The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-01-14

amused increduli.Y.

Ing his head as a puzzled man some
times will. DO you really believe that
I'd sell pictures, especially my own
pictures, as Il business proposition? OF
course if a fellow could corner pictures
or even control tie trade in certain
section of the city there might be mon
ey in it. But 10 manufacture them for
sale. How can people have such ideas?
And yet l suppose l had 'em once"
Mr.. Ladd has not sold any of his
pictures recently" said Miss Graydon
He would not sell anything that was
not worthy of him"
Not in pictures said I.add. 'hut |
sold some stock today" and he laughed
with a soft and gentle cadence. by
the way, Morton. if you've got couple
of thousand dollars that aren't work
ing l can tell you how to make it five.
Go short on some of that stuff that
sold today
At this point he caught Miss Gray
dOn's sad. reproving glance
Il beg your pardon, Lucy he said
II won't do il again. surely not after
tomorrow. I'm Soing to lead new
life. Morton. beginning with the new
year. us I've already told YOU"
Since Mr.. Ladd began to make mon
ey," said Lucy. his work has detpri-
GRATED, but he will soon be himself
again.
Il promise you that | will" he said
earnestly us il" took her hand. And
now come" he continued. addressing
me, and viii! his free hand he drew
away the curtain from before the arch
ed doorway.
We passed into 4 small. purposcless
apartment that nIight have been n
smoking room. except that everything
was Il smoking room in the quarter
Upon an end wall was hung small
can"as, for which the lighting of the
room was cleverly adapted.
l have 40 technical knowledge of
paintings and shall not attempt any de-
scription of this picture beyond the
mere statement that it Was Il window
into Switzerland. One saw little
shoulder OF a mountain with a back
ground Of perfectly clear sky The at
mospheric depth was beyond belief
There were no towering peaks labeled
"Alps," The thing was Alpine simply
because it WIS, but | cant tell why
"Ladd," said |. did you do that"'
He nodded
'And now Tm-I'm what you saw
out in the other room," he said, with
Il sob in his throat
'You'vc done it Once.'' said |, land
you'll do it again.
"That's what live for said he
that and
He didn't finish the sentence. but he
put his hand gently on Miss Graydon's S
shoulder. Then he looked up at the
picture.
ut was found under the tree" he
continued. They brought it to me as
soon as my eyes could bear looking at
it. and then for days | used to lie and
dream of the time when | could begin
to paint again. And when | began
knew that it Was all over. was an
other man
'If you should give UP. this luxury
and go and live in poverty began.
He laughed bitterly.
"than drunkard can quit drinking
But suppose | should give myself up 10
it, suppose | should lay aside painting
for awhile and make u barre! Of money
enough mOney-thrn do you think |
could be myself again?'
Don't you try it," said Miss Gray
DON
1n.,,, inc
ever" protested Iadd: more. indeed. |
am sure. r
"If you did rejoined Miss Graydon.
you'd paint. You wouldn't 90 run
ming down to the boursc."
Ladd rubbed his smooth. firm chin
and eyed me.
"What do you think of that:" he
queried
'Im afraid there's something in it."
l replied. ''.As the hart pantcth after
the water brooks-becausc it's Il water
drinking ANIMAL
"Why is it: Why is it," he cried.
"Why, with the capacity in me for
such work rs that must | run money
hunting? Heaven knows. And yet
desire to go out and skin somebody
alive
He caught IL S horrificd glance.
'Of course | : an it in Il financial
sense" said he. The way to get mon
ey is to take it away from somebody
who has It or to levy q general contri-
button, which is the same thing slightly
l,,tn .,IJ !,
the clock strikes II tonight But. | say,
Lucy, wouldn't it be possible for Mr..
Morton. if he has nothing better to do,
to act under my advice in certain mat
ters; We could make Il little partner
ship on Il liberal arrangement" he add
ed, turning to me. I'll furnish capital,
plan. every ythins-but the time. And l
can give all my energies to painting
while you run the little game on the
outside
l laughed.
"Laddic," said Miss Graydon, taking
him by what she would probably have
called the reyers of his evening coat
sometimes you discourage me. What
is the matter with you here"
And she tapped him gently over thc
region of his heart. He shook his head
dolefully.
Where your treasure is, there Will
your heart be also | quoted.
Il would not tamper with holy writ"
said Iadd seriously, yet l sometimes
think the message in those words
would be clearer to men If they read,
Where your heart is, there will your
treasure be- 1t is the impulse Of the
heart that makes the value Of the
treasure And l love that" he added,
pointing upward to the picture. Il love
it and aspire to il. Yet l am what
am
There's some one knocking at the
outer door," said l.
Ladd recovered suddenly from the
reverie into which he had fallen.
You stay here" said he. Its one
NJ my detectives I'll send him away"