Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-06-12

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not exist without the latter.
Miss Clifford. as all sojourners at
Sorrento do, made many excursions,
and whenever she returned she in
variably saw her work through new
eyes. She was very much encouraged.
even delighted. But when she stop
ped to consider the matter she con-
cluded that her improvement must be
due to the criticisms passed upon her
work by Minard There may be ar
tistic ability in me-" she said to him.
'but it would never come out without
your drawing it out"
At last the painting was finished. and
Miss Clifford took her departure for
Naples. Minard advised her to offer
her picture in Rome when she arrived
there rather for the purpose OF dis
| playing than selling it, for the chief
purchasers of pictures in Italy are
! Americans, and they usually buy those
which bear the names of artists who
| have made name.
Minard Joined her in Naples, where
! instead of painting they visited the
| buried cities of Pompeli and Hercu-
laneum together and the gallery where
/ in are deposited so many art treasures
/ found under the ashes thrown over
them 1000 years before by Vesuvius.
Miss Clifford preceded her new found
| friend to Rome. and before her depar-
ture he kindly offered to pack her
painting for her. She kindly accept
ed his offer. and when he returned 1t
to her properly boxed he gave her the
name of dealer in Rome, with whom
he advised her to leave it on exhibition.
And so it was that the accidental
meeting of these two persons at Sor-
rento was renewed at Naples, and
since travellers from the south of Italy
must go north it was likely that they
might meet all the way up to Milan.
And at every parting it was evident
that the next meeting would be more
cordial.
When Miss Clifford reached Rome
she called on the dealer, and he sent to
her hotel for the picture. Soon after
this when she saw it framed she was
astonished at the remarkable change
the framing had produced in it. 1t
was the same scene, but under the in
fuence of the surrounding gilt it was
simply beautiful. 1t seemed to re-
quire the Illuminating properties to
bring out the colors.
The next time she went into the
shop the dealer informed her that her
painting was sold.
"Sold!' she exclaimed.
"Yes. signorina. You directed me to
sell 1t, did you not? 1t has not yet
been removed. If there is any mistake
please let me know it at once. In case
of a picture like that / don't wish to
make blunder"
How much did it bring?' asked the
artist, aghast
"Forty-fve hundred francs"
"Forty-fve hundred francsv'
"Yes, signorina. Are you disap-
pointed?"
How did you get so much for it?"
"The artist is a rising young Ameri-
can who is making a name"
What name?"
"E Minard"
"Minard"
Yes, signorina. The signature is
genuine, isn't it?"
Miss Clifford stood mute for a few
moments, staring at the dealer, then
told him to let her see the picture. He
fOnk hnr hic nonIyinO nd
showed it to her. putting his finger on
the name in the lower left hand cor
ner. E. Minard.
Miss Clifford stood looking at the few
daubs that spelled "Minard" for a long
while without speaking. A light was
slowly creeping in upon her BRAIN Two
emotions met and mingled There was
disappointment that she had not proved
herself an artist and pleasure that her
friend had imposed upon her to her ad
vantage, for she saw that he had sub.
stituted his own picture for hers There
was another emotion more in evidence
than either of the other two. Surely
man who would do such a thing for a
woman must have for her more than
friendly interest.
rs it all right. signorina" asked the
dealer.
"All right? oh. yes, of course, it's all
right"
81 will give you the money less the
commission"
Certainly"
Miss Clifford took the bills he handed
her and left the shop. Minard had given
her his address in Rome and had asked
her to send him her card on her ar
rival. She sent it at once. and the same
evening he called upon her.
"Mr Minard. why did you impose
upon me?"
"How impose upon you?" he asked
shamefacedly.
About the picture"
pardon me-" hanging his head.
"How did you manage it?'
well. when you went out to drive or
to walk or on excursions while at Sor-
rento feed the maid to bring me your
picture and improved it a bit. Mean.
while was painting the same scene
myself. Then you made it very easy
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