The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-12-08

marriage between them would be sui
cidol Markham lugubriously admitted
the fact. He told her that he loved
her and was only prevented from ask
ing her to be his wife by the misery
that such a union would bring upon
her.
Markham noticed that there was no
statement from Miss Trevor on THIS
matter to match his own. She did not
saw "Would that had fortune-hoW
happy we could be together| He won
dered. If she had q fortune, whether
she would throw herself away on
poverty stricken man with bohemian
instincts. He feared not. he had
given her to suppose that he was only
prevented from being spendthrift by
not having any money to speno'
Would her love for him should she De-
come wealthy triumph over common
sense?
While Markham appreciated common
sense, he set more store upon Miss
Treyor's love for him. He wished that
she might suddenly get a windfall-a
few hundred thousand dollars-tnat ne
might learn whether she loved him
well enough to permit him to make
ducks and brakes with it, This set
him to thinking how he could give her
the fortune without her knowing that
1t came from him.
One day Markham went to Miss
Trevor very much agitated. lie said
that he had discovered an original
Murillo. 1t had been taken from
part of a house that had been brlckeo
I'D for several hundred years and was
now being torn down. The surface
was covered with dirt, and II there
were a name in the corner 1t did not
appear. When Miss Trevor asked him
how he knew the picture was Mur1l-
10 he said that he relied entirely on
his knowledge of the great artists
other works, this painting bearing the
same Individual characteristics.
Markham told her that what trou-
bled him was that the work could be
bought for a song and he hadn't
enough money to buy cigar, which
In Italy may be had for fraction OF
a cent. He begged Miss Trevor to try
to raise 80 francs, the price asked by
the finder of the picture. She hap
pened to have the money, having just
been paid so francs for copying
painting, and offered to lend 1t to her
lover. But Markham would not listen
to such a proposal. If she took risk
on his opinion she should reap the BEN
eft In case he was right. She gave
him the money to invest for her, and
be brought the picture to her studio.
All depended on whether when the
accumulated dirt was removed from
the corner the magic name would ap-
pear which, like Midas touch, would
turn the picture into gold. Markham
had brought with him cleaning mate
rails and, setting the picture on an
easel. began to rub. The first letter
that appeared was an 81" then an Il"
then another 81" and an 20" Then,
working the other way, he exposed the
word "Murillo."
Miss Trevor was too much excited
to take an unbiased look at the pic
ture, and If she had done so 1t would
have availed nothing, for it was all, ex-
cept the name, covered with dust.
Markham took 1t away, promising to
let her see 1t when 1t had been cleaned,
but before the dirt had been taken of
he reported to her that the painting
had been snapped up by an American
pork packer for 100000 lire.
So 1t was that the impoverished
American copyist was suddenly en-
riched by $4,000 an amount which
invested at per cent would yield 3d.
600 a year. To one who could not al
ways afford an Italian breakfast OF
coffee and rolls this was wealth In
deed. Markham expected-at least
hoped-that the possessor would throw
her arms around his neck and say,
"Now we can be happy together" In
stead she asked:
when shall get the money!"
81 am to go to the bank tomorrow,
where the purchaser will draw on Chi
cago. The draft will be cashed by the
bank, and l will receive certificate or
deposit in your name"
Markham wondered If she would Of
fer to divide. She said no more. He
was curious to know If anything more
to his satisfaction would be said on
payment Of the money.
The next day he brought her GER
tiflcate of deposit for 100000 lire.
She looked at it, Toasted her eyes on 1t,
and a pleasant smile came over her
lips.
Don't you Think she said, that
ought to give you some of this for
finding the picture and-doing it all?"
mot cent. You risked your money
and are entitled to the profit"
IT suppose now she began and
paused.
Nov whatY
"If you feel the same
81 do"
There's no objection to-
Markham was about to embrace her
when she motioned him to desist.
"I'm afraid you'll spend the money