The Monte Vista journal., 1899-12-23

oo&s yAWuluB Win te0lum. l o0te1t
that sort Of pictures. shall not mar
ry until the whole world recognizes
whom am. When connoisseurs begin
to vie with one another for the pur-
chase Of my pictures; when I have
reached that point at which shall be
able to come to you with blank can
vas on which nothing has yet been
painted except my name. and l ask
you. What ID this canvas WORTH and
you say. Twenty thousand francs and
I reply. 1t shall be ready for you In
week then I will be ready to wed.
Ny own seh-respect demands that
be able to say to Miss Deborah Stops.
the silver queen, I take you"
"Nobly spoken!" said NJ. Luchs.
That's the kipd Of youth 1 like"
A few days later NJ Diomede was
awakened at 10 o'clock In the morn
ing. He was told to hurry to the art
dealer. A purchaser hal come for one
Of his pictures.
who IL he!"
AN American"
What Is he?"
"A cotton king"
Diomede hurried to get to the art
dealer. He was there within three
hours. The American was waiting for
him. n. Luchs introduced them to
each other.
M. Diomede-Mr. Vanderguld."
Mr.. Vanderguld was a tall. thin old
man. pale with that complexion which
goes with total abstinence from splr-
ituous drink.
Are your pictures for sale?"
That's why they are placed on ex-
hibition."
What is their price,"
You can see. The Sleeping Wench.'
10000 francs: the Drinking Cow H.
600 francs; the 'Sunsh ne $1,000
francs: the still Life IL 900 francs:
the Battle Picture $4,000 francs-to-
tall don't know how much. Just add
them together"
Mr.. vanderguld shook his head.
in my gallery. my dear sir, In
which Europe's most famous artists
are represented. there is no, a picture
that has stood me less than $4,000
francs"
That's easily remedied. Let each
Of the hve be $1,000 francs, then"
I'VE can place the Battle Picture
at 10000"
so that in round numbers 1t shall
all foot up $4,000 francs? Agreed"
Mr.. Vanderguld took out his check
book and gave N. Diomede the amount.
Then he stuck his visiting card into
the frame OF each OF the five pictures
as evidence Of his having purchased
them. He directed the art-dealer to ad-
Just the figures on the price-lis, tackled
on at the lower part Of each frame
and to leave the pictures on exhibition
for another week. after which he would
take them with him to the New World.
The report Of this wonderful sale
spread rapidly through the metropolis
And now the public rushed with ven-
geance to admire the pictures which
America had captured. And everybody
now discovered the hidden beauties
which nobody had been able to detect
before. And from that day N. d omede
became one OF the most celebrated
artists Of Europe. whose pictures are
shown only for an admission fee. and
are placed on pedestals beneath can
opies and Illuminated with electrical
effects.
Now he could proudly step before the
silver queen and ask for her h. nd. He
got II. too. and became u uni, ersally
envied husband.
Thenceforth the Salon did net reject
his productions. either. And NO matter
what price was placed upon them, there
vas certain to be 4 card stuck into
their frames the very nrst week Of the
exhibition: Purchased by Mr.. Van
derEuid."
II. Diomede now possessed fame, q
brush every stroke Of which was well
paid for: 4 handsome. loving. cultured,
sood-natured wife. a magnificent pal
ace and still more magnificent studio:
= coach. = hunter and = chef.
But gcniuses have 4 way O. never
being content with their lot. However,
there are others. too. who when they
are very fortunate In love fall prey
to Jealousy. N. Diomede could never
understand why Mrs. Deborah would
not allow her cook to work on Sun
day. nor the horses to be haraessed.
nor why she never went to the theater.
His wife told him curtly that she WAS
= Methodist and strict observer OF
the Sabbath.
But what worried him more was the
secrecy In which his wife shrouded one
Of the rooms. Its door was always
locked. and Dlomedc was never p permit
ted TO enter. His wife w..ndrew rexu-
lariy every Sunday to this room and
spent much time there. Eavcsdropping
servants ascertained that she would
speak with q man In there. When ".
Diomede took her to account for Il she
replied that she was engaged In pious
exercises In the locked room according
to the preccp,s OF her religion. and the
man whose voice was heard through
the double door was N Methodist
preacher.
II should like to take look at that
prcAcher3"
you would regret Il exceedingly"
Has the preacher such \ terrible
iook!"
"Hc has,"
And are you not afraid Of him?"
He does not seem terrible to me-"
III you contipue this mystery I
shall Institute proceedings for d.
vorce."