The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-03-15

N,
lay in their box like . forsaken chrysalis,
Pink g brush with hundred transparent,
cleaning wings, and 1t was hard to be-
1ieve that the same old perfume was not
under them as fresh a. ever, still. The
Professor put his nose down with an in.
voluntary little sniff, when Pink called
him to look at them. and then started
back feeling very foolish, and hoping he
had not been seen.
And now came the tug of war. Pinxit
was . privileged character at Dupil's. and
If he chose to place his picture in the
window, and then take his station inside
and hover about near enough to keep an
eye on it, no one made any remarks, and
he went quietly on in his own way. But
mastery inactivity was the hardest pos
sible fighting fer him; and as for the
Professor, he went housing about, peep
ing into Pinxit's room, or trying in vain
to settle down to some problem in the
books, while the only problem that seemed
OF importance any longer was depend
ing entirely on what the little portrait
painter should manage to do with il.
Fortunately, fashionable hours were
short. and Pinxit was never away very
long at q time; but when he did come
home and got settled into the easy-chair
again, he did not seem to have much to
say, and the Professor watched him In q
greater fever of excitement every night.
I'm afraid, Pinxit, he said suddenly,
stopping in monstrous set OF compass
strides, "1'm afraid you've got some i'm.
aginary roots in your equation, and If
you have we shall certainly come to
griefv'
But Pink seemed to have no more to re-
ply to this than to anything else, and it
was clearly of NO use.
Meantime the holidays logged gayly
along. like the fiddle-bow Of musicians
in q merry interlude while the curtain
waits to rise. Christmss chimes were for
gotten, and every one was waiting for the
New Years bells to ring.
Don't get into such q red-hot fidget
about it, though" said the little artist TO
himself; but it was hard to help it, for
whatever might be ready to tangle in his
net after the week were once past, he
certainly could not sit and watch for it
any longer: it would have to 60. And ON
the other hand. if he could but see the
Professors New Years morning waking
up in such colors as he had been trying
to mix for it! He had painted pretty
bright picture of that, and in suffi-
GENTLY positive outline, too, and now he
must confess it was beginning to get q
trifle dim-fading little in spite of him.
Not that he had really caught no one
out of the host of passers tripping in his
snare; here was scarcely one who had not
given 1t look or q gesture, and some
times he could even tell what they were
saying about it through the thick glass.
But not one laid hand on the door to ask
if it could be bought. that he wasn't pre-
pared for him he had measured him ex-
actly through the window, and made up
his mind. 1.-THE picture was promised
elsewhere; he was very sorrv," and the re.
greet was quite sincere, for his bright pic
ture faded q little as each one turned
away.
"Your foreground is getting pretty
we'll foIeshortened, Pinxit; it can't be de.
Med" he said to himself, when only two
more days remained, but what then: If
he remembered rightly, Eve had not
made the shadow of an appearance when
1.-THE evening and the morning were the
fifth day." So he plucked up fresh re-
lay of spirits and carried the evening
bravely through, fairly getting the Pro-
fessor started ON general problems long
before it was over.
Eve did not seem quite 30 certain a
came, but Pink had never beaten 4 retreat
in his life, and he marched pluckily to
his post once more. But he sat there
feeling little mopish after ell, for broad
daylight is apt to show realities, and, as If
it were not enough to be disappointed, .
suspicion that he had been making q
fool of himself began to creep disagreea.
bly, inn in; ;, ,,,,,. ,o,o,.. -o.x 49,. .....
you've done your best" he began, as the
day wore on, and he was almost tempted
to sleep ON guard q few moments, when
suddenly he felt thrill! His eyes flew
to their duty again, and thereof, his
prophetic sOul!-a tress of golden hair
was Tutoring straight toward him, against
the window panel
Pinxit had talked about . cheek like q
rose, but no rose ever turned from white
to red, and back to white again, as this
one did before his little handful of sweet
peas; and Is for the eyes, he could not
even guess at those, 20 steadily spell.
bound they seemed to the low corner
where his picture stood, while . slender,
fur.wrapped figure stood outlined, motion.
less, against the glass.
Moments passed, and there was not .
stir in the situation. Pinxit and his
changeable rose both stood riveted; he
was sure her breath came rapidly against
the icy pane, and he held his own until
he was near losing it-for was not every
thing trembling In this one minutes
scale.
She turned from the window aalast, and
Pinxit had his hand ON his hat. but no.
the door opened, she was coming int
1.-The little 6ower-picture In the win
dow" she asked, "b it that it ID for
salei
Pink would have waited moment for
the pure delight of seeing the daintily-
gloved hand press upon the counter as II
Tor help, but that would never do.
The artist did not give distinct in.
stuctions, madam. It Is to be removed
to his studio tonight, however, and can
be seen there with others, believe"
sit is very odd-the ribbon" she said,
hcsitating, and drawing her veil more
closely, - the white rose turned 10 red
"An old thing, suppose; some relic,
no doubt 2 replied Pinxit, careleesly.
She hesitated again, half withdrew hel
hand from the counter, and then steadied
herself once more.
They are very besutiful-the peas,'
she said at last, trying to press back TIKI
lock that would lloet toward Pink.
Madam, they are OaIessjdl!'' answered
Pink.
That was . pises IL sssisesnes, his proc
shot, and Il had done its work: hc Va
positive Of il the moment he saw the start
and the trembling Of the white wrist o.