The Lamar register., 1902-05-07
Except the rent; you know paid

"Why, Tm,n SO hard up, Hector"
protested the painter. "I'm discovered.
arriving, my ship Is coming in"
HAS it left France?" with q subtle
sigh.
"If can only keep well." resumed
Thatcher, coughing stertorously. 'if
/ can only keep well and finish these
He waved his bony hand at a row of
sketches and half-fnished pictures
strewn about. Then with feverish
haste he attacked the work before
him. and when darkness fell the light
in his eyes was shining and the
patches of red on his cheeks were red
der and hotter. Hector made tea, but
the painter could not eat and would
not stop his work even when the gas
coat for an evening out.
81 must work while my vogue lasts" |"
he explained. besides, she will need
the money. She has debts and dare
say she wants to help her mother. Hec-
tor, you remember her mother-the
old, white-haired woman we met in
Lombardy? ! wonder IL Leontine will
bring her old mother"
And while Hector was gone Thatcher
sketched and painted and worked till
his hand shook and his head achsd.
Then he stood before 1.-THE Chrysan-
themum" and hoped. It was like that
months. Thatcher's vogue waxed rs
his strength waned. and then there
came n day when his brush fell upon
the rug and his large head hung limp
upon his fiat breast. Hector put him
to bed and called doctor. For few
days he told drsam-tales with his eyes
open and filmed, recognizing nobody.
but incoming always of Leontine 1.-THE
Chrysanthemum." When he awoke
from the long trance he asked for his
letters. Hector handed him the lit
tie pile, watching as he strove to sep
arate the little mauvs-colored square
ones with the Paris dste-line from the
rest. He tore one open at last and
tried to read. but he could not hold
the paper steady.
"Read 1t to me, Hector he whis-
pered, "read It loud; there's buzz
in my ears"
Hector read the letters from
France one after the other In order
of their dates. They were jolly. flip
pant. cajoling letters. She acknowl-
edged the receipt of money. but In
the postscript. Every day I discover
q new old debit" she exclaimed, airily,
"but am nearly free Of them" The
rest of her messages were the old.
old assurances; trite they seemed to
Hector and too effusive. but he read
them tenderly and was glad for the
satisfied eagerness that showed upon
Thatcher's face. Then, at his friends
request, he answered each letter In
turn, signing them: "Your boy
Thatcher, per Hector Graham"
The painter elung hesitatingly to
consciousness for two days and then
relapsed. Brownlow called one day
and spent an hour looking st '.The
Chrysanthemum."
He had brought fruit and flowers
for the sick man. but looked grieved
when Hector told him that Thatcher
would not sell the picture. It was
all alone now on the dingy wall.
"I'll tell you, Graham" explained
the rich amateur, speaking softly a.
he twiddled his hat near the door.
"1'm obliged 70 you for explaining
why poor Thatcher won't sell the
picture now. don't blame him. But
I'll tell you what 1 want 70 do. I
don't suppose either Of you has much
money"
"Oh, we'll noA starvs.. began Bee
tor, flushing.
"I don't mean that" Brownow
hastened 70 explain, but this sisk
business Is expensive. You're all
right, of course. but Thatcher ought
to have a nurse and. Here, Gra-
ham. I'm going 70 have that pio-
ture, that's all. and I'm going to pay
$4,000 for II. Hold on now. Here's
$1,000 on account. I'll pay the rest
when she comes. You needn't tell
him about II. Just take The money
and use II on him.
"But If she don't comet II he
won't sell at lastf" Hector was puz-
zled.
"If she don't come, he'll de, Gra-
ham,"
Brownlow, counted out . roll Of
bills and laid them down. Then he
went sloftly away, leaving Hector
alone with his friend. The sculptor
sat down and wrote q strangely earn
est letter to her. He explained that
the money inclossd was to pay her
passage to New York. "Your boy
will die II you do not come" he
wrote, and signed his own name. The
opd ~aa at hand xvhau the auawor
came. 1t was to Hector, and he read
1t In the hallway so that Thatcher
would not know. Hrivolously senti-
mental. heartlessly romantic, IL con-
tanned the answer 70 all Hector's
misgivings. "I had not the heart to
tell him." It said. "I love him dearly,
but cannot come. For my mothers
sake, l must retrieve our fortunes by