The record-union., 1899-09-10

L must do something foolish he
said. Twas too droll. Lady Tomkins
was unhappy, and her daughter was
piqued. The daughter will come again
to tell the vicar about his workmen. l
wish Jack Somers was here to have a
bout with the gloves. / feel ready for
any exercise after that scene. Painting
is cramping workout it has to be
done, and I'll do it, SO here goes again.
Perhaps some other ladyship will do
me the kindness to call and entertain
me-
Two days later Miss Tomkins drove
UP to the churchyard gate and alighted.
The footman carried into the church.
yard folding easel, a small canvas
and the other paraphernalia of an am
ateur artist. Then the carriage drove
mack toward the town. Miss TomkinS
carefully selected a position that prom
1sed a picturesque sketch of the church
ana or a cottage near it; she then set
up her easel and began operations.
Inere was no one else about, and Miss
Tomkins wondered whether any one
was IN the church. Was the young
painter at work there? Palette and
brush IN hand, she arose and sauntered
intothe church After looking all around
she went to the altar rails No one
was visible, though there was a sound
as or some carpentering going on. The
sound came from the vestry, the door
OF which stood open. A man was
there IN his shirt sleeves, saving Wig
orously at a piece of wood which was
apparently intended to be a new leg
for an invalided form that lay on the
moor. The sawyer did not at first per-
celVe the presence of a stranger. and
1t was not until he had, in workman
like style, cut through the piece of
wood that Ire saw Miss Tomkins.
You are carpenter as well as g
painter, I find" said the intruder.
The vicar bowed. 81 can put my
hand to many things, fortunately .
Ihen he added: You, too, have come
over mere to work L perceive" indicat-
ing as he spoke the palette and brush.
Il suppose the vicar has no objection
to my taking sketch of the church? %
why should he-provided, of course.
| that you sketch it well?"
Miss Tomlzins felt that this was al
| most too much. and there was a twin
kle in the speakers eyes which ex-
pressed the consciousness that he might
be considered rude But he couldn't
help himself. The spirit of fun was
rampant in him
You can judge for yourself before I
take my picture away, if you care to do
So
I had better not look at it until it is
finished M
showing unfinished studies?"
But it will be too late to alter it
when it is finished. And you are your
self an artist in both wood and paint"
The vicar bowed at this. You will be
able to advise me- continued the lady
AN artist said the vicar, .'who is
willing to take advice. must be too good
one to need advice from me-"
Here he bowed again. He found the
interview deliciously piquant.
The lady turned to CO. but halted at
the Vestry door. II wonder whether
you are willing to take advice?''
L hope So replied the vicar, putting
down the saw and assuming an ex-
pectant attitude.
Then l should advise you to persuade
the vicar to beg a new set of forms
for this room, and to find you some
more slseful work than patching these
old rickety frames of worm-eaten tim
ber" SH
"A capital idea. New forms would not
cost much. 1t would save time and
| trouble if, without ceremony, 1 asked
whether you could not help US to get
new FORMS
Miss Tomkins laughed.
Il simply take your advice said the
vicar, alphabetically.
And l will do what you ask. Let the
vicar send to Robinson's in the town.
1 Will instruct him to make such forms
| as the vicar needs. My name is Tom
kins-my father is Sir George Tom
kins"
You are very generous, Miss Tom
k1ns; 1T shall be attended to as soon
as possible" Miss Tomkins flushed a
little when the carpenter addressed her
by name. "A most remarkable work
man." she said to herself Yet she
couldn't be offended-the fellows man
ner was perfect.
Il must go back to my painting" she
said.
And I must find some other job
| about the church" said the vicar.
! 1t was nearly two hours later that
the vicar, still without his coat, and
| wearing a workman's apron emerged
from the church, and walked toward
Miss Tomkins.
L came to ask if you We're still wish
full that 1 should see your sketch while
| it is in progress"
Certainly. 1 can't finish it to-day.
10
again.
| The vicar discovered much in the
| sketch to admire, and little to cor
rect. Once or twice Miss Tomkins
resented the freedom of his remarks
| she reflected, however, that she had
given the man a license to say what he
| pleased But when the painter-car-
penter, having finished his criticisms
dropped in a lounging attitude upon
the ground by her side. and began to
talk freely about the picturesqueness
| of the old church and the beauty of the
| view from the churchyard, she was on
the point of rising abruptly and indig-
nantly from her seat. She checked
herself, however: the fellow was evil
IDENTIFY quite unconscious of any i'm
propriety, and she would not offend
him unnecessarily. He interested her
to peculiar degree If he wished to
talk about the scenery for few min
utes she would humor him. The few
minutes lasted half an hour, dying
which time the most of the talk was
made by the painter carpenter
You seem to have read and thought