English
MissMarthaMeachamkeptthelittlebakeryonthecorner(theonewhereyougoupthreesteps,andthebelltinkleswhenyouopenthedoor).
MissMarthawasforty,herbank-bookshowedacreditoftwothousanddollars,andshepossessedtwofalseteethandasympatheticheart.
ManypeoplehavemarriedwhosechancestodosoweremuchinferiortoMissMartha's.
Twoorthreetimesaweekacustomercameininwhomshebegantotakeaninterest.
Hewasamiddle-agedman,wearingspectaclesandabrownbeardtrimmedtoacarefulpoint.
HespokeEnglishwithastrongGermanaccent.Hisclotheswerewornanddarnedinplaces,andwrinkledandbaggyinothers.Buthelookedneat,andhadverygoodmanners.
Healwaysboughttwoloavesofstalebread.Freshbreadwasfivecentsaloaf.Staleonesweretwoforfive.Neverdidhecallforanythingbutstalebread.
OnceMissMarthasawaredandbrownstainonhisfingers.Shewassurethenthathewasanartistandverypoor.
Nodoubthelivedinagarret,wherehepaintedpicturesandatestalebreadandthoughtofthegoodthingstoeatinMissMartha'sbakery.
OftenwhenMissMarthasatdowntoherchopsandlightrollsandjamandteashewouldsigh,andwishthatthegentle-manneredartistmightsharehertastymealinsteadofeatinghisdrycrustinthatdraughtyattic.
MissMartha'sheart,asyouhavebeentold,wasasympatheticone.
Inordertotesthertheoryastohisoccupation,shebroughtfromherroomonedayapaintingthatshehadboughtatasale,andsetitagainsttheshelvesbehindthebreadcounter.
ItwasaVenetianscene.Asplendidmarblepalazzio(soitsaidonthepicture)stoodintheforeground--orratherforewater.
Fortherestthereweregondolas(withtheladytrailingherhandinthewater),clouds,sky,andchiaro-oscuroinplenty.Noartistcouldfailtonoticeit.
Twodaysafterwardthecustomercamein.
"Twoloafsofstalebread,ifyoublease."
"Youhafhereafinebicture,madame,"hesaidwhileshewaswrappingupthebread.
"Yes?"saysMissMartha,revelinginherowncunning.
"Idosoadmireartand"(no,itwouldnotdotosay"artists"thusearly)"andpaintings,"shesubstituted."Youthinkitisagoodpicture?"
"Derbalance,"saidthecustomer,isnotingooddrawing.Derbairspectiveofitisnottrue.Gootmorning,madame."
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