Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-14
THAT RARE ENGRAVING
A Story OF Mr.. and Mrs. Clever
Wedding Anniversary.

beautifully said Mr.. Clever, ecstat-
ically.
"Exquisitel' echoed Mrs Clever,
standing on tiptoe, to peep over her
hus bands shoulder.
who's the artistP" said Mr.. Clover,
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 divinity2"
Opheliap irterposed Mrs. Clever,
briskly.
'Ohl" said her husband, from
Shakespeare king Lear amt it?"
Hamlet corrected Mrs Clever
"Ohl yes, Hamlet" nodded her
husband. ~ knew it must be in some
of those comedies"
"It's tragedy"
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 it2"
Hardly" said a connoisseur, who
was standing near.
II don't mind the expense" asserted
Mr.. Clever, loftily (which wasn't
strictly true, for he did,.
Eyes, but unfortunately Donnavetti,
of Rome, died twenty odd years ago"
Mr.. Clever's countenance fell
"Oh" said ihe. 81 was rather struck
by the picture-that's all"
80 was l." said Mrs. Clever; such
q sweet face-and the shadows on the
water so perfectl And only look at
the blue-fags and rushes along the
shore"
II think there are one or two en-
cravings of it. yet extant" remarked
Mr.. Poulett, the connoisseur. And a
steel-engraving is next best to an oil
painting, you know"
ANY chromos?" said Mr.. Clever,
pricking up his ears
" 'Chromosr' scornfully echoed old
Poulett 'Of Donnavetti, of Romeo"
"HorridI' chimed Mrs Clever "Why,
l got n chrome yesterday, with trial
pound of tea that 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-opened for a week to the pub
lie, to help along some limping charity
on artistic thoughts intent.
81 never saw Mr.. Clever SO interest
| ed in n picture" pondered the lady.
IN 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, red-hot battle
piece or a landscape with plenty of
sunshine. But if money II buy the
'Ophelia,' it shall be Maria's on the an
niversary of our wedding-day."
| Mr.. Clever dealt in hides and leather
on Spruce street, lucrative business,
although not an aristocratic one and
just around the corner an old Jewish
picture-dealer -lurked, like human
| spider in his den. To Mr.. Ezra Elias
| sen our hero hastened, and explained
his wishes.
"Yesh, yesh. !. understand" nodded
Mr.. Eaiasse1. 'eDefe 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 1t cost?" asked Clever,
with his hands ia his pockets and one
foot tapping thefender.
"Sheventy-five dollarsh," said Mr..
Eliassen, after q hurried calculation
that the engraving might possibly cost
him twenty.
"Order it, then, and don't let a soul
know what your orders for. NUNS
the word"
L.
Mrs. Clever made haste to her friend,
Mr.. Poulett
"Mr. Poulett," she said, 'I must have
that engraving-by Whats-his-name,
of Rome. want to surprise my hus-
band; but it must be a pro found secret
from him."
eth cost money" said Mr.. Poulett,
clicking his panhandle against his teeth,
for when he wasn't an art critic for the
newspapers 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. sit will take the
whole of my months allowance, but
the grocer and baker and other trades
people will all trust me, Tknow."
i So Mr.. Poulett wendell after bank
ing hours to Mentoni's
''Can you get that proof of DOnnavet-
tia 'Ophelia?'". said he.
"We had one2" responded the cler,s
"but it's just been ordered"
''Ordered?"
yes By old Eliassen."
"How much did he give you2" ques
toned Poulett
Twenty dollars"
'Fut him OF. can : Yca9 f'p ~is.