Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-03-04
THE PRETTY ARTIST.
a Girl Who Insisted on Having
Her Own Way.

Mrs. Barbara Best was one Of the
sweetest, most peculiar old ladies in
the world. To begin with, she was
very rich, That in itself was, perhaps,
not SO much OF popularity. But,
then, she was spare and crooked and
withered up like crab apple which
has hung too long on the tree, and she
wore q little black satin cape and a
cap trimmed with ribbon bows, such
as were in fashion half century ago.
and she walked with gold-headed
cane, la Fairy Godmother; and her
eyes sparkled weirdly through gold
spectacles, and her hands were eov-
cred with little knitted silk mitts
And MS she sat by her drawing-room
fire, drinking chocolate and talking
with another witch. like little old
woman, they made very funny pair
indeed.
Yes" said Mrs. Barbara, nodding
her head, 81 couldn't endure it any
longer. told her she must either give
up me or give up her everlasting dab
bling in paint and varnish!"
'Dear! dear!' said Mrs Fanshaw, the
second witch-like little old woman. "A
trihe more sugar in my chocolate,
please. dear"
''For my part" observed Mrs Bar
bara, 81 don't know what the world is
coming to. In my time, we used to
leave that sort of work to the trades
people. But Gladys had an odd notion
about independence. And she inherit
ed some of that artist blood from her
fathers family. There's none Of 1t in
the Bests, I'm very sure"
mo, to be sure, not" said Mrs.
Fanshaw.
''And I told Gladys plainly that l
would not tolerate it," said Mrs. Bar
bara. CHOOSE between u.s." said 1.
"Be lady or a grubbing artist, which
ever suits you best Because" said l,
''if you don't consult my wishes shall
disinherit you and cast you off!
know Of another young relation whom
can adopt, and who cares no more
for art than l do for the Egyptian
obelisk."
And what did she say?" asked Mrs
Fanshaw, contendedly slipping her
chocolate,
''She told me to do just as pleased"
answered Mrs. Barbara, in an ag-
grieved tone Of voice. Because, she
said, she intended to take the same
privilege"
What shocking ingratitudel" com.
sigh.
''Of course we parted good friends, y
said Mrs. Barbara. But Gladys knows
very well that never shall see he,
again. If she has wrecked her owr
fortunes, she has only herself to thank
for it,"
'And where is she nowP" asked Mrs
Fanshaw.
''In a studio, somewhere on Sixth
avenue" solemnly answered Mrs Bar
bara. with a sign out: Art Sales
ROOM, and Painting and Decorating
Done to Order"
Ibid you ever!" said Mrs. Fanshaw,
And, by way of answer, Mrs. Barbara
only groaned.
But like Lovel very WE'LL" She
added Hes a splendid young fellow
although | sometimes find his college
bills high and his flow of spirits rather
overwhelming But he's gentleman
real Best!"
docs he know about Gladys?" Mrs
Fanshaw asked, in a mysterious wills
per,
Certainly not said Mrs. Barbara
there is just enough of the Don QuixotC
qoout him to make him go to sea or take
10 verse; writing or some other prepos
-erous business If he thought he wa
a.anding between Gladys and her for
tune-which he isn't! Mrs. Barbara
added, with emphasis. 1.-THE money i
mine, to leave to whom please, anC
he is just as near relation on the sid,
81 the Bests as Gladys is on the Matt
iandsr'
Dear, dear, how silly young folk
arer' said Mrs. Fanshaw.
"All want them to know is that
nun not to be tritled with" said Mrs
Barbara with the air of Nero, il
black satin and little corkscrew curls
In truth Mr.. Lowell Best was yer,
frank, loyal-natured, handsome younl
fellow He liked Aunt Barbara be
cause Aunt Barbara was kind to him
but he rallied her to her face, tease
her parrot, made her pug bark, laughe,
at the stiff old portraits of the dead
and-gone Bests, that hung on the par
Tor walls, and kept astonishing he
perpetually. But all the time Aun
Barbara knew that Lowell was fond O
her in his heart and it warmed he
chill old pulses to hug this knowledg
to her!
Hes q wild chap" she said to her
self; but he'll come out all right. TIL
Bests always do, when they have ha
their fling. He has none of Gladly:
ohstinacy about him"
And Gladys9 Well, that headstron
young votary of art lived ON the leas
possible amount of money, an
dreamed rapturously over her sketch
iug-board. She had very httl
money, which her mother had be
queathed her-about sufficient to ren
the little studio and pay the gas an
fuel bills
"As for eating and drinking, wha
does that signify9" said Gladys
So she taught a class daily i
Miss Mincher's academy, to furnis
the bread-and-checse part of the bus
ness; and very tedious work she foun
it.
"lIut ! shall sell some of m
placques and vases soon," said she
hopefully.
She did not, however To be SUI
cessful artist one must have an al
prcciative public, and the public neve
came near poor Gladys Maitland. |
vain she decorated the dOorDost wit