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Harte, Bret, 1836-1902

"The Story of a Mine"

But the minx knew that the Senator prided himself on having
the only "pot-hooks" of the great "A," or the first artistic efforts of
"B,"--I leave the real names to be filled in by the connoisseur,--and
the Senator became interested. For the last year, two or three of these
abominations had been hanging in his study, utterly ignored by the
casual visitor. But here was appreciation! "She was," she added, "only a
poor young artist, unable to purchase such treasures, but equally unable
to resist the opportunity afforded her, even at the risk of seeming
bold, or of obtruding upon a great man's privacy," &c. &c.
This flattery, which, if offered in the usual legal tender of the
country, would have been looked upon as counterfeit, delivered here in
a foreign accent, with a slightly tropical warmth, was accepted by the
Senator as genuine. These children of the Sun are so impulsive! We,
of course, feel a little pity for the person who thus transcends our
standard of good taste and violates our conventional canon,--but they
are always sincere.


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