The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-05-14
THAT RARE ENGRAVING.
A Story Of Mr.. and Mrs. Clevere
Wedding Anniversary.

| EXQulSltet ecDOcQ MIS- clever,
standing on tiptoe, to peep over he,
husbands shoulder.
who's the artist?" said Mr.. Clever
| putting up his eyeglasses.
"Donnavetti, of Rome" responded
some one who CHANGED to be nearer the
sight-line than he himself was.
And what's the subject?" demanded
Mr.. Clever, who. being a business man.
was not quite posted in poetic lore. IA
lady divinity?"
">'Opheliap ipterposed Mrs. Clever,
briskly.
''Oh!" said her husband, s.from
Shakespeare? king Lear amt t?"
" Hamlet corrected Mrs. Clever.
''Oh! yes, Hamlet" nodded her
husband. II knew it must be in some
of those comedies"
''It's tragcdyr'
whats the difference? It's all one
in the end. But really, that pictures
something different from the common.
wonder if could get the artist to
paint one for me like it?"
Hardly" said q connoisscur, who
was standing near.
II don't mind the expense" asserted
Mr.. Clever, loftily (which wasn't
strictly true, for he did,.
"Yes, but unfortunately Donnavetti.
of Rome, died twenty odd years ago. +"
Mr.. Clever's countenancc fell.
''Oh!" said she. IL was rather struck
by the picture-that's all"
$50 was l." said Mrs Clever; '.such
q sweet facc-and the shadows on the
water SO perfect! And only look at
the blue-1ags and rushes along the
shore"
Il think there are one or two en-
cravings of it. yet extant" remarked
Mr.. PouIett the connoisseur. "And a
steel-cngraving is next best to an oil
painting, you know"
ANY chromos?" said Mr.. Clever,
pricking up his ears
'Chromos!' scornfully echoed old
Poulett ''Of Donnavetti, of Romeo"
"Horrid!" chimed Mrs. Clever. "Why,
l got chrome yesterday, with trial
pound of tea that l bought-a mere
red-and-yellow daub. Nobody toler-
ates chromos nowadays"
So Mr.. and Mrs Clever went home
from Mr.. Moidore Millions picture
gallery for week to the pub
lie, to help along some limping charity
ON artistic thoughts intent
II never saw Mr.. Clever so interest
ed in picture" pondered the lady.
''I'll surprise him with one of those en-
cravings for our anniversary present,
If it can be obtained. Although + did
not really fancy it."
MARIA was perfectly fascinated
with that sprawling woman in the
water" reflected Mr.. Clever "Tastes
differ Give me q good. rcd-hot battle
piece or landscape with plenty of
sunshine. But if money IL buy the
'Ophelia, it shall be Maria's on the an
nivcrsary of our wedding-day."
Mr.. Clever dealt in hides and leather
on Spruce street-a lucrative business,
although not an aristocratic one-aud
just around the corner an old Jewish
picture-dealer lurked, like human
spider in his den. To Mr.. Ezra Elias
sen our hero fastened. and explained
his wishes.
"Yesh, yesh, understand" nodded
Mr.. Eliassen. "Dere is one at Mento-
mis-, but it coshts-ah, mine faith, it
coshts its weight in gold! 1t ish rare
very rare. And dere ish only one in
de country"
''What would it cost?' asked Clever,
with his hands in his pockets and one
foot tapping the fender.
''Sheventy-five dollarsh," said Mr..
Eliassen. after q hurried calculation
that the engraving might possibly cost
hin, twenty.
''Order it then. and don't let soul
know what your orders for. NUNS
the word"
II underestimate understand"
Mrs. Clever made haste to her friend,
Mr.. Poulett
"Mr. Poulett," she said, II mmst have
that engraving-by What's-his-name,
Of Rome. want to surprise my hus-
band; but it must be pro found secret
from him."
''It'll cost money" said Mr.. Poulett,
his panhandle against his teeth, |
for when he wasn't an art critic for the |
he was paying-teller in an
uptown bank.
II don't care what it COSTS" said |
Mrs Clever.
Sixty dollars at least" said Mr.
Poulett. whose conscience was less
elastic than that OF old Eliassen.
Then let it be secured at once"
said Mrs. Clever. ut will take the |
whole of my months allowance, but |
the grocer and baker and other trades.
people will all trust me, Iknow."
So Mr. Poulett wendell after bank
ing hours to Mentonra
Can you get that proof of Dopnavet-
We OpheIia?'" said be