Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-06-08
THAT RARE ENGRAVING,
A Story OF Mr.. and Mrs. Clevers
Wedding Anniversary.

"ExqutsiteI 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 |
siRht-line than he himself was.
and what's the subject?" demanded |
Mr.. Clever, who, being business man,
was not quite posted in poetic lore. ga |
lady Divinity"
'''OpheliaP ipterposed Mrs. Clever,
briskly.
''Ohl" said her husband, ''from |
Shakespeare? King Lear amt itP"
HAMLET corrected Mrs. Clever. |
''Oh! yes, Hamlet" nodded her |
husband ~ knew it must be in some |
of those comedies"
''1t's tragedy"
whats the diferenceP It's all one |
in the end But really, that pictures |
something different from the common.
wonder If 1 could get the artist to
paint one for me like itp"
Hardly" said 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
''OhI" said che. II was rather struck
by the picture-that's all"
$50 was ]" said Mrs Clever; ''such
a sweet fsce-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 1t, yet extant,'' remarked
Mr.. Poulett, the connoisseur. And a
steel-engraving Is next best to an oil
painting, you know"
ANY chromosp" said Mr.. Clever,
pricking up his ears
'Chromosr' scornfully echoed old
Poulett "Of Donnavetti, of RomeP
"HorridP' chimed Mrs Clever. "Why,
got q chrome yesterday, with trial
pound Of tea that I bought-a mere
Ted-and-yellow daub. Nobody toler-
Gtes chromos nowadays"
80 Mr.. and Mrs. Clever went home
from Mr.. Moidore Millions picture
gallery-opened for week to the pub
lie, to help along some limping charity
ON artistic thoughts intent
81 never saw Mr.. Clever SO interest
| ed In a picture" pondered the lady.
"T'n surprise him with one of those en-
| cravings for our anniversary present,
If it can be obtained Although I did
not really fancy it."
Maria was perfectly fascinated
with that sprawling woman in the
| water" reflected Mr.. Clever. Tastes
differ. Give me a good, red-hot battle
| piece or landscape with plenty of
sunshine. But if money IL 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-a 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 fastened, and explained
| his wishes.
''Yesh, yesh, L understand, nodded
Mr.. Eliassen. ''Dere Is one at Mento-
mis-, but 1t coshts-ah, mine faith, it
| 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-fve dollarsh," said Mr..
Eliassen, after hurried calculation
that the engraving might possibly cost
him twenty.
'Order 1t, then, and don't let soul
know what your orders for. NUNS
the word"
81 understand l understand
Mrs. Clever made haste to her friend,
Mr.. Poulett
"Mr. Poulett," abe said, II must 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'u 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
81 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. 1T will take the
whole of my months allowance, but
the grocer and baker and other trades
people will all trust me, Tknow."
So Mr.. Poulett wendell after bank
Ing hours to Mentoni's.
''Can you get that proof OF Donnavet.
it's Ophelia2'" said he
1--WE had oneP' responded the clerk
''but it's just been ordered"
'Ordered?"
Eyes By old Eliassen-"
How much did he give your ques
toned Poulett
"Twenty dollars"
: Put him OF, cant your I'll give
I thirty"
WELL" said the clerk. dubiousl,
J stroking his chin, ''Pn try and sex
. what can be done; but Eliassen's Z
crusty fellow to deal with can writ,
him note. though, and say old Men
toni himself had sold the picture with
out my knowledge"
N Eliassen trudged around that sam,
l. evening, in rage. and babe still higher
n so that NJ. Mentonrs veracious clerl
4 gravely informed Mr. Poulett that
!. though sorry TO disoblige customer
they could not really resell pictur,
which had once been ordered It wa
contrary to their principles.
Come" said Poulstt. 'sthat's all talk
d II give you forty dollars for it,"
. ''Quite out of the question" said tn,
y clerk. who had been offered the saml
sum by Ezra Eliassen
Fifty, then. It's more than IT.
. worth. but my friend rather fancie
. t."