The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-11
THAT RARE ENGRAVING.
a Story OF Mr.. and Mrs. Clevers
Z Wedding Anniversary.

"Beautiful." said Mr.. Clever. ecstat
tcally.
"Exquisitel" echoed Mrs Clever.
standing on tiptoe. to peep over her
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" dem anded
Mr. Clever, who. being business man,
was not quite posted in poetic lore. "A
lady divinity?"
Opheliar ipterposed Mrs. Clever,
briskly.
''Oh!' said her husband, from
Shakespeare? King Lear ANTI ?"
Hamlet corrected Mrs Clever.
"Oh! yes, Hamlet" nodded her
husband II knew it must be in some
of those comedies"
''lts tragedy"
whats the difference? It's all one
In the end. But really. that pictures
something different from the common.
wonder if l could get the artist to
paint one for me like it?"
Hardly" said a connoisscur, who
was standing near
Il 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.. Clevcr's countcnance fell.
ssObfs 1,a y
by the picture-that's all"
$50 was l." said Mrs Clever; such
asweet face-and the shadows on the
water so perfect! And only look at
the blue-lags and rushes along the
shore"
Il think there are one or two en-
cravings of it. yet extant" remarked
Mr.. Poulett, 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
Poulctt ''Of Donnavetti, of Romeo"
''Ilorrid!' chimed Mrs Clever ..Why,
I 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 opened for a week to the pub
lie, TO help along some limping charity
on artistic thoughts intent
IL never saw Mr.. Clever so interest
ed in picture" pondered the lady.
"Tll 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 good, rcd-hot battle
piece or a landscape with plenty of
sunshine But if money II buy the
'Ophelia, it shall be Marias on the an
nivcrsary of our wedding-day.
Mr.. Clever dealt in hides and leather
on Spruce strcet-a lucrative business,
although not an aristocratic e-and
just around the corner an old Jewish
picture-dealcr lurked, like human
spider in his den. To Mr.. Ezra Elias
his wishes.
"Yesh, ycsh, undershtand, nodded
Mr. Eliasscn. Deere is one at Mcnto-
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.
''Shcventy dollarsh," said Mr..
Eliassen. after hurried calculation
that the engraving might possibly cost
him twenty.
Order it, then, and don't let a so;d
know what your orders for. Nuns
the word"
ii underestimate | understand
Mrs. Clever made haste to her friend,
MIR. Poulett
Mr.. Poulett," she said, Il mast have
that engraving-by MISUNDERSTANDING,
of Rome. want to surprise my hus-
band: but it must be pro found secret
from him..
eth cost money" said Mr.. Poulett,
clicking his penhandle against his teeth,
for when he wasn't an art critic for the
newspapers he was paying teller in an
uptown bank
Il 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 Eliasson.
Then let it be secured At once. >
said Mrs. Clever 1T viii take the
whole OF my months allowance, but
1he grocer and baker and other trades
people viii all trust me, Ikuow."
So Mr. Poulett wendcd after bank
ing hours 10 Men;oni's
''Can you get that proof OF Donnarct
tbs ppaciia?' said he