The Press., 1898-09-22
TRAMP AND ARTIST.

Ihank NIOd TOT aII 6nlnBS DeauGl- 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 fumbled 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 a ciga- rette after it, 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 a maiden effort. That was evi- dent. He laughed when the thing rolled smoking to his feet.
 Presently the girls gaze wandered to the canvas | "Is that me?'' she asked and paused and flushed resentfully.
 "A doubtful likeness, since you fail to recognize it" He laughed.
 "It looks" she said and stopped.
 "Well?" he urged, expectant of ( quaint criticism.
 Like a play actress-in tights" shs 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 iron them. She resented even the resem blance of @ curve. The thing was hu moroua
 He turned and glanced at the canvas
 Yes, he had outlined the figure some what daringly, but then it was tha grand sweep from knee to shouldel which had first attracted him. He haC passed her earlier in the day, sitting by the roadside combing out her hair-haC 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 t. him.
 She still regarded the picture, line of dissatisfaction puckering her brows
 Well" said the ""tist.
 "Them boots of ln--.," she answered A pause. "Couldn't you rub 'em out?' persuasively. "I've got better pair spring side uns, in my bundle.
 The artist shook his head. They wert bad boots, he conceded, but good art.
 "Is it for the Royle academy?" sh, said.
 What do you know about the Roya academy, pray?" "Oh, nothin, reely, but I've beel there once afore."
 "I thought you told me this wa your first sitting?'
 "So 'tis-to remember; l was a bab the larst time. Father took me. 'E wa @ artist too. 'E wos a reel un, though not a paivement chalker."
 He laughed.
 That's understood, since he was Royal academician. What was hi name?''
 "I ain't a-goin to tell"
 What was the subject?" "I wos-in long clothes Mother re members it. It wos the time e come see 'er, an she saw the picture after ward in a winder in Pall 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 you?"
 "'Course she did, lots of times. Sh was proud to think 'e'd noticed me. wos lyin almost naked on some worku lookin steps, an my eyes wos wide oper lookin up ards at the stars"
 The Eove ChildP"
 That's itl You've seed the pictur too?''
 "Often," quietly. "It's copied quit deal"