The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-10
PART ".

fAhl v.
Armed with the glittering fib on
his cap. together with trusty Johannes
hfezler's recommendation, Florio en-
caped the rooms without difficulty. I'm
der the pledge of secrecy he confided
prince Chardo's name, even the long
h.atin one, to the gardener, and urged
tho necessity of leaving the high-born
leentleman entirely TO his own devices,
for. although of winning and amiable
character, he was singularly eccentric,
land, particularly To preserve his in
lcognito. would hesitate at nothing.
The gardener sagely replied that SOW
kreigns and such had mostly nowadaysa
screw loose in the upper story. All he and
his old woman cared about was steady
Ipay and quiet tenant on the premises,
Eor a carousing painter, such as they'd
hast Ind. they could not abide.
Florio found Richard doubled up in
IA state of concentrated gloom.
"Here, little onel Now show the stuff
you're made OF"
Chardo sprang up g1orified.
"I don't ask you where you got Il.
II don't much care if you stole it. Look.
lust look at them," thrusting under
his friends nose some maniacal black
streaks which to the artist meant two
Ibare-legged urchins bathed in spring
Sunshine and fishing in a brook. "Arent
they beauties!" He smiled ecstaticsl-
hy. "I'm fairly aching To get at them.
III you could have seen the light this
morning. They are coming tomorrow
lTll be there waiting on the opposite
hank. And you've got me all these
things? oh, Florio, was just ready 20
curse God and die. i cannot live unless
II paint"
! sLive and Paint, Chario! Paint some
|slxetchy little things and 1 swear I'll
sell them for you, every one. Then you
lean paint the great one. Now you and
II are going to have a good hot Christian
supper and some beer. Hear the chink-
Ichink! earned it,"
"But how"'
sits all right, tell you. Just give
lme your head for little while. Some
Iday I'll tell you some things that
will make your toes curl. You stick to
lyour last. But how long do you want
Ito paint the beggars? OF course you
Ican't tell bow long they'll come Will
Ia week do? Well, well stay here a
lweek. Then we will honorably pay our
bill and move on TO better things. Step.
lping Heavenwards, you know. Don't
look incredulous. You pain me, my
Ison. 1t is almost as if you were aspers-
ling my commercial integrity"
Willy WinlkeI was a screaming sue
|cess." The public said the best thing
about him was that he never was at a
loss for a new gag. In his speckled'
igreen mumnery he warbled and
lcroaked and topped several months
with unabated vigor, before he felt that
lhe had amassed sufficient ill-gotte1,
igains to permit him to retire from
Those gilded halls and tread the humble
land less remunerative path of litera'
,ture. But beyond question the Bull
frog gallantly filled the breach. i
Ienabled Florio to meet decently and
Iorder the manifold indebtedness he had
assumed with such temerity. to nour.
ish Prince Chardo with blood-produc-
ing viands, to cloth him in suitable raj
ment, to lavish upon angel-granny
kerchiefs, sugar looves, snuff and caps
against the time when he could more
substantially respond to her gracious
hospitality. One day, indeed, moved
doubtless by pangs of conscience, he
hunted up his surly vintner and pre-
scnted him with portly pipe and some
tobacco, yet could not resist the temp
tation TO wear, even upon this quasi
penitential pilgrimage, the coronet OF
princely service. 1t seemed to com
plete the episode, he assured himself.
One must always dot ones fs--in short,
the Frog puid their biiffs, grutified all
their simple tastes, and fairly started
them on the road TO prosperity, but,
ah, how Florio loathed him.
Chardo looked anxiously at his friend
when regularly about yawning time he
began 10 humble that he'd got to meet
Q man, absent himself about an hour OF