The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-08-23

1
congratulated him, and wished Minnie
ali happiness.
| Yes. Willis was thinking OF Grace a:
he walked home
He took his Uncle Martin driving il
the park, next morning, as per agree
mcnt.
| TIE STAIRS lived in Cramercy Place,
| and Willis had turned his yellow dog
cart from Fifth Avenue through Twenty
| third Street, and was turning down
Fourth Avenue, when his Uncle Martin
caught his arm.
whats that he qucried. Uncle Mar
tins curiosity was Unsuitable. Looks
| like Il palace leetlc bit wore out"
1T is the Academy of Design Willis
| said.
Then Uncle Martin read the lettcred
board in front
Pictures" he said, now on eNhibi-
ton. What do you say to stepping in!
| declare ! got kind o tired seeing them
Old Masters up to the Museum yester-
| day, along with your pa. I'd really like
to see something fresh and new Pic
lures. you see, amt plenty up to West
Montville. Les Jest go in and see EN- -
And Willis tossed the lines to the foot
man in the back-who was a perpetual
curiosity to Uncle Martin-and followed
Uncle Martin in.
No sooner had he mounted the broad.
inner staircase, than he became aware of
an atmosphere of familiarity. He caught
sight of well-known faces, and recognized
right and left to acquaintance.
The fashionable element was in the
majority this morning, and the explana-
ton was plain; almost everybody stopped
in on his way home from the fiower-show
to see the Academy's spring exhibition
Willis saw Grace Hallam's handsome
face where she stood with her mother,
absorbed in a superior study of an old
boat. Grace had sound ideas of art as
well as of literature in her clear brain.
would Minnie drop in!" no ques-
toned.
Uncle Martin passed through the cor
ridor, looking admiringly, but slight
ingly, at the rows of pansies and pinks
and roses. apples and peaches and
oranges.
"Yes, yes" he said. ''fowers and
fruit, to be sure. But what l likes the
regular pictures; men and women, and
houses and horses; pictures that's got
stories to EN-. That's what | enjoy"
''We'll find some" said Willis, smiling.
He liked Uncle Martins originality, and
was not the snob to be distressed, if he
was talking rather loudly and tanning
himself with his hat. He was his
fathers brother, and good old man.
In the west gallery Uncle Martin
warmed up.
"Thcre now?" he said, exultantly.
'LoOk at that one, Willis. There's a
girl sitting on the front porch; father and
mother, too. Vines climbing up the
porch-pillars and flowers all along the
walk. And the girl, she's looking down
the road, and way off Down there you
can see fellow coming on horseback
and that's jest what's she's looking at,
too. Wal, wal2"
His enthusiasm rose over a flock of
sheep, and waxed warm over we'll
executed clover field. But it eliminated
in the south gallery, whittier they pre-
sently strolled. Getting his sharp, spec
tacled eyes upon q distant painting,
Uncle Martin made bee line for it, with
Willis faithfully attendant.
Standing before it, Uncle Martin put
his hands in his pockets and stood the
embodiment of keen satisfaction.
"Soapmaking!" he said to Willis tri-
Yes, sir, soft-soapboiliug |
If that amt natural cs life! Soft-soap,
sure's you liver"
Uncle Martin was little deaf, and |
never conscious of how loud he was
speaking. Now, in his excitement, his
remarks were perfectly audible through
out the gallery.
lnvoluntarily Willis cast an apprehen-
'ive glance around.
''Sure's you're alive" he reiterated.
Now where did that Teller see it going
On to git it pictured out so natural? Sec
hat old woman with her skirt pinned up
md an old red bandanna tied over her
mead! If that amt jist the way your
Aunt Marthy used TO git herself up soap
boiling days, I swan! And there she is
stirring up the kittle with stick. Looks
'airly like the broom handle your Aunt
Narthy used to usc,'
The bcst-bred people have an cagerness
or amusement which occasionally over
ops politencss.
Willis was aware of growing silence in
heir immediate neighborhood.
A considerable group was "taking in"
Uncle Martins illusions.
Willis would not have been human had
lie not been family dismayed But what
'aused sudden cold shiver to run down
lis spine? Oddly enough, it was the
act of his getting a glimpse of his own
pretty betrothed coming through door
> a glimpse VIII. Oh Ourht 10 haze hronrht