Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-09

menus even more TeckleSSly tnan before.
His bare white walls filled up with
canvases for which he honestly did not
give a snap Of his fingers. Old Parkes
let them all go at summer prices" in
one case sacrificing his ''vicw Of the
Ramapo Valley" for which he had
asked $500 at the academy, for beg
carly $50.
He was really growing to look uponr
little Spacer with more favor. He COM,
mended his judgment and said that he
was evidently a man Of taste. Twice
he had permitted Rose to accompany
him to the Casino roof garden, and they
sat often in the park. =,
On an excessively warm night little
Spacer had met Rose. and they had
gone TO the park for breath Of air.
The green benches were crowded with
lovers whom the heat had driven from
the suifocating neighborhood south of
Washington square, and many, with a
happy disregard of both propriety and
the extreme sultriness of temperature,
sat with their arms around each others
waist.
Near the fountain they stopped to rest
for few minutes to listen to the plash-
ing of the water in the basin. since it
sounded SO deliciously cool, and there,
in a few hurried, badly put together
words, which were quite unlike those
he had been intending to say for the
last few months, little Spacer asked
Rose to he his wife. And, without
thinking Of her father, SO happy was
she, Rose said that she would, after
which they sat down on ono Of the
benches where the shadows We're black
est and initiated their neighbors' exam
pie.
With her pretty checks flushed and
her black eyes sparkling, Rose put her
arms around her father neck that night
and gave him careful revision of all
that little Spacer had told her. Old
Parkes said nothing, but got up and
made circuit of the room several times
"a way he had Of doing when he got ex-
cited. Then he sat down at the table
and buried his face in his arms.
Hes robbed ine Of my pictures, and
now he's going to rob me of my daugh-
ter" he said bitterly.
'Oh. papa, don't talk like that"
cried Rose, quite distressed. 'Of course
Chauncey couldn't afford to give You
what the pictures were really worth,
but
Il should say not" broke in old
Parkes moodily. q The Ralnapo VAL
ley, AZ by G., $50; The Highlands at
Navesink. IS by "a, $50. I can't go
on. It's really too ridiculous.'
But. papa. dear. don t know what
We would have done without the mon
ey, said Rose. THE old dealer on
Fifth avenue wouldn't take any more
at s. apiece, you know
Very WELL" growled old Farl,es.
Marry him, il yonr mind is set upon
it. You re of age and can do as you
like. suppose. If You leave me, dare
say shall get along somehow
II shall never leave you. said Rose
Grimly, and coming over she kissed
him. "Chauncey and have planned
that we three are to live together.
Now, it CHANGED the very next day
that old Parkes was laid up with rheu-
matism. and for three long months he
was unable to hold brush in his hand.
Little Spacer came heroically to the
rescue and bought so many pictures
that he was obliged at last to close out
his once comfortable account in the
Greenwich Savings bank. Everything
in old Parkes' studio found its way to
his walls. and finally they were so COW
cred that he was obliged to stack them
up one against another.
Often he would stand with his hands
in his pockets gazing at them ruefully.
His only cheerful thought was that il
was not money thrown away. 1t was
for Roses sake that he had bought
them, and they had brought her many
n comfort that otherwise she would moi
have had. Rose and he Were to I've mar.
ried in the spring.
While old Parkes still lay grumbline
and helpless in bed the distinguished
French painter. NJ. Villemont. came owe,
for brief visit. The two had worked
side by side at Julien's in Paris, and NJ
Villemont made it his business to hun,
up his old friend The artistic contin
gent lionized the new arrival, and news
papers devoted whole columns to him
In an interview. which was prepared
by little Spacer, he was made to say:
Il am really much surprised at tn.
growth of art in America. You havs
one painter as great as any that we
have in Europe. 1 refer to Mr.. God
frey ParlScs, whose works should bt
held in rare appreciation by collectors
He is one of the few great painters o,
the century,
Whether NJ. villenont really sail
all this or not makes no difference. l.
settled the, whole business, ard dealer.
and buyers kept pouring in ct the stutli,
from morning until night. Old Parke.
threw away his oils and linimcnts ani
was back at his easel. new man. HI
had enough commissions to keep hin
busy a year.
Ono Of the leading galleries effected
arrangements with little Spacer to auc
ton off the pictures he had accumulat
ed. The auction was held in CHECKER
ing hall. and the sales reached the hand