The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-02-10
A Glimpse Of POlly's Art
{ BY Leroy M. Scott.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

il door OF ROXY SluulO WITHOUT gum
ing response, and was turning disap-
pointedly away when there was a
sound of movement within. / paused,
the door opened, and Polly stood be-
fore me. A hideous checked apron
fnveloped her from chin to toes, a
palette was over her left thumb, and
brush was in her teeth. On the tip
Of her nose there was patch of green
paint, and at this / smiled before
said a word.
She took this smile as challenge.
sWell, what are you grinning at?" she
demanded. i knew at once that Polly
was having an ION" day.
"At your nose" / answered, cheer
fully.
AT my nose!" She took the brush
out of her mouth and stared indig-
Eantly at me.
"Yes, it's green-a beautiful emer-
aid green"
us that ALL" Polly quickly rubbed
her right sleeve across her face, there
by transforming the splotch TO a green
smear that extended from nose-tip TO
right ear. "What do j care for a
Ettle paint! But l suppose you want
to come imp"
That's what / came up for"
II guess you'll have to, then. But
do you see that sign?" She indicated
with her brush the card on the door
which bore the statement: "Unless on
business, call after FIVE"
"Oh, i noticed that. But this is only
me-"
~ can see that much. You don't
suppose I'd take you for anybody else,
do you? But come in, IL you're going
to. Don't stand there all day"
/ looked at Polly and whistled, but
not line of her face relaxed. She
moved out OF the doorway and
walked into the room and dropped
down on the couch. Polly took the
seat before the easel and began dab
bing viciously at the paint on her
palette.
"What's the matter with you,
Polly?" l asked at length. you're off
color this afternoon"
"You think 500" She turned and
looked at me.
decidedly. Not only here"-I ran
n forefnger from my nose across TO
my right ear-"but all over. You're
out of sorts"
swell, who wouldn't be?" she de-
manded, with a jerk OF her head
'Ive just had time with q fat wom-
an who has n double chin. Just like
this" Polly scowled and drew in
her chin until the skin beneath it lay
in folds. i smiled, the mimicry left
Polly's face and she was smiling, too.
sand she wants to look pretty in a
picture"
impossible" i declared.
"Not at ALL" corrected Polly. "That
is, IL you have no conscience, and a
portrait painter should have none. But
just look at thisl" She leaned back
and gazed hopelessly at the canvas.
"Here I've been painting without
thinking, and have worked that double
chin back in. It's discouragingi 1
forget sometimes and paint things as
they are. Next thing I'll get her
mustache in-she really has one, Tom
land then I'll be ruined"
''You have high IDEALS / com
mented.
'Idealsl" she shifted. ideals, in
dcedl i used TO have them-high ones,
too. came near starving in those DAYS.
i haven't any now, and-well. / can
spend all of my money, but I'm not
starving. I've learned the whole secret
of portrait painting. You want to
make them look handsome. Ideals are
all right"
Polly paused TO rub some brown into
the background.
"Yes," 1 prompted.
But they won't buy hats. And
what's life without hais?"
This was poser and l admitted as
much.
''Ideals are all right IL you can afford
che luxury" Polly continued. III can't.
Those who"
A knock brought Polly's lecture TO
sudden end. When she opened the door
heard woman's voice, voice that
was far from soft.
81 decided 10 come back and take an
other look al that picture. l hardly
think am just satisfied with it,"
"Why, of course, Mrs. Wilson. Core
right In"
Polly stepped TO one side. and there
moved into the room, will, great
rustling OF silk, short woman who
probably would call herself portly,
whom the advertisements OF flcsh-re-
ducing compounds would call obese
and whom !, less polite than either.
Eould call fat Her chin was double