 80. The crisis came sooner than
she expected.
One evening, about four months after
the conversation between Lathrop and
his friend, Robert Sinclair returned
home, as he believed, a ruined man.
Tomorrow would matureibills TO the
amount of four thousand dollars which
lie could not meet. Rain and disgrace
stared HIM in the face. For himself
he cared not; but Nellie, the thought Of
reducing her to poverty wTung his
proud heart. Had she not already given
up her luxurious surroundings and
been content TO live in "A less preten-
tious home? And nog he must drag
her still lower. Oh, miserable mani
He threw himself across a clair, his
head bowed upon the back of IL, In
utter abandonment to his despair. In
this position Nellie found him when
she returned half an hour later. As
she entered the room he raised his head
and looked at her. His deathly pallor
and woe-filled eyes struck terror TO her
heart; she feared she had waited too
long. She sprang to his side.
Robert, what dreadful thing has
happened to make you look like thIs2
What is it? Tell me at once
%, Nellie, would to God 1 could
shield your
From what, RobertP Speak-teI
me what you mean
From ruin, Nellie. 1 am a ruined
manor l shall be tomorrow, which
is the same thing
Nellie's heart beat fast. No, it was
not too late. Calmly seating herself
beside her husband, she laid her hand