Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-04-19
note book and pencil all ready.'

good studio for the summer. had no
notion then that would occupy it more
than few months. l enjoyed it i'm
mensely for time and set to work with
a will, making sketches OF the scenery.
1t was new and very fascinating WORK,
too. The atmosphere effects were so
different from anything had ever ex-
perienced, the color so new, that l was
in sort of artistic frenzy for once in
nv life that l scarcely knew whether |
ate or not.
I had been here about six weeks and
had made good many studies, which
| meant to finish up when returned to
the East. was in earnest and ambi-
tious then. and had my hopes of the
future as other men have, | suppose.
| had seen no one with the exception
of few prospectors on the hunt for
gold and silver. They minded their
own business, as men coon learned to do
in those days, and I was not bothered
nor my privacy intruded upon.
But one day as l sat busily painting
l heard step. soft rustic. and looked
up to see vision in my door way. A
young girl, but little more than 15years
of age. stood there with her hand rest
ing upon the head Ola great mastiff dog.
The sight was so unexpected that for
moment thought of optical illusions
and rubbed my eyes, expecting the pic
ture to vanish; bat instead it advanced
and the dog came and poked his cold
most into my hand, asking after the
manner of his kind, for notice and ca
resses. As for his mistress, she stood
looking about her as child might have
done, and indeed she was but little
more.
'Haye you lost your way:' l asked
her gently.
'Oh, no. SIR she said with a faint
smile. Knight and never get lost.
Do We Knight:
At the mention of his name the dog
turned and stood by her, and wac glad
to see that he would indeed be reck-
less man who would dare modest her.
Will you sit down and restT | asked
pushing one of my camp stools toward
her.
Knight and | never get tired, do we
Knight she asked but she sit down
and put her arm around the dog s neck.
'Do yon live hereY she asked.
l Ireplied that | did and fell to Won
dering where the child could have
strayed from. She now caught sight of
my work and drew near with wonder in
her eyes.
YOU must be like Cod she said TO
make mountains and canyons like that
YOU give me greater praise than |
deserve l SAID, but here are some more
pictures you look at them?'
I turned them for her, and it was a
strange sensation to watch her face,
filled as it was with wonder and awe.
'Do you like pictures!' l asked.
u never saw any BEFORE she said, 'ex-
cept black and white ones, little ones,
you know, in papers and books. l
liked them, but these Oh!-- She clasped
her hands and | saw that she was tromb-
ling. u don think that anybody in
the world could make pictures like
these
While she looked at them looked at
her, and nv wonder grew as | gazed.
She was a slender little creature olive
skinned, and with great mass Of dusky
hair gathered into braid which hung
below her waist. Her features We're
delicate and regular, her eyes large,
brown and full of the stunt mberlng fires
of unwakened womanhood; but her
mouth was the feature that caught and
riveted my attention. 1t was 80 un-
so inexpressably sad in the
pathetic curves of the small red lips.
Does your knight like pictures? |
asked, trying to win a smile. The faint
est ghost of one crossed her face.
Yes, he likes whatever like 81
Knight knows as much as
any of u.s.
returned to my sketching in some
Had she been, indeed.
the child l at first supposed, to question
ber or amuse her would have been easy;
but as it was could only await her
pleasure. Presently she came to my
side.
My mother used to say she said
;imidly, that if l prayed to the Holy
Mother Mary she would hear me and
give me what I asked for. Do you
;hink she will.
u hope SO, with all my heart / said,
but what do you wish for most Of all"