The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-13

menus S'eh iiiOtc TeCkleSSly tnuH DclOTc.
His bare white walls filled up with
canvases for which he honestly did not
give snap of his fingers. Old Parkes
Yet them all go at Summer prices" in
one case sacrificing his View of tho
Ramapo Valley" for which he had
asked $500 at the academy, for beg
carly $50.
He was really growing to look upon
little Spacer with more favor. Ho COM
mended his Judgment and said that he
was evidently man of taste. Twice
he had permitted Rose to accompany
him to the Casino ROOT garden, and they
sat often in tho park.
On an excessively warm night little
Spaccr had met Rose, and they had
Como to the park for breath of air.
Tho green benches were crowded with
lovers whom the heat had driven from
the suffocating neighborhood south of
washington square, and many, with u
happy disregard of both propriety and
tho extreme sultriness of temperature,
sat with their arms around each others
waist
Near the fountain they stopped to rest
for Il few minutes to listen to the plash-
ing of the water in the basin, since it
sounded so deliciously cool, and there,
III a few hurried badly put together
words, While were quito unlike those
he had been intending to say for tho
last few months, little Spacer asked
Rose to be his wife. And, without
thinking of her father, SO happy was
she, Rose said that she would, after
which they sat down on one of tho
benches where tho shadows were black
est and initiated their neighbors' exam
pie.
With her pretty cheeks flushed and
her black eyes sparkling, Rose put her
arms around her fathers neck that night
and gave him careful revision of all
that little Spaccr had told her. Old
Parkes said nothing, but got up and
made circuit of the room several times
IA way he had of doing when he got ex-
cited. Then he sat down at the table
and buried his face in his arms.
He's robbed mo Of my pictures, and
now he's going to rob mo of nv daugh-
teri" he said bitterly.
"Oh, papa, don't talk like thatv'
cried Rose, quite distressed. "Of course
Chaunccy couldn't afford to give YOU
what the pictures wero really worth,
II should say not" broke i'll old
Parkes modify. Tho Ramapo Val
ley, ~ by CT, $50; The Highlands at
Navcsink, 1S by "a, $50 l can't go
on. It's really too ridiculous -
But, papa, dear, don t know what
we would have done without tho mon
ey, said Rose. Tho old dealer OH
Fifth avenue wouldn't tako any moro
at So apiece, you know"
VERY WE'LL" growlcd old Parkes.
" Marry him, if your mind is set upon
1T. You re of age and can do as you
like, L suppose. If you leave me, dare
say shall get along somehow
shall never leave you, :" said Rose
grimly, and coming over sho kissed
him. "Chauncey and have planned
that we three are to live together"
Now, it Glanced tho 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 Spaccr came heroically to the
rescue and bought SO many pictures
that he was Obliged at last to close out
his once comfortable account in tho
Greenwich Savings bank. Everything
III old Parkes' studio found its way to
his walls. and finally they were so COW
cred that he was obliged ( stack them
up one against another.
Often he would stand with his hands
i'll his pockets gazing ut them ruefully.
His only cheerful thought was that it
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 not
have had. Rose and he were to be mar
ried i'll the spring.
While old Parkes still lay grumbling
and helpless in bed the distinguished
French painter, MNillcmont, came over
for brief visit. The two had worked
side by side at Julien's in Paris, and NJ,
Villemont made it his business to hunt
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 mt the
growth of art in America You have
one painter as great az any that we
have in Europe. l refer to Mr.. God
frey Parkes, whose works should be
held i'll rare appreciation by collectors.
lie is one OF the few great painters of
the century
Whether NJ. Villemont really said
all this or not makes no difference. 1t
settled the whole business, and dealers
and buyers kept pouring in at the studio
from morning until night Old Parkes
threw away his oils and liniments and
was back at his easel, new man He