The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-02-10
1T WAS VERY BAD.

building at Noting Hill a goodly crowd
OF artists. many young and few old,
that constituted the committee of the
Society of Water Colors"-a little
supplemented society composed of
amateurs and young artists, with one
Or two veterans to give it backbone.
They were sitting in Judgment on
the pictures sent in for their annual
exhibition and they looked critical and
grave, as befitted their task.
The talk hummed on among the
committee, and at last the tiat went
fort ball the pictures were to be ad-
mitted. To this one of the veterans
good-looking man Of 35-objected.
There is one really to abominably
bad" said he. THAT Scene from Mae
beth'-it would never do to have
that"
ooh, come, Stretton, you're too par
ticular. 1t will pass muster among
the rest"
"No, it won't; it will be a disgace to
the exhibition. Just look at Mcbeth's
leg! And the color-perfectly raw! 1t
will never do"
So the hum began again, and the
result was that the Scene from Mae
beth" was literally and tiguralively
turned face to the wall.
Stretton, satisfied at having saved
the honor of the society, left the others
to settle the remaining business, and
was walking out of the room when he
came face to face with Bogg-a good
natured little amateur, who could not
draw "any more than frog who hasn't
got no tail, but was immensely con-
ceited to make up for it. He caught
at Stretton eagerly.
Il say, old fellow, you've done it!
You know that picture you insisted
upon turning out? Well, it was
painted by young girl, and she was
in the next room and heard every
word that you said, and has gone home
crying her eyes out"
"By Jove" exclaimed Stretton. look
ing dismaved, I'm awfully sorry.
wouldn't have had it happen for the
world. Poor little thing! Confound
my stupidity I might have known
better. What shall I do? Where is
the pcture?"
shes taken it home with her." said
little Boggs.
What an awful idiot I was" went
On Stretton. Poor little girl! say,
Boggs, you're going my way. Sup
pose we lay our heads together and
see what can be done"
The next morning, as the "pOOr lit
tie girl" sat painting away in q corner
of her sitting-room, while her mother
dozed and crocheted and lamented
the days when Mr.. .Grierson was alive
and they did not have to live IN lodg-
ings, the dingy, overerown servant
girl announced a gentleman to see
Miss Grierson.
Miss Grierson remembered little
Boggs' face, and the thought of her
rejected picture made her.turn hot and
cold together.
Little Boggs introduced himself and
plunged in medas res. I'm awfully
sorry, Miss GriersOn that YOU heard
what was said yesterday, and +"
1T is a matter of no consequence at
all. " interrupted Miss Grierson. with
as much whitening calmness as if poor
little Boggs had not called her picture
"abominably bad"
''Well, but you know, Miss Grier-
son." persisted little Bogg, Il want to
explain. think you ought to know.
My friend--at least, StrettOn, YOU
know--he said that purely out OF spite
He had quarrel with your father
once and he did that just to spite
you; he says SO himself.
Il thought it my duty to tell YOU
and | wouldn't be cut up about it at all
if were you. / would just put it in
Smells window and let the public
Judge. | did the same thing with one
of mine and it went off first rate. Good
morning." And little Boggs blunder-
ed out of the room, feeling like fool,
and looking much the same, it must
be confessed.
"Who was it. Edith?" asked Mrs.
Grierson, coming back to her easy
chair.
Some one from the society, mann
ma" said Edith. sitting her rage.
Does any one want to buy your
picture?"
"No, no, mamma; | am only advised
to put it in Smells window. | shall
do it, and-well, we shall see."
And the rest of the morning Edith
sat nursing her anger as she piled her
brush and pencil. Her modification
was gone, and in its stead burned
fierce hatred toward Stretton. She
would never forgive him, she vowed
hotly; and she would be famous yet,
and powerful, too.
"Abominably bad" The picture
should 60 to Snell's that very after
noon, and the public should judge, as
Mr.. Boggs suggested.
And to Snell's il went, but not to
remain long. The next morning when
Edith passed the shop, no blue and
brick-color Macbeth graced the win
dow.
With quite sensation" she en-
entered and learned that it had been
sold an hour before to a gentleman
who would like two more Shakspearean
subjects if she would paint them.
She walked home as if crowned with |
laurels, and she entered the little |
semi-detached house as she would en- !!