Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-07-18

tic invention, though the former could


but 1t would never come out without
your drawing II 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 II. 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 Pompeii and Hercu
hneum 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
cd his offer. and when he returned II
to her properly boxed he gave her the
name of II dealer In Rome. with whom
he advised her to leave 1t on exhibition
And so 1t 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 20 north 1t was likely that they
might meet all the way up to Milan
And nt every parting IL was evident
that the neyt 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
ustonished ut the remarkable change
the framing had produced In 1t. II
was the same scene, but under the in
fiuence OF the surrounding gilt 1t was
simply beautiful. 1t seemed to 70
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.
"SOldT' she exclaimed.
Eyes. signorina You directed me to
sell IT. did you not? II has not yet
been removed If there is any mistake
please let me know 1t at once. In case
Of picture like that | don't wish TO
make blunder."
How much did 1t bringr asked the
artist, aghnst
"Forty.fve hundred francs"
'Forty-flyc hundred francsr
Yes, sIgnorina. Are you disap-
pointed?"
How did you get so much for tip
1.-THE artist is n rising young Ameri-
can who IL making q name"
What namer
10. Minard."
"Minardv
Yes. signorina. The signature is
genuine. isn't IL"
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. Il. Minard.
Miss Clifford stood looking at the few
daubs that spelled "Minard" for 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 nd
vantage, for she saw that no had sub.
stltuted 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
woman must have for her more than n
friendly interest
as 1t all right. signorina2" asked the
dealer
"All rlghtf 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 mr.
rival She sent 1t at once, and the same
evening be called upon her
mr. Minard. why did you impose
upon me?"
'TIow impose upon your he asked
shnmefacedly
"About the picture"
pardon me-" hanging his head.
"IIow did you manage itT'
"Well. when you went out to drive or
to walk or on excursions while at Sor
rento feed tho maid to bring me your
picture and improved II bit. Mean
while I was painting the snme scene
myself Then you mnde II very easy
for me by giving mo your picture to
pack. packed my own and kept yours
Mine has perhaps n money value above
yours, but yours has n value TO 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 tho picture she had
painted was Of far more value TO him
than the one he hnd painted himself
The exchange wns In his favor lie
begged her to permit 1t.
Nevertheless since his painting had
produced enough money to pny for her
trip, she could not reconcile her con.
science to accepting II I'LL 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 he
fore they left Rome.