Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-03-30

with natural curiosity watched the pas
sengers alight from the evening train
from the city. Then he made a positive
jump forward. A man, brOnZed, travel.
worn, with threadbare attire, thin, but
brisk, and carrying a battered satchel
plastered with foreign labels had
stepped from the train.
Doctor Bliss p shouted Julian. "Oh,
this will brighten the heart of a poor,
patient girl"
"Morse! but it seems grand to see
you !" cried the returned traveller cheer
lily. eyes, it's me, and I've been
through something, my boy, believe
me! Morse, Viola, my sister? ALI
well?"
Glorious now you're home" en-.
Unused Julian. Come, hurry. Oh, but
Viola will be glad"
Poor Viola Joyous Viola! she chung
to her beloved parent, crying, laughing,
fairly historical when Julian, happy as
a schoolboy, ushered him into the home
that had so missed him. 1t was amid
their glad, mutual greeting that sum-
mons came at the doorbell. Aunt Lucy
ushered old Bayne into the room.
The money lender had not antici-
pated the return of the master of the
house. He was staggered, sought to re-
tire, but the doctor, unaware of his
treachery and meanness, treated him
like some bosom friend.
"Ha ha come after your money
getting anxious about it, l suppose"
cried Doctor Bliss uproariously. You'll
be paid and well paid, neighbor, for
your patience. l don't look very pros
porous, Ell? Well, I've not been for
many month. In prison in Belgium,
in prison In Prussia, knocked from pill
lar to post, blown up twice, nearly
hanged for spy. At last I'm here and
I've come to pay up everything. You
know that letter I sent you with the
pictures, Viola"
ave received no letter, father" re-
piled Viola.
But the picturesT
"Oh, yes, they came oil right and
mystitied us not little"
"Where are they?"
''In the attic"
"Have them down. / want to show
my old friend here what rare, royal
bargain made abroad. You see there
were six Of those gems. A rich old
stakeholder under government sus-
picion offered me the lot, worth $780,
600, for $4,000 to get cash to flee the
country. l shipped them as common
freight"
"Why, father, they are worthless
daubs," ventured Viola, but her father
at this rOared with gleeful jollity.
Viola and Julian went to the attic and
brought the set of oil paintings down
into the sitting room.
Doctor Bliss lifted the wretched
daubs from the box with great gusto.
He rested them against various chairs.
There you are" he announced diff
fusively-"a clear value of 100000
and a profit of eighty-five thousand.
Well pay you off royalty, Bayne, and
have a fortune left to be happy on"
"Those-those smeared up things !"
maundered Bayne,
"Aha daubs? Yes, but, you see, the
real gems are disguised"
"Disguised| repeated Viola vaguely.
"Overcoated."
"Overcoated?" muttered the mysti-
fed Bayne.
THUS !" cried Doctor Bliss, and he
opened and waved a penknife. Then
he proceeded to cut from it's frame a
canvas, threw it aside and revealed
the real painting underneath.
"Corot-Messonier, Jules Arvin !" ex-
ulted the doctor. Look at the beauties
safe, mine and standard as diamonds.
Make out your bill, Bayne. And you
patient two" to Viola and Julian, get
ready for a wedding"
Bayne sneaked away, baff1ed. AS for
the happy lovers, surrounded by love
and art, which endure perpetually, they
felt that life's full award was theirs.