The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-27
HIS GOOD LUCK.

lid UOOD v
Gaspard was in despair. All day had he
been working at the little picture on his easel
working hard. not even stopping 10 eat ms
ernst OF bread alas il was his last, and now
AS the sun was setting. it seemed to nm as
though the little portrait was worse than when
le had brought ii out in the morning.
He was the youngest son OF a weIi-to-uo
farmer. who bad brought up his three other
sons. "a he had himself been reared, 10 DO
piain. honest peasants; but Gasperd, at once
his low and despair. preferred drawing and
.~'dasbing." as his father called 1t. TO farm
work and when the boy came OF age he deter-
mined 10 go TO Paris and try his fortune AZ
painting. He was influenced IN TINS pan Oy
the fact that Tolnette Leblanc hVed theIe,
and 10 be near her was his happiness. 1olnette
was the daughter Of a poor clerk in Paris ana
had always spent her summers IN DiJon. where
Gaspard had often seen her, as his fathers
farm was only q mile from The town.. loInet'o
and her father were poor but PROUD ana hhe
Thought she would disgrace herself II she mar,
ried q farmer. This she limited TO GAspSr9
at one of their many meetings, ana HasParu
was at once seized with d desire 70 go 70 Iaris
and "be something" As soon as ne was
eighteen he announced 10 bis father tnat ne
would like To 90 to Paris and study 70 become
an artist. His father at once went INTO a rage
and told him be was afraid 70 work or ne
would stav with his "bOnsfreres, y and that II
he went TO the city his father wouid never
see him again. Gaspard thought 1t over, but
pretty little Toinette's face rose before MN
and he decided TO go. go,
had said when he left. and Gaspard knew 1t
was useless 10 try to reason with him.
lie had been III Paris two months now and
the little stock of money he had brought with
him was oil gone; Indeed. he mad pawned
az much Of his clothes as he could spare, and
now all his hopes depended on this little pic
ture. He had found no work TO do until yes
terday. when some ono brought him a por-
trait Of a famous French General to enlarge.
He was not q bad painter. but no was 30 ex-
cited he could hardly hold the brush.
IL was now the hour appointed for him to
take il to the hall where the entertainment
was 70 be given. and now when 1t was 50 late
he thought he had never painted so badly.
1T must be taken. however" he thought. as
he lovingly put his brushes and oils away. L
might as well have IL over with"
He reached the hall in a few moments, but
found no one there. Bewalked around TO the
front entrance, and this was what met his
troubled gaze-workmen busy tearing down
the wallis He stepped mp TO one and SAID:
See here, my man, where IS NJ. Deyrieuk,
the gentleman who ordered THIS plcture!'
holding out the portrait.
Have you not heardy' exclaimed the man.
NO" responded our hero. Tell me-"
M. Devrieux is dead. He died Of heart
disease last night and this building IS being
torn down TO find his will. which is supposed
20 be in a secret room that he described 10
his solicitor. The room cannot he found,
so the building must come down" And as
he spoke the man commenced work again
Gaspard stood staring for "a moment. and
then. when he understood the man, turned
and walked away. lie went straight TO NJ. Le-
bIanc's house and asked for TOinette The
maid directed him to her room andhe walked
in.
The room was empty. so he sat down and
buried his face in his hands. He felt g pair
Of soft warm arms about his neck ana heard
the sweet voice he loved so well, saying:
What is the matter with my GaspardY" She
bent her pretty face down to his, and tried to
look in his.
"Oh. my darling" answered he. whatever
will become of me. Your father does not IKE
me and when / told him | had an order for q
portrait and asked for your sweet hand, he
said il was not likely 1t would be taken, but If
IL was | might have you: and now here the
man is dead, dead, who ordered it," Here
the poor boy-for he was only a boy-began
20 sob.
Little Toinette flung herself into his arms
and laid her pretty golden head on his Shout
der. Come" she said, let US ask le pere
again. May DO, when he sees how we love, all
will be well"
Like two children they descended the stairs
and stood before the father. The story was
soon told, and as Nj. Leblanc saw Gespard's
anxious face he said. not unklndly: Il am
sorry, my boy; but Ioinette must marry some
one who can provide for her, and soon, as /
an growing feeble every day. l cannot pro-
mise that she will wait for you. as | must see
her married before / die" and the poor con-
sumptive looked at his daughter, who sank on
the lounge and was crying her little heart
out.
''She is not of age and cannot marry with
out my consent" said le pere; 80 you had
better do without her"
Gaspard turned on his heel, and, with a
glance of anguish at his little love, turned to
leave the room. Toinette heard him. and,
jumping up. ran after HIM. Were you leay-
ing me thus" she cried. and, encircled by
his loving arms, she kissed him ''good-by."
wait for me. my beloved. IL you can, -
were Gaspard's final words AS he Quilted the
house.
He wandered about all night, scarcely car
ing where he went, only wishing to forget his
misery. IL was nearly day when he found on
looking around that he was on the exact spot
where he had left the workman. Mechanically
he lifted a pickaxe. and, after looking around,
began TO work as If a fend possessed him
anything. anything TO forget his trouble. lie
must have been working an hour when he
came 70 a hall partly torn down. lie went to
one end OF tins. intending 20 go out. but his
foot slipped and he fell. lie was not hurt. but
lie had made a discovery. There was q hol-
low sound when he struck the floor. SEEING
the pickaxe. he worked until he had torn up
n large portion of the. floor. Underneath was
q small room. entered probably by n concealed
trap-door in the hall closet floor. lie ran to
a lawyer, informed him of his discovery and
received a reward of 800 francs, as all the
workmen had given up the search IN despair.
He took a cab to Nj. Leblanc's and went
straight to his room. After q short confer
snce he went to Toinette's parlor. There on
a~lounge, Just as he had left her twelve hours
before, lay Toinette asleep. Bending down,
he kissed the swollen red eyes until they
opened, and IN a moment She was in his arms.
Good news" he whispered; II shall have
you always. love" Content with this. not
caring to know his reason, she rested on his
bosom, and the morning sun, streaming in.
shone on two happy people.
1t is needless to add they were married in
due time, and long before the 800 francs gave
out Gaspard had found work.
Athenian Skulls.