Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-24

| his ibeer?' queried Mrs. Bowser after a
long look at the old canvas, across
which innumerable flies appeared to
have left innumerable trails.
Haven't you more n than that!
hotly demanded Mr.. Bowser as he
flushed up.
Then who is it?"
1.-The figure before you is that of the
chevalier of Milan, while De Rubinl
was the painter. Can't you see his
name down there in the corner?"
"Oh, yes. Then DE Rubini was a
great painter, was, he?"
THE greatest on earth and probably
the most eccentric. When he had
painted about a dozen pictures, he
stopped work and would paint no more.
This is one of his few gems, and it
may be said to be priceless"
but what are you doing with a
priceless picture?"
Mrs. Bowser, did you never hear of
ouCh q lHIll6 do a q pClAS manu- Qp,
overtaken by misfortune, obliged to
sell his all? This happens to be a case
of it. It was either starve and freeze
or sell, and the owner of this gem de-
cided to sell. l didn't care to buy till
l had a tremendous bargain hurled at
me. I won't say exactly what | paid,
but if l should ever want to part with
it I can turn my money over ten
times"
Mr.. Bowser walked around with a
smile of complacency on his face, and
the cat grinned and nodded and said
to herself that there was fun ahead.
"Well?" queried MI. Bowser as he
stopped short.
you want to know what think"
slowly replied Ms. Bowser. We'll l
never saw such a shackelty old frame
on a picture"
"Shackelty!' gasped Mr.. Bowser.
From my point of view, the draw
ing is amateurish and stiff, the color
ing poor, and it's a portrait that the
great De Rubini must have painted by
the yard. l don't want to hurt your
feelings, but
Darn nay feetings," thundered Mr..
Bowser as he jumped UP and down,
with his eyes Blazing. Woman, do
you know what you are saying to me?"
I'm criticising the portrait"
'You criticising-you! Madam, how
dare you display such cheek?"
THE Chevalier of Milan she went
on, wears his sword on the wrong
side. and his thumbs are as long as his
fingers. The right foot as seen under
the table seems to belong to the left
leg, and that he is a cross eyed man
you can see at a glance. If you paid
over a dollar for that daub, you"
Over a dollar! Daub!" he almost
shrieked as he waved his arms around.
Woman, ascend to your room. BY the
great horn spoon, but | feel like boxing
your ears! Move! Get up stairs!"
Mrs. Bowser moved, and the cat was
so tickled that she rolled over and over
and seemed to choke. AS Mr.. Bowser
stood there he would have made a
great picture Of Indignation Let
Loose" but before he could swear over
five times the doorbell rang, and he
admitted his neighbor, who wanted to
borrow a hammer.
Been buying an old master, eh?'
queried the caller. as he looked at the
picture. Say, Bowser, you must have
wanted a picture for the hencoop."
"W'-why?'
Only a daub done by some house
painter and fixed up to look ancient.
Dear at a dollar. De Rudini probably
lives in a garnet and eats garlic. But
hang her up, old boy, and give the hens
a show. Bring your hammer back to-
morrow"
Mrs. Bowser was listening over the
baluster. When the door shut behind
the ~neighpor, she hearo that picture
come off the chair, she heard Mr..
BowSer kick the canvas out of it. she
heard him rip and cuss and kick the
old frame to pieces, While the cat sour
ried around the room to dodge The frag-
ments. Then came the silence of the
grave, and she tiptoed into the bedroom
and left the man below to struggle
with mis- feelings.