The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-08

| on trial.
Meanwhile he arrayed his shapely
figure in cow boyish top boots, blue
shirt and SLOUGH hat, which became him
immensely and made a sinister impress
sion among the blazers and tennis suits
of summerinG Manitou.
! Grace was absorbed and satisfied.
One day an idea struck Woodson.
Grace,' said he, ~ found little bit
down here the other day thlt I'd like
to have you sketch-to send home, you
know. You'll do it, won't your
| Why. of course. I'll speak to Mr..
| Flcming.''
"Oh, hang Mr.. Fleming" Woodson
broke in. 'Fleming's ali right in his
! way, but ] want you-your sketch, you
| know
| The place was quite distance away,
over the mesa. They set out for it tho
| next day.
Hero it is" woodson exclaimed
burning plain to where row of cot
| tonwoods were banked against the Sky,
tremulous in the vibrant air.
| There, do that; call it "A Hundred
in the Shade,' or something like that"
| ut doesn't seem to compose very
| WE'LL" Grace murmured, holNing the
tips of her fingers together and inclos-
| ing the. picture in a rosy frame through
| which she ga zed, half shutting her
eyes in truly artistic intentness.
"Well' never mind that; get the
| character Of it, You know Elem
ing says the characters the thing.
That's what I want-thc character
the true character Of this bcastly coun-
try
So Grace donned her big blue apron
| and set to work with her biggest
| brushes.
But some how she had trouble The
quality OF that shy. burning with light
and yet deep in hue, did not seem to
| reside in cobalt, however fresh from
the tube. The value of the stretch of
plain tre'n ulous under the f1arinS
heavens, disturbed her. too, and when
she cameto put in the airy wall of cot
tonwoods along the horizon the whole
thing ended in a panty muddle.
"Oh, can't do anything to-day
Grace exclaimed petulantly, wiping
her hand and leaving a streak of blue
on her forehead that intensified her
puzzled look.
"Why don't you put those trees in
grecn?' Woodson asked with serious
concern. as Grace renewed her strug-
gle with the regulation blues and
puppies.
But don't sec them So" she MUIR
INJURED, in moment Of absorbed
effort.
''Grace," he blurtcd out almost be.
fore he knew it, II don't believe YOU
believe you ever did. 1 don't believe
in your art; 1 don't believe in your
career; I don't believe in your indie
pendcncc You're simply spelling the
incest girl in the world with it. You
see things blue and purple because he
does: and he-vell, he sees things that
way because some fellows over in Paris
do, and dent believe in it. There,
now, I've said it: come
But it was not arranged that he
should finish what he had to say. He
had looked down to the ground where |
he sat as he spoke of Fleming. When
he looked up Grace vas several feet |
away from him, hurrying down the |
hill with her head bowed.
I'm brute-a misera BILE brute!" |
Wcodson remarked to himself with |
considerable force he watched her
striding toward the halfdry creek.
There was plum thicllet along the !
creek, and after watching Grace dis
appear within it Woodson set about
picking up her sleetching kit. This
done, it occurred to him that it would
be a proper pennance on his part to
wash her brushes-he had always hated
dirty brushes So Gathering them up,
he started toward the creek.
When he got there he could see no
signs of Grace Could it be that any
thing had happened to her? The
thought made him catch his breath for
of any rash move in
a moment of excitement. Then he
heard n stirring in the plum thicl<e,
and came face to face upon her in a
little opening, crying softly to herself
''Grace.' he called 'Why, what's
the matter? 1 know I'm a brute, but /
didn't think you'd take it So
''Oh, cant you hel p ne?" she pie aided,
and began cropping about and feeling
with her hands.
lie that her hair was loose ned
and that her wrists and face were
scratched and bleeding in a dozen
places
''Why, what's the 1nattcr?'' he
queried again, she came cropping ,
toward him and STUN ble1 against him. l
Cant you help me at alp ,
''Of course, ! can. small girl; you're
all right Nothing shall touch you." ,
ne reiterated as his arms closed around ,
lcr. Z
Lob, silly. can't you see I've lost my ,
ylasscs?'' she exclaimed, pulling away {
rom him and flushing rcd among the
yreencry. But he held her tight i
You don't want them: you see bet I
er without them, blue eyes. Confess
COW, you never really saw before. ,
rive up trusting in those wrctched
rlasses and trying to be Independent. '
Come, your career through nv
yes" {
But still she held back at arms {
ength, really defiant. She seemed !
'cady to cry and then smiled instead. +
You'll get my glasses if promise?'' ,
He nodded ,
Suddenly THROWING her arms a bo,,t I