Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-03

NSN you think I could work as I work now, only for years and years untold of this lhe-of this home?"
 "But, dad" (the boys voice had caught some of the earnest patience of the mans, Eut was doubtful still, and rather regretfnN, "you don't mean hea- ven, do yOu?"
 Fitz drew the child into his arms, with quick laugh which told nothing.
 "Now, then, laddie, get needle and mend your sleeve"
 As the child sat at the opposite end of the room, his face bent low over his hands, sewing awkwardly at the binding of his jacket, the artists eyes rested upon him with a strange, sorrowful ten- derness in their gaze.
 eff this could be bound all fresh, it would be a good deal better, father, put in Jet, without raising his engrossed eyes.
 Then the artist went on busily with his work, and did not look up again.
 "I suppose I'm growing, dad, said tight little coat.
 "Well, and who asked you to grow, pray ?" Fitz answered merrily. So strangely, suddenly sad or merry he could be, as if the whole teaching of his life had been at variance with his nature.
 "Do you know who's going to give me penny for a bun when go, father2" questioned Jet, anxiously, now that he was ready.
 "Ne, who is itf'
 "I don't know, fsther," reioined the boy, thoughtfully "I was wondering. i"
 "se was l." laughed Fitz. "Let's set the wonder at rest. The fair Dorcas will see you eating the bun, though, and give it sharply as her opinion that it's no wonder I can't put you to school, when I spend all the money we get on 'btlious tantsddlings.' You remember she said it before.s
 "She's very cross isn't she, father 3" was the gentle remark, as the child put the money into his little basket with old fashioned caution.
 Mot so much cross as cantankerous; and that words expressive according to its length. Now, old fellow, make haste"
 "And, father" pleaded the boy, hesi- tating on the threshold, "after supper maybe you'll play 'Old MaidT"
 The artists laugh was fresh and spon- taneous.
 "An right, laddie; we'll enjoy half an hour at that suggestive and appropriate game. Then, after you go to bed, must pluck one of Col. Stuart's birds for our dinner tomorrow, unless leave it for you in the morning. Now be off,"
 Even when he was left alone, the laugh fingered in the artists eyes.
 "What & relief it is when the ludi- -s IL ,e kl,a he said, moving away from his fine pen idly at great highly-colored board which he took from its covering. "There's almost always ludicrous side to show in this life of ours-Jet's and mine. Poor Jet-poor little lad 1 There's something almost touching, yet irresistibly comic too, in his fear, yet de. fiance, of our neighbor-the vixen! Just suppose she had little Jack Esdaile to deal with, or, indeed, any child who had not had his restless little spirit tanned and subdued as my lads must be. It seems to me that-that all the happiness on earth is due to money" unused the artist, sitting before the gorgeous sign he was painting. "But I haven't quite settled that question with myself yet. Didn't Miss Castillain say something the very opposite. the other day? An 1 but what difference it makes whether those who speak possess it or want it One thousand pounds !"
 The brush was moved rapidly, dar- ing1y, and the artists eyes followed it, but withal they had the look which told of one close, concentrated thought, and one vague, distant ambition unresist- ingly pur.ued.
 "One thousand pounds and the inter est for four years Suppose-suppose," thought, "that I had no cause to save that I had no purpose for which to save, and could spend all earned. Suppose that I hadn't to ',take any little pettifog- ging job that turned up and be grate- ful for 1t, too, as am for this, which will no sooner be put up, dare say, than all the world viii blurt out the painters name to Col. Stuart, from whom I'm keeping it hidden so carefully. It does go against the grain to paint this leopard; and yet it may be a good joke in years to come. 'The Athelston Arms Capital And the arm that painted 1t can boast of no better deed through all its life l Whats that about the leopard changing its spots? And all the Athelstons. But just suppose" the artist went on, dismissing suddenly his old train of thought, some one were to give me 91OO, and tell me must spend it on comfortable things-person- al sort of things. Let me see what I should do. First I should buy"
 The long, calculating silence-during with FitE, in imagination, spent his G1O0-was broken by the opening of the door, and he turned laughingly to the boy.
 "Pm glad you are come, old fellow. I'd got to 490, and couldn't Rfnd any thing more I wanted. What relief it is to come back to reality, and find I haven't got it to spend at all" Of course the child did not understand what this meant, and he was too full of some misery of his own to heed it.
 "I didn't have my bun, dad, he said. through thick tears. "A big boy fought me and took it"
 "And the sausages2" asked Fitx, coolly.
 "No, didn't let him see those but he hurt me, dad"
 GG -ra,, hx,-k aJg -.