, 1898-07-08
TRAMP AND ARTIST.

back of her rough hand, and the artist
felt for his pipe.
He found it and fumbled for sone
matches, laying palette and brushes
carefully on the ground.
The matches found, he struck one.
~Encountering in the process a glance
from curious eyes, he sent the box spin
ming in their owners lap.
Join me?' he said, and, the tramp
acquiescing with a nod, tossed n ciga-
rette after it, as he had some time before
tossed her his luncheon out of tho wal
let at his feet.
She picked it up and fingered it, then
placed it somewhat gingerly between
her lips.
1t was a maiden effort. That was evil
dent He laughed when the thing rolled
smoking to his feet.
Presently the girls gaze wandered to
the canvas.
els that NEE" she asked and paused
and flushed resentfully.
"a doubtful likeness, since you fail
to recognize it." He laughed.
at looks, she said and stopped.
"Well?" he urged, cxpectant of q
quaint criticism.
"Like a play actress-in tights" she
finished, frowning heavily.
He chuckled. The remark amused
him. He knew SO many play actresses
in tights" who would shrink from CON
tact with this dusty waysidc wanderer,
yet in turn this vagrant shrank from
them. She resented even the resem-
blance Of a curve. The thing was hu.
morOus.
He turned and glanced at the canvas.
Yes, he had outlined the figure some
what daringly, but then it was that
grand sweep from knee to shoulder
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 strapped to shoulder,
humming gayly. But-struck by some
thing in the girls attitude-he had re-
traced his steps and asked her to sit to
him.
She still regarded the picture, lines
of dissatisfaction pickering her brows.
well" said the artist.
"Them boots of mine," she answered.
A pause. Couldn't you rub 'em out?'
persuasively. "I've got a better pair,
spring side uns, in my bundle"
The artist shook his head. They were
bad boots, he conceded, but good art.
"Is it for tho Roylo academy?' she
said.
what do you know about the Royal
academy, pray?"
"Oh, nothin, RELY. but Two been
there once afore."
II thought you told me this was
your first sitting?"
$50 'tis-to remember; I was n baby
the larst time. Father took me. e was
q artist too. e wos a reel un, though,
not n pavement chalker."
He laughed.
"That's understood, since he was a
Royal academician. What was his
nnme?'
II amt a-goin to tell"
"What was the subject"
II wos-in long clothes. Mother re-
members it. 1t wos tho time Q come to
SEQ 'er, an she saw tho picture after
ward in q winder in Pail Mall"
He was embellishing his signature
with a flourish of the brush when a
thought seemed to strike him and hold
him by the wrist.
"What was it like? Did your mother
ever tell you?"
"'Course she did, lots of times. She
was proud to think ed noticed me. !
wos lyin Almost naked on some workus
lookin steps, an my eyes wos wide open,
lookin up'ards at the stars"
1.-the Love Childr"
"That's It'll You've seed the picture
too?"
"Often," quietly. Its copied quito
a DEAL"
His hand was growing careless; it
swerved, and the brush slipped. The
girl cried out; there was a daub across
the canvas
''Thers now" regretfully, you've
made o smudge acrost your name.
The artist did not answer. His silence
and abstraction were taken rs dismiss
ais. She hitched up her bundle, wish
ing him good day.
"No, wait a bit" He got up for the
first time and came and stood before
her. Won't you shake hands before
you go, my-my dear??"
Bewildered, but gratified, she gave
him hers ut once. 1t was rough and
sunburned and perhaps not overclean,
yet there was y curious resemblance be.
tween tho trainp's hand and his own.
He dropped it hurriedly.
"HOw old nrt Won. my Child?'
Eighteen come Chris mas."
His eyes were Oil her face. They
studied it intentlJ.
"Ah-hi" he said and dropped a few
steps back. well. goodby. Good luck.
God bless you"
Her Dyes filed with tetrs.
what are yon crying tor?'
The tears brinimed over.
"At you. You spoke SO kind. You
made mo think of mother.
"A hint for your future guidance.
His voice was haSd again. "Nevar trust
. nan because lie appears kind. They
are mostly dangerous, and often tia
worst sort.
The change in his tone depressed her.
She sighed fo~rlornly. Pore mother
told me that"
His glance fell to earth. A pink tip
ped daisy was peeping above the grass.
He ground 1t into the sod with the toe
II HI heavy boot.
"Goodby again"
Gbe took his pro6ered hand.
'setnp thai. I can't bear to see .
~n~aA ~ww