St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-12-31

Is 9 ;; = e; e: e.
Observation-Disclosures
HE Murrays were a comfortable
l middle-aged couple with one
daughter. Katherine, who, as an only
daughter should be, was the pride Of
their lives. And in spite of this
though 1t is hard to say how she man
aged it, she really was a very attrac-
tive and sensible girl Katherine was
away at school when certain events
transpired that led to portentous re-
suits.
It all came about after this manner:
One day a short time before Christ
mas, Mrs. Murray went into an auc-
ton room not far from Sixth avenue
while an auction was in progress, and
though she only remained half an hour.
she came away the possessor of q
good-sized oil painting. Mrs. Murray
had never been noted for her judg-
ment in matters artistic, whereas Mr..
Murray laid some such claim to this
distinction; therefore it was with a
little trepidation of spirit that she an
nounced her purchase.
May ask the subject?" was his
suave inquiry.
It's nymphs-three, think-im-
pressionistic treatment. The picture
really isn't worth anything at all, but
l bid on it because of the frame. It
lis beautiful frame of California
redwood, quite wide and well made; it
would have been pity not to have ta-
ken it at so cents
''Is that what you paid for it, pic
ture and all?"
Eyes, and you couldn't get such q
frame under two dollars and fifty
cents
what do you intend to put in it,"
ooh, I'll leave that to you; you
know SO much more about such things
than I do, and I'm quite sure you will
like the frame. Anyway, If you don't
fifty cents isn't any great matter"
Mr.. Murray laughed. He had heard
this form of reasoning before.
Sounds attractive" he unused, 'im-
pressionist nymphs; always was fond
Of impressionist nymphs."
81 tell you the picture isn't any
thing-it's the flame" reiterated Mrs.
Murray with conviction. Nevertheless,
<n6 10 Wi
considerable interest.
"Ah," said Mr. Murray, viewing their
new possession from safe distance,
"that's not SO bad my dear; upon my
word, it isn't. The green's are really
well handled and the figures are not
out of the way. In fact quite like the
flesh tones, and the drawing is all
right, too"
"No. it isn't so bad as you say"
admitted Mrs. Murray; g but isn't the
frame lovely!"
"Yes it is a high class frame all
right enough; but quite like the pic
ture."
"Well, you know, rather did, too,
though l hardly liked to say SO be-
cause if it was really any good they
wouldn't have let me have it for fifty
cents, would they?"
zone would hardly think so. OF
course it is only rough study, never
was intended for anything else, and
was probably done out on the coast
where redwood is cheap, for nobody
would be likely to buy such a frame for
II here. Signed too" and Mr.. Murray
carefully examined the lcft-hand cor
ner. .eTheo. E. Butler-never heard OF
him. but what's the odds; 1t is really
very clever.
Mrs. Murray looked exceedingly
gratified.
.And I think we shall put it up just
~ It Isl went on her husband, at
arst the color of the frame strikes
ona a. being too great a contrast to
the cool tone Of the picture, but the
longer I look at it the better like
"a man bid over me-" confided Mrs.
MURRAY. che said sixty cents, ana tne
suctioneer said, sixty, sixty, sixty, dio
: hear sixty.' Surely I heard sixty
hid but you know, the man didn't say
= again. He probably thought better
~ Il and made up his mind he didn I
want it at any price; SO It was
knocked down to me.
.Well. we must never tell anyone
that we paid for it, or, indeed where
80 cot IT," cautioned Mr.. Murray.
.soh II anyone asks us we can Jus.
~ y Il the work of young art stud
at we know, Mr.. Butler, and that
he gave us It
- and that would account for our
n.neIng it in prominent place, too.
. .sreed Mr.. Murray, who could not IN
ss-stand his own extraordinary liking
3. : 5o-cent picture by an unknown.
N without more adieu they
nut It. up. ~. a~t faw
..ys Nj. Theodore E. Butler became
, 80 10 their circle OF friends. IN
1919 800 he was introduced that very
-, to Mr.. and Mrs. ingalls,, and
5000 o.sceeded to take up his skeleton-in-
the-closet career.
a.