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

The artist pronounced it an ex-
cellent smile. Life was like sau-
sages, he agreed-piquant and allur-
ing to the ncstrils; if it proved less
satisfying to the palate and tickled |
curiosity you must shut your eyes
and down it," asking no questions.
The girl, wary of ridicule, eyed him
with suspicion. She crIed out sud
denly, Wishing she was dead"
My good soul, Why" pausing a /
brush suspended in the air. Death is
extinction. a long, idle sleep: and to
be idle is to be damned, which isl
the only creed l act on. No, Tdl
rather be a live dog than a dead king
any day" The sketch was finished;
he grew genial once more. ITO die is
to lose such power as we may possess
and we all of US possess power of
some sort, my child, # it's only that
supreme one Of making ones self
unpleasant
He chuckled like man who had
never wasted his.
With a twist of her fine shoulders
the tramp arose to go.
Il must be movin'." she said, and
bent to lift her bundle.
The artist watched her
You'd better change your mind
She shook her head
You're foolish"
''P'raps," she sighed. cord knows"
And moved away
Here, stop!" He called her back
Take this-no nonsense, now!" He
forced the money into her nand
Now, smile" She looked at HIM
''Smile, in the name OF decency, or
you'll haunt me in my sleep!" She
smiled-in heavy wonder. There,
there, be off,
He was half-impatient, more with
himself than her. She stood at his
elbow, as if loath to leave his side.
"It must be fine to make pictures,
said the tramp.
cit must be finer to make money"
said the artist
He began scrawling his name in
green paint across the canvas.
'Is it for the Royal Academy" she
said.
What do you know about the
Royal Academy pray?"
ooh, nothin', RELY; but I've been
there once afore"
''The deuce you have" turning in
was your first sitting?"
80 'tis-to remember; 1 was
baby the larst time. Father took
me, e wos a artist, too''
THE devil he was! You never
, told me that
"'E wos though, a reel 'un, not a
bloomin' pavement chalker"
He laughed.
That's understood, since he was a
Royal Academician. What was his
I name?'
Il amt a-goin' to tell"
"What was the subject?"
81 wos-in long clothes. Mother
, remembers it; it wos the time e come
to see 'er, an she saw the picture
afterward in 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 your"
''Course she did, lots O. times
She was proud to think e d noticed
me. I wos lynn, Almost naked, on
some Notwithstanding steps, an my
eyes wos wide open, lookin' up'ards
! at the stars
The Love Child'!''
That's it! You've seed the picture,
too?'
"Often," quietly; cts copied quite
a deal"
His hand was growing careless; it
swerVed and the brush slipped. The
girl cried out; there was a daub
across the canvas.
There now" regretfully, you've
made a smudge acrost yer name. 1t
looks like I was paddlin' in a puddle
O green paint"
The artist did not answer
I'm glad o. enc thing, though"
more cheerfully; them boots are hid
I amt stickin' my toes out for the
birds to roOst on"
Still he did not answer. His ST
Ience and abstraction were taken as
dismissals. She hitched up her bun
die, wishing him Good day."
mo; wait a Bit" He got up for |!
the first time, and came and stood be- !
fore her. Wont you shake hands
before you go, my-my dear?"
Bewildered, but gratif1ed, she gave |
him hers at once. 1t was rough and !
sunburned, and perhaps not over !
clean, yet there was curious resem-
blance between the tramp's hand and /
his own. He dropped it hurriedly.
How old are you, my child?"
Eighteen, come Christmas.
His eyes were on her face; they
studied it intently. !
'Ah-h!" he said, and dropped few
steps back. We'll, goodbye. Good
luckt God bless you'll
Her eyes filed with tears.
What are you crying for?''
cat you. You spoke so kind; you
made me think O. mother"
"a hint for your future guidance -
His voice was hard again Never
trust a man because he appears kind
They're mostly dangerous, and often
the worst sort"
The change in his tone depressed
her.
"Ches 'nuts!" she sighed forlornly;
pore mother told me that"