The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-29

dc invention, though the former could
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 1t 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 a name.
Minard Joined her in Naples, where
instead of painting they visited the
buried cities of Pompeii 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 bis offer, and when be returned 1t |
to her properly boxed he gave her the :
name Of dealer In Rome, with whom
he advised her to leave 1t on exhibition.
And so it was that the accidental
meeting Of these two persons at Scr
rento was renewed at Naples, and
since travellers from the south Of Italy
must go north 1t 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. It'll
was the same scene, but under the in
fuence Of the surrounding gill 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 hei
painting was sold
"Soldr' she exclaimed.
Eyes, signorina You directed me. to
sell 1t, did you not? It has not yet
been removed If there is any mistake
please let me know it at once. In case
of picture like that don't wish to
make a blunder."
How much did 1t bringY' asked the
artist, aghast
"Forty-fve hundred francs"
Forty five hundred francsr'
Eyes, signorina. Are you disap
pointed7'
How did you get so much for it?"
''The artist is a rising young Ameri
can who is making name"
What nameT
"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
took her to his packing room and
showed 1t to her. putting his finger on
the name in the lower left hand cor
ner. q. Mlnard
Miss Clifford stood looking at the few
daubs that spelled ''Ninard" for long
while without speaking 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 thing for q
woman must have for her more than
friendly interest
us it all right, signorina2' asked the
dealer.
"All right2 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 meT'
"How impose upon your he asked
shamefacedly
about the picture"
pardon me-" hanging his head
'How did you manage it2"
well, when you went out to drive OF
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 1t very easy
for me by giving me your picture to
pack. Ipacked my own and kept yours
Mine has perhaps a money value above
yours, OUT yours mas Value 10 me
beyond price"
She had sent FOR him to hand him the
money she had received from the deal
er, but these last few words had
meaning that changed the situation
He declared that the picture she had
painted was of far more value to him
than the one he had painted himself
The exchange was in his favor. He
begged her to permit it.
Nevertheless. since bis painting had
produced enough money to pay for her
trip, she could not reconcile her con
science to accepting II till the matter
was compromised by her throwing her.
self in with her own imperfect work
This was considered as an equivalent
bonus, and the couple were married be-
fore they left Rome