The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-07-20

his art which should make him willing to endure years of toll and poverty in pursuit of success which in the end may elude him. Do you think you have that passion, Ralph9" asked the doctor anxiously.
 The boy hesitated a moment only. "Father, if you had asked me this three months ago, should have answered. q do not know Now tell you that, truly as l can speak, next to you love painting better than any thing else in the world Nevertheless if the thought distresses you, if you think I am not fit to ecome artist, will give it up. will never" and the boys handsome face grew quite pale.
 "No, no, Ralph, not that. l don't mean that, replied the doctor hastily, i've will wait little while. Your Balboa is the first real picture you have painted, isn't it?"
 "Yes, and that is only an experiment. Oh, I have something else in my mind, father, such a picture It is head of Hebe, and Bessie Pollard has promised to sit for me-"
 "Bessie Pollard; she is fitting model for the goddess of youth lovely girl, Ralph" said the doctor looking at his out of the corner of his eye.
 "Oh, yes," replied Ralph, enthusiastically, "such hair and eyes, just the face for IIebe And when the picture is finished, father let it decide my fate l shall be willing to stand or fall by it."
 "llow long will it take you Rslph?" al shall want at least month";
 "A month," repeated the doctor, feeling some- what comforted.
 In the next issue of the Willow Creek Pdlddiura, it announced that Ralph Houston son of Dr. Charles Houston, and painter of the picture enti- tied Balboa Discovering the Pacific" which has attracted so much attention in the window Of Me- gre9or's drug store would shortly begin painting of Hebe, the cup. bearer of the gods. Even before this it had become generally known throughout the village that Ralph was going to paint picture of Hebe, and that Bessie Pollard was to be his model.
 ology become somewhat alarmed at the possibility of & picture of herself as "IIebe," or whether she dreaded the publicity which it's position in Nc Gregors window would give her features, she at any rate feconsidered her promise and sent Ralph polite note to the effect that she had decided she would rather not be painted in the picture. Ralph was exceedingly disappointed and annoyed on the receipt of this news. He thought he had found the ideal "Hebe" and she had eluded him. To his surprise his father seemed to feel as keen disappointment himself. "There is no one else in Willow Creek who will do," said the boy de- spairingly.
 "No one" echoed the doctor. "Such pretty mouth," sighed Ralph. "And such gentle disposition" said the doctor.
 "She has just the fsce so chidlike and innocent, yet SO expressive!"
 "And she is SO industrious, SO domestic, you never her gadding about the streets, added the doctor
 "She's the only girl in the place who has golden hair," said Ralph, impatiently. "Yes, yes; I should have been very found of Bes- sic. always liked her from a little thing" said the doctor, refectively. "It seems only the other day she was in short dresses, and here have been thinking of her for my Ralph mean for your picture-your model, Ralph" he added, hastily. "I think must have been dropping off to sleep. Well, we'll, dare say you can find somebody else " and the doctor left the room. Ralph had reddened at his fathers self betraying speech. The views of the father on the advisabiity of early marriage were we'll known to the son. The subject had often been discussed between them I-jestingly by Ralph, more than half earnestly by the doctor Here was the explanation of his inter est in the picture his disappointment at Bessie's defection.
 | The doctor had seen in Ralph's great idea only the possibility of his falling in love with the will lage girl whose face he was to paint-the hope oi his marrying and settling down in Willow Creek to the life of a country doctor Ralph felt swift | ind faxh