Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-21

and was soon after on his way 20 Ter
mace. But. strange to say, the two men
whom he had overheard In the restiu-
rant watched him to HIS establishment.
and then saw him depart By the train.
and as soon as he had departed one OF
them dispatched telegram 10 CLAUDE
Revers. Bernace.
IL was delivered 20 that person before
old Bernstein bad gone half the distance
while the. Obj dealer sat and looked quite
happy and jiibiIant-so jubliant that when
he arrived al the little station he again
opened his heart by giving the old station
master, who was porter and everything
else combined, a few sous. as he was 80
elated at his prospects. Two minutes
sufiiced 10 take him to the door Of old
Reyers's cottage. al which he knocked
quickly, and II was at once opened by an
old man whom he AT once guessed was the
person he had come to see.
From Paris. and 20 see me? Truly
you are welcome. m'sieu. Come inside.
pray
The offer was accepted. and the Old MAJ
hobbllng forward and placing a seat fof
his visitor.
"And what, m'sieu. can be your
business with me?' inquired N
old man fixing his sharp. gray eyes Oh
his visitor.
well. my friend, to come to the point
at once, a friend OF mine who came to
see you the other day has told me OF A
picture you have, and which | see hang
ing there. Now. he is rather infatuated
with that picture. and, although / have
tried 10 persuade him TO the best Of my
ability" said the old dealer. leaning for
ward and spreading out his hands, palms
upward. 'he will not be gainsaid. The
foolish fellow thinks 1t Will bring him
good luck. Did you ever hear Of such a
frivolous idea" and he gave a shrill
cackle. but with eyes fixed eagerly on the
picture.
Then, Of course, your good-luck friend
told you the price ! fixed upon II, which
! will tell you was merely TO get rid
OF him, az / do not wish to sell it."
The old man paused for awhile to get
his breath.
Again, why, m'sieu should ! sell II. 1
am old. and, although | have not much
left me-" CHANGING around the bare-look-
ing room, my son is very good to me-
and he also cherishes the one thing that
his old mother was so fond Of, and which
he says | must never part with" Here
the old man wept. while Bernstein wiped
his eyes. In pretended sympathy. NO
m'sieu, / can work a little yet" and the
old man Strengthened himself proudly
to pay the interest on my little farm.
so why should / SELF" ana twirling his
moustache, he glared fiercely at the old
Jew
Father Abraham" replied Bernstein
licking his thin lips, and trying TO speak
as II ofy for the old mans good, "and
10 think that an old citizen should have
TO work as you do at your time of life
and for what?-to pay some rascally
money lender-while !, even /. would be
a delverer to you and give YOU mark
1900 francs, with which YOU will be able
to pay off your d sbt with a little 10
spare, while my friend-foolish fellow,
] think him-will receive your picture
What say you, my dear frlendY" and
he rubbed his hands unctuOusiy. calling
him In his own mind a pig-tailed old
fool. But come what would. he must have
It. he thought. Old Reyers shook his
head even at 1900 francs. which caused
Bernstein TO turn a sallower hue. groan-
ing at the perversity and wickedness OF
this refusal. At last. calling on all the
patriarchs to bear witness, and counting
down on the table 1900 francs, he averred
that he would not give another franc. not
one.
At the sight Of 50 much money old
Revers at last relented. and. with tears
I'm his eyes, lifted down the picture rever-
emily kissed il, and. handing II 10 the
old man, sank down In a seat by the
side OF the money, averting his eyes from
the picture he thought so much of. With
an intensely gratifed expression, the new
owner carefully enveoped his treasure in
his canvas bag with great haste.
Bon jour. NJ. Reyers,' said the old
man. as he opened the door. But old
Revers lay with his head and arms across
Hob,
fearful that the old man should repent.
and stupidity. perhaps. ask for It again.
he darted from the cottage, hugging his
purchase, and in fifteen minutes was
being whirled back 10 Paris, with the
picture.
Could bernstein have seen old Revers
two minutes after his departure he would
have had a III Of apopexy, for Reyers
had now assumed an erect attitude. had
thrown Off his old blue linen blouse. and
kicking off his sabots. stood revealed as
a man OF about 40. smiling with the
greatest Of satisfaction as he packed
into a small handbag the 1900 frlncs.
with a false wig and beard. Then with
bag in hand. he emerged from the rear
Of the cottage which had been his
abding-place for two days only, and made
a detour for the railway station, entering
the rear part Of the train as It was about
TO steam out, while the old man sat i'm
another compartment hugging his beloved
treasure.
At length he arrived safe and sound
in his sanctum, and laid his purchase be-
fore his wife. who as yet knew nothing
Of his errand.
what have you got there, Israeli
was her inquiry as she peered curiously
at the daub.
That. my love. that" he replied point
ing 10 the face Of the Madonna, lis worth
only that" and he snapped his fingers
but at the back OF that-ah-h-h-hr and
he gave a long-drawn expression Of some
thing good TO come. Yes. my love. when
lake off the back from that picture.
you shall be surprised at what / shall
show You. BE prepared. my dear Leah
be prepared"
With his pinchers he pulled out the
nails which held the wooden back tightly
in. and with an asitated manner took
out the hidden canvas. but where, oh,
where was the Murilo, this chef d'oeuvre,
the beautiful coloring of the gypsy chill
dren?
Nothing there but one word plainly
traced in black letters on a gray ground
sold"
10,