Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-01-26

dered, II she had a fortune, whether
she would throw herself away on
poverty stricken man with bohemian
instincts. He feared not He had
given her toSuppose that he was only
prevented from being spendthrtft by
not having any money to spend.
Would her love for him should she be-
come wealthy triumph over common
sense2
While Markham appreciated common
sense. he set more store upon Afiss
Trevors love for him. He wished that
she might suddenly get windfall-ai
few hundred thousand dollars-that he
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. He said
that he had discovered an original
Murillo. 1t had been taken from
part Of house that had been bricked
UP 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 It did not
appear. When Miss Trevor asked him
how he knew the picture was Muril-
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-
bied him was that the work could be
bought for a song and he hadn't
enough money to buy a cigar which
In Italy may DO 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 90 francs for copying
painting, and offered to lend It to her
lover But Markham would not listen
to such a proposal. II 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 II Midas touch, would
turn the picture into gold. Markham
had brought with him cleaning mate
rials and, setting the picture on an
easel, began 10 rub. The first letter
that appeared was an a." then an a."
then another "a" and an 10" Then,
working the other way, he exposed the
word "Murlllo."
Miss Trevor was too much excited
to take an unbiased look at the pic
ture, and II she had done 80 It would
have awaited nothing, for It was all, ex-
cept the name, covered with dust.
Markham took It 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 8 per cent would yield ST.
900 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 win receive u certificate Of
deposit In your name"
Markham wondered II she would Of
fer to divide. She said no more. He
was curious to know II anything moro
to his satisfaction would be said on
payment Of the money.
The next day he brought her a GER
tincate Of deposit for 100000 lire.
She looked at It. Toasted her eyes on II,
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 nd-doing 1t alp
"Not cent You risked your money
and are entitled TO the profit"
II suppose now"- she began and
paused.
Now what"
"If you feel the same
81 do"
There's no objection to-
Markham was about to embrace her
when she mOtloned him 10 desist.
"Pm afraid you'll spend the money
and wen be IA poverty again You
must expect to leave II In my keeping"
II promise"
your promise isn't enough. You
must sign a paper walving all a hus-
bands rights to his wife's money"
This was backset 10 Markham's
happiness, but he consented She pro.
duced n contract which she had had
prepared by her attorney. He signed
Il, and they were married.
Markham had hired the picture paint.
ed for 30 francs, had put the artists
name on II himself and smeared It with
dirt. lie was the wealthy packer who
had bought It.
When Mrs Markham discovered that
she had married a multlmillionaire she
felt bit troubled about having re.
quired her funce TO resign all rights to
her fortune, but not for long.
81 don't think you trented me fair.
ly, dear" she said TO him
an what respectT
why, n I had known how rich you
are would have required u ssstle.
ment"