Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-29
COMPANIONS OF THE ROAD.

Thank God for all things beaut1-
full" cried the artist.
THANK God for my good dinner!'
said the tramp.
Then she wiped her mouth on the
back CT hsr rough hand, and the
artist felt for his pipe.
He found it and fumbled for some
matches, laying palette and brushes
carefully on the ground.
The matches found, he struck one.
Encounterirg in the process a glance
from curious eyes, he sent the box
spinning in their owners lap.
Join me?" he said, and the tramp
acquiescing with a ned, he tossed a
cigarette after it, as ne had some
time before tossed her his luncheon
out of the wallet at his feet.
She picked it up and fingered it,
then placed it somewhat gingerly be-
tween her lips.
1t was a maiden effort; that was
evident He laughed when the thing
rolled, smoking, to his feet.
"D1n't like it, do you?"
She coughed and spluttered.
We'll, why the dickens did you
take it, then"
She was livid with discomfort, but
she raised her brows.
low are you to know nice from
narsty till yer've tried it,"
The artist laughed.
"Excellently argued, my wayside
philosopher He stretched his legs
with caution-on the camp-stool.
smiling cynically through a cloud Of
smoke. "Other peoples experiences
are never satisfactory. Get your own
first hand. I always do"
Some specks Of ash besprinkled her
worn gown. She shook it free Of
them with a careful hand. Then she
locked it in its fellow round her
knees, and sat looking at the artist
who, in turn, was looking at his pic
tuIe. And in the eyes of both dawned
a growing -eniality, born on the one
side Of artistic satisfaction, on the
other CT a grosser kind, derived from
a full stomach.
Presently the girls gaze wandered
to the canvas.
us that me?" she asked, and
paused and flushed resentfully.
"A doubtful likeness, since you fail
to recognize it, he laughed.
1T looks she said, and stopped.
''Well?" he urged, expectant Of
quaint criticism.
Like play actress-ln tights" she
finished, iIowning heavily.
He chuckled. The remark amused
him. He knew so many 'Fplay-act-
resses in tights" who would shrink
from contact with this dusty wayside
wanderer. Yet, in turn, this Vagrant
shrark from them. She resented
even the semblance Of a curve. The
thing was humorous.
He turned and glanced at the can
vas.
Yes, he had outlined the figure
somewhat daringly, but, then, it was
that grand sweep from knee to Shout
der which had first attracted him. He
had passed her earlier in the day,
sitting by the roadside combing out
her hair-had passed her, with his
still buoyant step and knapsack strap
ped TO shoulder. humming gayly. But
struck by something in the girls
had retraced his steps, !
and asked her to sit for him.
She still regarded the picture, |
lines Of dissatisfaction puckering her
brows.
''Wel?" said the artist.
Them boots O. mine" she an
swered. A pause. Couldn't you rub |
EN- out?" persuasively; ''springside
uns-in my bundle"
The artist shook his head. They
we're bad boots, he conceded, but
good art.
'Oh, we'll" she said, "if that's
!" adding vaguely, ''Pl f0rgive a
gent lot Il 'e's good 'earted."
A horsey-looking man, his out
spread legs encased in skin-tight