The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-07-16
HER HUSBANDS SECRET.
By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
Minna's room was not light at the best
IF times. Its one window, planted dor
mer-fashion in the roof, gave on the
blank whitewashed side of an adjoining
mousse, which lowered up story or SO
higher than its unpretentious neigh
bors.
= But Minna-a parsonage who always
I made the best of things-had absolutely
persuaded herself that this was the best
light in the world for her oil-painting.
There are no bursts Of sunshine or
stray sunbeams to disturb the cool,
clear atmosphere, said she. Artists
always prefer this sort of light"
For Minna Morton was a working
girl. Too delicate to stand behind the
counter or superintend the busy loom,
she yet endeavored to earn her own
livelihood by means of an artists palette
and sheaf of brushes.
Her outfit had cost considerable
sum there was no denying that; but
Rosa Hale, who stitched kid gloves in
down town factory, had lent her the
,dmoney for the purchase. and little Bess
Beaton, the landlady's daughter, "sat"
to her two hours every day after school
quite satisfied with gingerbread nuts
to MUNICH and battered rag doll, which
had belonged to Minna's own younger
days, to play with.
And Minna was young and hopeful,
and in the far distance saw herself ac-
quiring name and fortune by means OF
her beloved art.
This morning, however, the room
seemed degree gloomier than its usual
wont; and when Minna arranged her
canvas on the easel, dim sort Of mis-
giving crept across her heart.
1t was simple picture that she had
painted-a little girl playing on sun
hecked barn-tloor, with q brood of
chickens huttering around her, and
stealthy cat advancing from beneath
tangled masses of hay.
Yesterday the little girl had seemed
animated with real. actual life; the hay
had seemed almost to rustic in the wind;
one could almost perceive the sinuous,
gliding motion of the cat But to-day it
was as if Ieaden spell had descended
upon everything.
Gam an artlst?" Minna asked her
self; cor am / not?"
Rosa Hale's step, coming softly down
the stairs, aroused her from disagree
able reverie.
d She hurried to the door, with the al
most invisible limp which had always
haunted her since that unlucky fall of
her childhood.
Rosa" she said, care you in hurry?
Do come i'll a moment!"
And Rosa came in, with her little
brown bonnet neatly tied under her
chin, and her lunch basket in her hand,
On her way to the factory where "real
imported kid gloves, fresh from Paris"
were turned out by the dozen gross a
day.
"What is it, Minnaw she asked,
cheerfully.
'Look at this picture" said Minna,
drawing her up in front of the easel.
well, I'm looking" said Rosa.
= "What do You think of it?
Rosa repeated. "Why, I think it is
beautiful
''Oh, 1 know that" impatiently cried
Minna. "The bits of hay are painted
TO perfection, and the rat holes in the
barn floor are copied exactly after that
one in the corner of the cupboard, but
all that isn't true art, Rosa. Does the
, child look as if she would speak to you?"
- 1.-THE checks in her bingham
apron are painted beautifully" said
Rosa, timidly.
Minna frowned.
but the cat?" said she. ''Is it
live cat? Do yo fancy you are going to
Csee her spring."
''N-no," unwillingly admitted Rosa.
sits lovely cat, but it's only picture
Of cat! Minna-dear Minna,
haven't offended you, have II"
ooh, no!' said Minna, lightly. ''But
you have told me exactly what wanted
Q 10 know-what was sure of myself.
Good-by, Rosa!-and mind YOU don't
bring me any more of those delicious
little bouquets. They're lovely, but
they cost five cents, and you haven't
any FIVE cent pieces to throw away
And so, with loving Kiss, she dis
missed the pink checked little factory
, girl, who was always so kind to her and
then she sat down in the Upas shadow
of the dismal whitewashed wall, and
cried:
II knew it all along" she declared.
8 You are hideous little impostor!" Ito
The simpering figure in the foreground).
And you" TO the cat) ''are simply
hing of wood. And I am not an artist
"Rat, tat, tat!" came soft knock at
The door.
Minna started guiltily to her feet, and
dashed away the wet spray of tears from
her cheek.
"Come in !" said she.
And to her horror, she saw standing
there tall, pleasant young man.
y "What did you please to want ?" said
ii;;she, rather timidly.
! "I-I beg your pardon!" said he.
i But are you the young lady who sent a
I; note to Palmer & Co. picture dealers?
; My father has an attack of lumbago this
ijnorning, and is unable to come out.
He has sent me in his stead"
Minna colored deeply as she remem-
oered that in her citation of the day be-
lore she had actually been SO foolish as
to write to Palmer & Co. to send up an
expert to value her picture for the sales
room.
! where is the picture?" he asked.
sis this it?"
EYES," Minna answered, with an odd,
choking sensation in her throat. ''But
but"
1t was OF no use. The tears would