The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-18

to her, her poor troubled brain was still
half asleep, never to wake again, and
that all her woes of those past five
years were forever lost to her NOM
DRY.
The girl knew not how to reply. Bus.
luckily, the old woman had already
forgotten her question and was busy
getting tea through force of habit.
Next morning, at the hour when the
milkman is commencing his rounds and
most little girls are still slumbering,
Gretchen was preparing the oat meal
porridge, which was all that consti-
tuted breakfast for this small house
hold, Granny was still asleep, and was
likely to sleep we'll on Through the af-
ternoon, after the cruel blow of the day
that had Just passed.
How to win shelter and food for two
at the tender age of eleven was the
problem that confronted this child.
But Gretchen was brave little thing
and she never doubted but that she
would find a way.
1t was the day the rent collector
made his rounds. SO she waited Tor
him. When this money-eating dragon
had been fed, leaving Granny's worn
purse pathetically thin, Gretchen got
ready to go out. Carefully folded away
in drawer was a quaint little cap and
gown which Granny had made for her
a couple of years before. 1t was pat
terened exactly after the clothes worn
by little girls in Holland. Granny had
herself come from that quaint land
when a girl, and it brought back dear
memories of her youth to see Gretchen
attired as true daughter of the Meth
erlands.
Gretchen vaguely felt she must look
her best, so she arrayed herself in her
Dutch garb, and with a parting kiss on
the forehead of her sleeping Granny
the child went softly down the stairs
and down the street to find the tall
building on the top floor of which was
the manufacturer of paper flowers.
"Tll tell the man that I've watched
Granny make the flowers so often that
l know 1 can make 'em-lots and lots
of 'em. An I'll tell him I'm very
strong!" so the child rambled on 10
herself as she battered quickly along
the hot pavement. Several people
turned to gaze after the quaint little
figure And one urchin, who sat on the
curb sucking a big piece or ice, remoV-
| ed the glistening mass and yelled
/ tauntingly after her.
Inst ahead of her doomed a beautiful
! green park with a big marble arch In
| the center. 1t didn't look familiar. She
| had walked once or twice with her
1 -
way. somehow, had led through din
| gier, dirtier streets.
Just then she caught sight OF a tan
building a little way ahead, so she
went in and inquired for a man VINO
made paper flowers. But there was no
such man there. DISAPPOINTED, lhe
child went on until she came TO an
other tall structure, which looked TO
her as though it must be the Tlgnt
place. But how many such places
there were and how much alike tney
seemed!
Gretchen kept bravely on, but she
was oh! so tired and heart-sick; and,
worst of all, she had completely iost
her way.
For about the tenth time the child
climbed YEARLY UP the front steps OF
a fine big building. 1t displayed sign.
"Studios to let" at the entrance, and
she asked of the elevator man: is
there a gentleman here who makes
flowers, If you please?"
The man smiled at the third little
girl in her queer costume. You mean
who paints flowers, / guess!" he said.
eyes. You'll find him on the top fioor!"
ION the top floor thought Gretchen.
Eyes. that must be the man; he was
on the top floor" The girl remembered
that much.
With a sigh of relief she got in the
elevator and was wbirled upwards.
1.-THE third door to the left" said the
elevator man, pointing down a narrow
corridor.
The door happened to be ajar so af-
ter knocking and receiving no response
Gretchen pushed IL open and went in
timidly.
Never in her life had Gretchen seen
such a wonderful room. The walls
were covered with wonderful pictures
and old armor and tapestries. There
were soft, beautiful touches. tea ta-
BILE and many wonderfully carved
chairs. A big easel stood near the CEN
ter of the room, and resting on 1t was
a square frame covered with plain can
vas A wooden stool was before the
easel; and at it's foot were a palette
and innumerable brushes. At the other
side of the easel q big easy chair
yawned !nvitingly, and Gretchen Slip
ped into IT with weary little sign.
II guess the man'll be back soon.
I'll jes' wait for him" she murmured,
and so fell fast asleep.
How long Gretchen slept she never
knew, but suddenly she was aware OF
a queer little scratching noise, mingled
with the low humming of deep bass
voice. With the guilty feeling Of a SOL
uleT WHO ndS olcPb Of MS poots NhN
child sat up in the chair and rubbed
her eyes In wonder. A man with a soft
brown beard and the kindest eyes was
working away at the easel. He looked
up as Gretchen awoke and broke into
a merry laugh.
Hello, young one" ne said cheerily
HAD a nice nap?" And then laying
down a piece of pointed charcoal he
beckoned to Gretchen. Come, child,
and tell me how you came to run IN
here"
Gretchen did not answer for a few
minutes. She was gazing with open
mouth at a sketch of herself fast asleep
in thes easy chair, which had most
magically appeared on that square of
canvas.
"why, that's mel" gasped the child.
"It will be you If you'll come here
every day for couple of weeks and
sit in that chair for me and go to
sleep" said the man. Now, tell me,
child, what brought you here?"
Then Gretchen told him.
She was standing at his knee when
she began, but before she was done
sobbing out the little tragedy the man
with the brown beard was holding her
tight in his arms. And, somehow, in
the way he held her, Gretchen felt her
troubles fall away from her and melt
In thin air.
And that is the story of how Crotch.
en- became an artists model.
Gretchen had always been a quiet
little thing. and so 1t seemed an alb
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