The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-07
over the mantel piece when I saw it

The space was vacant, but the light
or square on the: dusty paper showed
me that I was not mistaken in the
room. 's>;t - 49,, ..,'5~
The old black man was at my heels
in A moment; suppose it was his
duty to give no one an opportunity for
dishonesty.
"Wen, Jeff," said II had heard the
auctoneer speak to him as JeH-'swhere
have they put the picture I was look
ing at this morning? T thought they
would sell it in the room;
'Dey isn't gwine to sell it at all, sab,
said jeff. Miss Phemie she come
and got it. She say it b'long to her,
an de aucshun gen'man, Mr.. Peters,
he say seem to him it do, so toted it
for her, over to Smithses, whar she
is stoppin'."
"Now, jeff" said I, putting half a
dollar into his hand. II want to ask
a few questions. This lady, Miss Eu-
phemia, suppose is not rich, is she?''
Jeff shook his head solemnly.
"De riches OBJ de Chesney family has
took wings to deyselves an flowed
away, like de preachers say" he said.
''She dom own no more dan a young
mock bird, less it is dat picture:''..
..""Wel, then, jeff, knowing the family
SO well as you must you may be able
to tell me whether the lady would be
offended if I asked her to sell me that
picture. L want it very much and will
pay her her own price for it. 1t is very
va1uable''
jeff looked more puzzled than ever.
''Well, sah," he said, Il couldn't take
it ON me, to say, nor to take no message
bout it by word OBJ mout', but if you
would write a letter an 'spress yourself
in dat way, I could carry it, an bring
an answer. Pears to me dat would
be de- proper ettikets in sich q case.
De family is mighty partickler bout
dem t'ings. When de aucshun is ober,
I is at you sarbice sah.''
1t appeared to me, as it did to jeff,
| that he had struck upon the right idea,
! and I retired to hotel near by, and
| carefully composed a letter, which /
hoped would not offend the most pune
| tili0us last member of any ancient fam
| ily Thus it ran:
Miss Euphemia Chesney: Dear
Madam-Win you forgive me if I am
over bold, but I am most anxious to
know whether you could be induced to
sell the beautiful portrait Of your an
cestress which has just been removed
from the walls Of the front chamber
| Of Chesney Mansion.
eff SO I am most anxious to become
it's possessor. I make an offer for 1t
(here I named the sum). but if that
is not sufficient, mention the price.
Il shall consider it q condesc .nsion on
your part to permit me to become the
purchaser, and beg 4 thousand pardons
if I have asked too great favor: Yours
to command,
'AIbert Ackland."
When the auction was over and the
house locked up. I gave this epistle to
Jeff. and told him where to bring the
answer.
TO my joy, he arrived at Ackland
House about 10 o'clock that evening,
bringing not only the reply, but the
picture. The note ran thus:
Dear Sir: It is hard, in my old age,
to part with the portrait Of my ances-
tress, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, but ne
cessity admits no choice. l accept your
offer.
Jefferson is perfectly trustworthy,
and will receive your check. Sincerely
yours,
'Euphemia Chesney."
sition. The men who came to dine
with me were in raptures over it. Not
that they were, any more than myself,
Judges of art, but it was such pretty
girl.
AS for me, grew fonder and fonder
of her Pygmalion was not more in
love with his statue. Had I been able
to call her to life, L certainly would
have done so, and offered myself on
the spot. 1t was a ridiculous affair,
but the beautiful blonde very soon
not only blotted out the memory Of
my cruel Polly Eloise, but became the
only woman in the world to me.
I began to- fear that I was going
crazy.
II say, Ackland, show Jim your old
master. He will tell you if it is genu-
ine," said Walker, in the wine busi-
ness.
He had just brought a cousin Of his,
an artist who, had been two years in
Europe, to dine with me.
I laughed a little. -.
"Not an old master, Walker: said;
"it is a picture I've been told was
painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr.
Brushliegh." IT.: ..*...,.=
''Wel, it's all the same, said Walker;
hell name it, ''
Brushliegh went with me to- the
library Walker stayed behind with
the others who had seen my fair lady
twenty times.
I lit all the gas in the room, and the
artist placed himself before the pict
| ure and looked at it long and earnest
| ly. Then he said:
"Mr. Ackland, who told you that
| that was Sir Joshua?'
! 'The lady who sold it to me- said
I. II have the note yet. Poor old
soul, the last Of an old family, her
poverty, though not her will, consent
ed, and she accepted my offer for her
| beautiful ancestress. She Is a., Miss
Euphemia Chesney. The old house
| that you pass between here and the
station belonged to the family. Poor
old lady. I often feel sorry for her"
Brushliegh stared at me-. s.2.,s~. = ~
Ever meet herr" he asked.
/ "No," I said. sA faithful servant,
| Jefferson, transacted the business" !" Il 0
1 cleft? Il knew him we'll" said BruSf-