The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-09-22
TRAMP AND ARTIST.

l.
full, - cried the artist.
"Thank God for my good dinner, -
said the tramp.
Then she wiped her mouth on the
back of her rough hand, and the artist
felt for his pipe.
He found it and fumb1ed for some
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 ciga-
rette after il, as he had some time before
tossed her his luncheon out of the wal
let at his feet
She picked it up and fingered it, then
placed it somewhat gingerly between
her lips.
It was maiden effort. That was evi.
dent He laughed when the thing rolled
smoking to his feet.
Presently the girls gaze wandered tc
the canvas.
"Is that me?" she asked and paused
and flushed resentfully.
GA doubtful likeness, since you fail
to recognize it. - He laughed.
cit looks, - she said and stopped.
"Well?'' he urged, expectant of &
quaint criticism.
''Like 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 wayside 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 tina
grand sweep from knee to shoulder
which had first attracted him. He haC
passed her earlier in the day, sitting by
the roadside combing out her hair-ha(
passed her, with his still buoyant stel
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 tx
him.
She still regarded the picture, line
of dissatisfaction pickering her brows
"Well, y said the artist.
'Them boots of ill.,, " she answered
A pause. Couldn't you rub 'em out?'
persuasively. 'I've got better pair
spring side uns, in my bundle. !"
L.
bad boots, he conceded, but good art.
lis it for the Royle academy" shC
said.
"What do you know about the Roya
academy, pray?"
"Oh, nothin, RELY, but I've beer
there once afore. J"
ST thought you told me this wa
your first sitting?"
$50 'tis-to remember; was a bah,
the larst time. Father took me. e wa
artist too. e wos reel I'm, though
not pavement chalker.
He laughed.
"That's understood, since he was I
Royal academician. What was hi
name?''
81 amt a-goin to tell. ;"
"What was the subject?"
81 wos-in long clothes. Mother re
members it. 1t wos the time e come t.
see 'er, an she saw the picture after
ward in winder in Pail Mall"
He was embellishing his signatur
with flourish Of the brush when
thought seemed to strike him and hol,
him by the wrist.
"What was it like? Did your mothe
ever tell your
Course she did, lots of times. Sh
was proud to think ED noticed me.
wos lyin most naked on some worku
lookin steps, an my eyes wos wide open
lookin up'a at the stars. -
The Eove Childl'
"That's it! You've seed the pictur
too?''
"Often," quietly. "It's copied quit
deal. /"
His hand was growing careless;