Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-18
Alice May.

Never saw so many vases in my life
beforef' observed Harry Elmer. staring
around at the shelves. .'Did not know II
was possible to make 'em into SO many DIFF.
ferent shapes"
And, in truth, the exclamation was not
altogether uncalled for. Great Pompeian
vases of red clay stood in rows on the floor
--high-shouldered EtrUscan vases. with
slender necks and picturesque twisted han
dies, were arrayed on shelves-severe
Greek outlined vases crowded the windows.
and dragon-shaped jars elbowed one
another in every nook and corner And
our hero, looking confusedly around, with
his hands in his pockets, began almost to
feel as if he were changing into pottery
himself
''Is it for LADY," said-the brisk little
shopman.
at is for my sister," said Harry Elmer.
"a pair Of vases for her bOudoir"
'.Ah.'' said the shopman, diving into a
wilderness of red clay moulds; ''here Is the
very thing-slim-n and tall. Equally
suitable for a bracket, table, or draped
mantel.'
Harry Elmer stared helplessly at the
vases.
81 want pictures on them,' said he.
''Birds, flowers, beetles, or something"
The shopman shook his head at this.
''We only keep plain ware" said he
but l can give you the address of young
person who paints them to order"
And he handed card across the counter.
.'All right said Harry Elmer. Give
me the vases
And in less than five minutes he was in
search of the place designated on his card.
"Oh, yes" the bakers wife on the first
floor assentej, cheerily; The young woman
who painted vases did live there. She
rented the third story back room, and
worked very hard, poor thing. If the gen.
tleman would walk up stairs, and knock at
the first door on the left, at the top of the
second flight of stairs, it would be all
right
And Harry Elmer stumbled up the dark
stairway.
.'Come in,'
And with a iinal stumble, our hero found
himself in little room where the sunshine
streamed through ivy and wax-plants, and
a table in the middle was heaped with half
decorated china, tubes of color, sheaves of
brushes, ami portfolios of sketches. OF
course il was the modest little atelier of an
unpreiending artist-one could have pro-
nounced that at a glance. And, working
away at sketch Of scarie;-winged bird,
as if her very life depended on it, sat a
slender young girl, with scarf falling
away from her shoulders. and veil of
faxen hair dropping over her. face.
She laid down her hair brush at this ap-
partition of the stranger.
Il beg your pardon, stammered Harry,
with an unaccouniable sensation OF embar-
rassment: ''but-are you the young woman
that paints vases!'
''Of course / an?" said the golden-haired
little artist Don't you see me painting
one nowl"
81 want these decorated said Harry.
.'Can l get them done herel'
"Of course you can" said the girl, sur
veying them critically. "A nice shape
pretty ware. Suitable for blue birds, ori-
oles, should think
"Aud what shall you CHARGE
Five dollars each"
isn't that good deal?' said Harry.
'TIot for a piece of artistic work, said
the girl. ''Of course if you don't like the
price you can go elsewhere" "
You are very independent for all art
ist;n said Harry, smiling in spite of him.
self.
"Why shouldn't an artist be as indepen-
dent as anyone elsel" said the young girl.
Swell" said Harry, ''rll leave them,
and III call for them in q week
Every well," said the young lady.
.sThey shall be ready
So or hero took his departure, with the
deep, blue eyes of the young artist haunt
ing hun as he went.
at must be hard way of earning one 4
living said he to himself. "And artists
are always poor. l suppose there's
mother at home, and perhaps rheumatic
old father, and swarm of helpless little
brothers and sisters. After all DOM
know as five dollars a vase is too much tc
pay-and she is very pretty.
At the end of week he called for hi'
vases. They were ready and packed, bu1
the golden haired girl was not there.
"Where's the artist" demanded Harry,
foor.;derahly disaDpOiuted.