Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-05-31
AZ.
Interesting Story of a Leaf from
a Girls Sketch Book.

Girls Sketch Book.
Wishing to consult Mr.. McQ-
well-known lawyer. upon a matter o
importance. and learning that he wa
detained at home by a sprained ankle
went TO his house, and was showI
into a small library. where | found tn,
disabled attorney hard at work among
his papers.
1t was evident that the place wa
not usually devoted to such business
The book-shelves showed little of tn,
conventional sheep-skin of lawyer
library. but were filled with a miscel
laneous assortment OF fiction. poetry
history and school and college tex
books In one corner Of the room
stood lady's work-basket; in another
n artists easel, with a half-finlshet
fruit-study upon II. while yariou,
bits of art work in oil. crayou and pencil
mostly without frames. were making
themselves at home in the place. some
hanging upon the walls, some standing
or lying about here and there.
Mr. MeQ.-- laughingly alluded tc
his unprofessional surrounding, and al
once proceeded 10 consider my bust
ness.
When l rose 10 take my leave, an
hour or two later, ventured to ask
an explanation Of a pencil-sketch
which had excited my curiosity. II
appeared to be a leaf torn from an
artists sket1b.book. In the center
was the figure of man, roughly
dressed. lying at full-length, face
downward, on a grassy bank. appar
emily asleep. The left arm was thrown
up TO support the head; the hat had
fallen of; the right arm lay stretched
upon the grass. with the clumsy hand,
minus half Of the middle finger, turned
palm upward. The feet crossed each
other, "toeing in." and showed the
profile Of one worn. old boot, and the
hobnailed sNe of the other. Every
line in the hgure, and even the very
wrinkles in the ill-ftting clothes, ex-
pressed the relaxation and unconscious
ness Of a tired-out tramp asleep.
Elsewhere on the page were special
studies, on n larger scale, of the boots.
the hands and the head. Every touch
showed keenness Of observation, fidel-
ity to details, and knack Of catching
the most striking and picturesque
points. The sketch of the head was
especially remarkable The face was
entirely concealed by the bending left
arm on which it lay. The neck was
marked with those deep spiral seams
which are occasionally seen winding
around lank. weaiher-beaten neck,
making 1t look like section Of the
twisted trunk of red cedar. The
hair on the back Of the head lay in
rough. matted locks. among which was
visible a white V-shaped scar more
than an inch ia length.
Under the picture was written. In a
feminine hand; "Sleeping Innocence" ="
and under that. in masculine hand:
"Faithful in that which is Least" In
one corner was a little scratch Of a
monogram. with a date and a memo
randum Of the length Of time spent
upon the sketch.
1.-The first title" explained Mr.. Nc
O.. "reiers to the subject of the
sketch; the second Ia the artist"
"lt is then a picture with his
tory2n said.
"Yes, and with a moral. too" he
replied. "The sleeper was a client of
minei in fact. all things considered,
tho most profitable one i ever had.
The artist was the daughter of the late
Dr. Madison Evans. and a pupil Of
Jacques Renault. the refugee. From
her father she inherited acuteness Of
observation. aud by him she was
taught 10 practice patient and pains
taking fidelity IN whatever she under
took.
"From old Jacques she got through
instruction, plenty Of seedlings and an
enthusiasm for her work. II came to
be matter Of conscience with her 10
represent things with her pencil exact
ly Us she saw them. An inaccurate
line or change Of proportion or point
Of view was TO her like telling a lie
"ohe was an enthusiastic sketcher.
Her walking dresses were always
made with a wide pocket in the skirt,
such as lady book-agents use. where
a thin sketch-book could be carried
without attracting attention. Living
In a suburban village, she had easy
access 10 both the city aud the coun-
try, and found. wherever she went,
plenty Of subjects for her pencil.
'Sometimes she made sketching ex-
oursions 10 the city parks and muse
umsi sometimes she rode with her
father on his professional visits. and
occupied herself with drawing cattle,
barnyard fowls and country ragamuf-
fins while she was waiting for him at
the farmhouse gate; sometimes she
rambied through the fields and woods,
attended BY a middle-agcd maiden
cousin Of the family. and usually also
by old Hannibal, her fathers mastiff.
"on the day noted IN the sketch
yonder she had spent the afternoon IN
making fern and moss studies In Pig
con Hollow. q picturesque little raylne
Ia what are called Indian Woods. q
n'lie ~ more iroln her home. Her