The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-11-04
AN ARTISTS ID1L.
It's Principal Scenes a Canal Boat
and a Salon.

rings of bright gold hair. from which the
sun-bonnet has fallen back, two plump,
dimpled hands, tightly clasping the out
skirt of a frock half full of dal-
sizes and buttercups, two small bare feet
firmly planted on the decks of a slowly
moving canal-boat. Right above, on
the graceful-arched bridge, the objects
which the big, wondering, blue eyes
are fixed-two children, slender, brown
eyed, flower-laden. The hot sun, even
now sending its scorching rays YER
tically down, has kissed the baby plebe-
ian's face into the likeness of a wild rose
and darkened the little patrician's with
the tints of the conventional gypsy.
The weary mules slacken their pace,
unrebuked by their driver, enjoying
like them the unusual luxury of over-
hanging trees and shady wall. More
flowers fut.ered down, striking face,
arms and neck, catching in the dang
ling bonnet, the children laugh together
and with the freemasonry Of the time
OF life, the boy calls out:
do you live on that beat ~always?"
ssYes."
do you like itP" Eyes"
stDo you like the flowers" eyes"
whats your nameP" .'Hedeyetta."
Then the moving boat carries her out
of reach, and the three little voices unite
in "good-bye." The canal-boat '.Jen-
ME and SUSIE" has seen its best days
it is old. heavy and dingy, but it rides
the dark, u~nattractive water with an air
of ancient responsibility. Neither are
the mules new to their work and trade,
with steps calculated to do the most
CORD with the least labor, they plod
doggedly on, looking neither to the
right nor left. The steersman takes a
keen look ahead, and, see ng a clear,
and unobstructed channel, fastens his
rudder in place and walks slowly down
the deck. About midway is a strange
piece of lading-a spring cot, with silk
coverlet and down pillow, shaded by a
striped canopy and thanked by a steamer
chair, an artists easel, a pile of novels,
and, on a low table, a Jug of s~eltzer,
box of tobacco and a half-dozen pipes.
The occupant of this airy den is at this
moment sitting on a camp stool busily
sketching at his easel.
..Sit down, captain" he says pleas
antly to the man who stops to look over
his shoulder. 81 am just putting down
a few little touches to remember that
by"
The childrenp Well, it was a pretty
sight; I kinder wonder if you'd notice
i'll don't know as you'd find a much
nicer picture than that Little gal of ours
is most any time"
..Oursph the young man repeats, half
MISUNDERSTANDING meanwhile to
cover the sketch on his easel and then
dropping lazily down on the cot-the
captain (by courtesy has taken the
chair-and leisurely filing his largest
and most deeply colored pipe.
"Have onep" he asks, Hospitality.
"Well 1 don't care if I do" the other
responds, watching the deft fingers
with the slow and quiet interest of his
kind.
They form a sharp contrast as they
sit together. Captain jenkins is tall,
lean, lank-his complexion straw-color-
ed, also his hair and American beard
(sschin whisker")-a deeper shade
but from the faded blue eyes looks out
a shrewd Inc kindly spirit which his
passenger has been quick to recognize
and appreciate. Egbert Viele is a dar-
ling Of fortune; having lost father and
mother when too young to appreciate
Loneliness, he has f1oated lazily, hap
ply through life-winning all hearts by
his personal attractiveness, lovable ma
ture and graceful and tactful manners.
The two men smoke on in silence,
broken only by the soft ripple of the
quiet waters against the boat sides. The
banks of the canal grew level, and
across them pretty country houses APP
pear in the distance and boats are to be
seen ahead. A small boy comes up
from the tiny cabin wiping his mouth
on his sleeve, and takes his place at the
rudder. The child plays with her flow
ers, talking to herself, sometimes sing
ing softly. Then a young woman comes
up the stairway and stands shading her
eyes with her hands, gazing into the
distance. Gathering up her flowers,
the child comes slowly to her.
s.See, NANNY" she says, almost tim
idly, .tsee." But she does not touch her
and no eager words tell of her pleasure
in her possessions. "Yes." the woman
answers absently; mo. I don't want
thcm-give them to your Jenky or your
friend there" and, turning away, she
goes down out of sight.
pretty little creature" Egoert says
gently, show she brightens iife.''
Captain jenkins mods his head and
draws a long pull at his pipe.
Eyes" he answers slowly, eyes, for
every one but her poor mother"
..Can you tell me that poor mother's
story; / have so often guessed at it;
what has spoiled her beauty, when it
should be ct its best; why does she al
most dislike her pretty baby; what claim
have mother and child on you-tell me,
now, before our journey ends?"
Captain jenkins moves a little I'M
easily; he is vsibly embarrassed-as a
listener he is unequaled. But how can
he turn the tables and recount instead
of listeningp Egbert comes to his aid.
'When did you first know her?"
81 didn't know her first. I knew
Michael, her husband. He was the
liveliest young chap l ever put my eyes
on; the little one has his yellow hair
and his eyes-and so outspoken and
manly. He was a carpenter by trade,
but things were slack and he wanted to
save up and he'd turn his hand to any
job. Well, 1 took him on. He was
sending for her-Kathleen-that sea
SON. Her dead father and mother were
Irish and she herself was born in Coun-
ty Wicklow, but she had grown upnear
him in Maine; she had been promised
to him since they were boy and girl
and she was t o come to him when he
was ready. He had built a little sort Of
cabin on the banks of the canal up here,
not far from one of the dry docks,
where he often worked-and when she
came, we went to the church in Troy
and | saw them married. She was a
real Irish beauty then, with her blue
eyes and dark brown hair and her pink
and white skin. They were the hap