The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-12-16

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say It Is the work OF Z young art stud
! emit we know, Mr.. Butler, and that
he gave US 1t. -
"And that would account for ou1
hanging it IN alprominent place, too,''
agreed Mr.. Murray; Who could not UNI
derstand his own extraordinary liking
for g 50-cents picture BY an unknown.
Whereupon without more adieu they
put it up. -.
During the course OF the next few
days Mr.. Theodore E. Butler became
known to their circle of friends. In
deed he was introduced that very
evening to Mr.. and Mrs. Ingalls,, and
proceeded to take up his skeleton-in-
he-closet career. -'>,
Every good thing was Mr.. Ingalls,
verdict, after studying the shady
nymphs. Who Is It by?s Butler, you
say? Oh, he is a Californian, isn't
hep"
! MIR. Murray looked startled.
| II belieye'-he: began, hesitating-
ly, for, being by nature and habit q
truthful man, he was at his wits end
for nimble reasons. But Mrs. Murray
came to his rescue In true wifely
fashion. 49,.
mo-" she said, che is not Cali
fornian, but he has spent some time
on the coast. Indeed, he, is out there
now; he sent this on to us from Los
| Angeles" )
1T wasn't as carefully packed as it
might have been, commented Mr.. In
gals, putting finger on a dent. In
one corner of the frame. *:
"Pity about that replied Mr.. Muir
ray, who had recovered his self-pos-
session, "but I think we can touch it
up bit.''
Their next friend and critic ex-
claimed joyfully,
'Theo Butler? I didn't know YOU,
knew him! But you know so many
clever people, and never let on about
it. I met him myself in Paris last
spring: 1mpressionist? Oh, yes; his
things always are; but he gets more
beauty into his tones than most of til at
school,
BY this time Mr.. and Mrs. Murray
began to feel vitality interested in the
personality Of Theodore E. Butler.
One Sunday not long after couple of
artists dropped in to dinner, for though
he was popular with many Of the
! younger set.
by Jove!" said one of them as he
prowled around the library, that
! impressionist bit is something new,
isn't it? Looks like Buffers work.
Oh-it is? How jolly to find it here.
l always like his stuff. Why, Butler
and were old chums out in Frisco;
roomed next each other for awhile;
but I've lost track of him, late years.
He's been pounding out his existence
| in Paris and l mine in New York."
REALTY" exclaimed Mrs. Murray,
enchanted. Her fibs had been repeated
SO many times now that they slipped
quite smoothly off her tongue, and in
all seriousness her interest in Theo-
dore E. Butler was genuine. Her hus-
bands was as great, but was accom-
panied by feeling Of intense irrita-
ton.
'Who in the thunder is he anyway"
he demanded, darkly, when they were
| alone. Mrs. Murray laughed hysteri-
cally.
MAY a merciful Providence protect
lis from ever knowing him better, -
she said.
''Merciful Providence doesn't hurt
itself protecting people who lie like
troopers!" he roared.
"Shall we take it down." she asked.
'"Then everybody would want to
know what had become of it. No; we
have got to face the music-Quite one
Of us, isn't he!"
This was the state Of affairs at
Christmas time when Katherine came
home for holidays.
"A new treasure, Daddy?" she
asked, nodding her head toward the
uymphs.
"Ah, my dear, yes; it's a picture -
he informed her, firm in the resolve
that he would not lie again.
II could have guessed as much"
she laughed; :'but where did you get
It, and who is it by, and what is it
supposed to be, anyway"
1T was given to your father by a
friend of his, young art student
began Mrs. Murray.
"Henrietta!" cried her husband
sternly, "let us stop this nonsense.
To Katherine, at least, let us be truth
full. That picture is, as your mother
says, signed by man, an art student,
presumably Observation-Disclosures
e. Butler. But"
Theodore E. Butler!" calculated
Katherine, turning a vivid crimson
and casting down her eyes.
II fail to understand the meaning
of this" said Mr.. Murray, majestic
ally, glad of moments reprieve.
''The meaning of what?'' murmured
Katherine. again turning toward the
picture. Her mother walked across
the room, took her by both shoulders