The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-07-16
HER HUSBANDS SECRET.
By HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

olauk WMteWaSneO size OF an adjoining
mouse, which lowered up story or so
higher than its unpretentious neigh
bors.
But Minna-a parsonage who always
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 a
down town factory. had lont her the
money for the purchase. and little Bcss
Bcaton, the landlady's daughter, "sat"
to her two hours every day after school
quite satisfied with gingerbread nuts
to.munch 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 nc.
qulrlng name and fortune by means Of
her beloved art.
This morning, however, the room
seemed a degree gloomier than it's usual
wont; and when Minna arranged her
canvas on the easel. dim sort of mis-
giving crcpt across her heart.
1t was a simple picture that she had
paintcl-a little girl playing on sun
lcckcl barn-tioor, with a brood of
chickens tluttering around her; and 4
stealthv cat advancing from beneath
tangled masses of hay.
Yesterday the little girl had seemed
animated with real. actual life: the hav
had seemed almost orustlr in tho wind:
one could almost perceive the sinuous,
gliding motion OF the cat. But to- >l.v it
was as If 4 lea,lcn spell had descended
upon everything.
Gam I an art.st?" Minna asked her
self; cor am ! not"
Rosa llalc's step coming softly down
the stairs, aroused her from ! disagreo-
able reveric.
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, "aro youin Il hurry?
DO come IN 4 moment"
And Rosa came in. with her little
brown bonnet neatly tied under her
chin, and her lunch baSk It 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, Minnay she asked,
checrfully.
''Look at this picture" said Minna,
lrawing her up in front of the easel.
'Well, I'm looking" said Rosa.
''What do you think of it,"
beautiful"
ooh, know that" impatiently cried
Minna. ''The bits of hay are painte.t
10 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 sho would speak to YOU ?"
1.-The checks in her bingham
apron are painted beautifully" said
Rosa, timilly.
Minna frowned
But the cat?" said she. els it a
live cat? Do 70 fancy YOU are going to
see her spring.
''N-no," unwillinsly admitted Rosa.
"lts Lowell y cat. but It's only picture
II cat! Mnna--,}ear Minna, 1
haven't offended you, lave To-
"Oh, mol! sail Nlinna, lightly. "But
you have told me exactly what [ wanted
10 know-what I 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 tive-cent pieces to throw away"
And SO, with 4 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 whitcwashcd wall, and
cried:
II knew it all along" she declared.
You are hidcous little impostor" Ito
the simpering figure in the foreground.
And you" TO the cat) ARE simply q
hing Of wood, And am not an artist
1t all! If"
"Rat, tat, tail" came soft knock at
ihe door.
Ninna started guilty 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, pleas ant faced young man.
''What did you please to want?" said
she. rather timidly.
IL beg your, pardon!" said he.
But arc You the young lady who sont
note to Palmer & Co. picture dealers {?
My father has IN attack Of lumbago this
Morning, and is unable to come out.
He has sent me in his stead"
Minna colored deeply as she remem-
ocred that in her citation of the day be-
lore she had actually been SO foolish as
to write to Palmer 4 Co. to send up an
expert to value hey picture for the sales
room,
'NVhere is the picture?" he asked.
;'is this it?"
"Yes," Minna answered, with an odd,
choking sensation in her throat. ''But
but"
1t was OF no use. The tears would
GOMEZ. She sat down i'll the cushioned
window seat, and hid her face in her
hands.
HAS ANYTHING happened?" asked
Mr.. Paul Palmer, genuinely disconcert-
ed.
Nothing more than might have
been expected" said Minna, trying to
smile. "Please don't think mo foolish
Yesterday l fancied that this daub of
mine was gem of art. Now my eyes
have been opened. I know that it is
worthless"
Mr.. Palmer glanced scrutinizingly at