Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-04-01
GLOW do you know 1t is a genuine

able individuality about II as In this"
"What Is the subject"
1T is also Florentine scene, called
TIP the Arno' II takes in the river
with the hills beyond. II, too, is a
great picture"
My knees began TO knock together
My jaws chartered but not sufficiently
to prevent my asking, "What do you
ask for this picturc:'
Twenty thousand francs"
Great heavens. had never re-
ceived the half of that for a picture.
| looked at the man so astonished that
he hastened to say:
"My profit will be but 500 francs.
paid 1880 francs for IT,"
Taking the number Of the shop
whore he said the other picture was
TO be seen. | staggered out Of the store
and was soon before the picture | had
also created In dreams. II, too. far
exceeded any work had ever done.
The dealer told me he had paid $1,000
francs for IT,
Fortunately | occupied rooms with
nm American friend in the Quarter
Latin and rushed home TO tell him
that had discovered something which
II not explained would drive me crazy.
He listened 10 my story. but | could
see by his expression that he too,
feared something had occurred to dis
turb my mental balance. He would
express no opinion til he had seen
the paintings, and as | could not re-
main quiet ! insisted on his going with
me at once for the purpose. He did
so. and. being familiar with my work,
he pronounced the pictures mine,
though they were far beyond any of
my work he had ever seen.
On our way back TO our rooms
neither he nor | said anything about
the strange occurrence, but when we
reached them he sat down before me,
lit pipe and said:
while you were i'll IN Florence and
out of your head you undoubtedly
painted those pictures. not knowing
you retained no remembrance Of
them"
"But wasn't out of my head when
was wrapped in the views given in
the pictures. Besides, how could
have done the work without the
Miceles knowing It? And. knowing it.
they would have called my attention
to II"
My friend pondered awhile, blowing
nj the same time clouds of smoke, and
finally said:
"Whatcver you have been physically.
I'm sure you are all right now. But
II you wish an explanation go back
to Florence. see the people you board
ed with and get II from them"
Acting on his advice started that
evening. ON the way had time TO
think over the matter of my investiga-
ton and decided to approach the
Mlccles without being known to them.
On arrival | asked about them and
learned that they had been left
legacy of some fifty thousand francs.
This ut once assured me that they had
received the amount paid for my pic
lures. One morning ! rang their bell.
Bianca answered the summons and.
seeing me Mt the door. turned pale
Going in, asked her to call her
mother and told both of my experience
In Paris. At first they assumed to he
ns much surprised as but, seeing that
! was not TO lie deceived, Sonora Mi
rele finally began n confession which
the scnorina finished.
1--WE did not suppose that you would
ever happen to see your pictures" said
the former.
well. tell me where they came
from" asked her. She looked nj her
daughter
Il can only tell YOU" said Binncn,
that painted them while YOU We're
sitting out in your chair on the bal
cony-how know not All do know
Is that It seemed to me that II was
your brain working with my hand.
questioned her and cross questioned
her. eliciting nothing further except
that she had discovered some time be-
fore meeting me that she possessed
some strange power Of the order com
monty called clairvoyant. My own in
depreciation Of the incident was that.
not being able to do good work herself,
she had exercised this power over me
to utilize my ability Since she had
painted the pictures herself the only
fraud involved was her placing my
name on them. She did this not re-
alizing the pecuniary value of the pic
lures themselves and supposed she
could not sell them without name
10 them. She and her mother We're
tempted chiefly because they were
financially in desperate straits. They
had sold the paintings through n
friend who appreciated their worth
and paid them all they brought ex-
cent Il bare commission. told them
that they were welcome 10 all they
had received for the paintings. The
sole interest | took in the matter was
II curiosity To know how the work had
been executed