Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-09-29


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 a
quaint criticism.
Like a play actress In tights" she
finished, frowning heavily.
He chuckled. The remark amused
him. He knew so many "play-act
reSses in tights" who would shrink
from contact with this dusty wayside
wanderer Yet, in turn, this vagrant
shrank from them. She resented
even the semblance of 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
attitude-he had retraced his steps,
and asked her to sit for him.
She still regarded the picture
lines Of dissatisfaction pickering her
brows,
'Well?" said the artist
Them boots o. mine she an
swered A pause. Couldn't you rub
'em out?" persuasively; "springside
'uns in my bundle"
The artist shook his head They
were bad boots, he conceded, but
good art.
"Oh well, she said, ''if that's
it, adding vaguely, I'm forgive a
gent lot IL 'e's good earted."
A horsey- looking man his out
spread legs encased in skin-tight
light cart. He leered at the girl in
passing
Who's your friend?"
The tramp's brows lowered.
''He amt no friend o mine"
"Oh, come now" lightly; you're
hot so solitary as | thought, appar-
emily To be sure, y u're too young
and too good looking to lack company
by the way"
81 needn't" she said and smiled in
great contempt. THAT cove offered
me a lift larst night further up the
road"
"The deuce he did! Well" with
the easy tolerance of an avowed
Bohemian, weren't you rather foolish
to refuse2"
She sent a scowl after the dust
enyeloped wheels.
Pm on my own since mother
died" she said. when l want a pal,
I'll choose my own company,
The artist laughed
That's right, my dear; l commend
your judgment; the serpent in this
case was an ugly looking customer, ="
He pulled at his pipe in silence
so mothers dead presently.
Dear. dearl That's bad" He
struggled with a ylwn What did
she die Off" vaguely sympathetic,
Booze" returned the tramp, but
spoke so gravely he checked a ris-
ing laugh
and ia. Ho~e is her"
She shrugged her shapely shoulders.
"Gcrd knows" She sat up, coiling
up her hair Where do the fathers
of pore gal children go?"
He nodded comprehensiyely curry
ing his thumb downward,
The girl laughed.
Amt that the place wot's paved
with good intentions? Well, father
never 'ad any lords mother, so e
won't go there
STOPPING for his brushes. he be
gan touching up the canvas.
"Well-father being an accident,
and mother given to drink-you led
a nice life of it between them, |
suppose?"
Father was gentleman. Il only
see me once"
when he salyed mothers con-
science with alimony, | presume?'
He laughed the laugh of the cyn'c
who blase sins no more. History
repeats Itself in matters OF the kind.
And she beat you, OF course? Half
starved you IN her cups'?"
"Wot! motner?" The girl looked
up fire flaming in her eye "a angel
OF a woman--when she wer mt In
drink, poor SOUL"
She stopped and sighed. He was
struck by her expression He went on
questioning. working rapidly the
while
what did you do for living?
Had you any trader"
I'VE WIS artificial flower maker
in the winter time" she said; 'in
the summer we spent tramping, and
earned a bit at oppng."
" Opping?"
"Yus. 'op picking. That's wot I'm
doing now"
Il see Where are you making
for?"
"A bit further up the road. TO a
place where they know me. We're