Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-01
priscilla's S
Pigeon.
r I'M BRUSHINGHAM, artist,
went to Trippville with two
fold purpose Of making progress


pictures. He chose Trippville because
1t combined certain qualities bucolic,
aristocratic, scenic and atmospheric,
that are supposed to make for the up
lift of aims aesthetic and pocketbook
plethoric. Mr.. Brushington. strange
to say, was broke. He could paint,
but, in the city at least, he couldn't
sell enough to buy tubes. He couldn't
afford to make daily excursions into
the country for subjects, and he had
paid so many board bills with pictures
that Tidwell and Parrish the sculptor
who had descended to bas-relief for
cigar signs, called him "the hash art
ist" Besides a young woman's col
lege which gave tone to the town,
Trippville had a hotel in which, as
Brushingham well knew, the custom
was to register when you came and
pay when you go. The town was situ-
ated upon the brink of shimmering
river, with an old stone mill, water
wheel, white birch in the bottom land,
orchards all over town and enough of
sheep, pigs and cattle to keep Rosa
Bonheur turning over in her hallowed
grave.
So Brushingham, one fine April day,
landed in the Tripp House, with his
field kit, his color boxes, his easel and
his trunk, and registered -. Clifton
Brushingham, Artist" with a bold
flourish that looked good for at least
weeks board. Tripp, the proprietor,
whose spectacles We're girded on with
Il snoestring. made a deep obeisance to
the distinguished guest, and before
dinner was over or Jim had completed
his count of the microscopic side dishes
he was thoroughly at home and ready
for the artistic conquest of Trippvlle.
By dint of painting Squire Dubecks or
chard and permitting Mrs. Dubeck and
all the little Dubecks to look over his
shoulder while he worked he learned
a goodly share of the village gossip.
He knew, for instance, that old Bill
Tripp was eight as the bark of
tree" but that his daughter Priscilla,
familiarly known as Pinkie. knew
"how to make the old mans money
fly"
Being n shrewd young man Jim
therefore resolved to "get in right"
with the fair daughter Of the house of
Trip, for besides being a girl of gen
erous impulses she was a member of
the graduating class at Tripp College,
and one of the Social favorites" as
well as one of the most "beautiful and
,,,lf fs1, 4 q
By leaving his door open on Saturday
and Sunday and turning his easel to-
ward it Jim soon succeeded In Turing
her into his studio, and the result was
round Of mutual admiration seances.
in which the plump girl with ribbons
in her hair and the slim artist with
brown curls became very we'll ac-
quaintcd. At the end Of his first week
Jim spent few breathless days, fear
ing that Trip would present his bill.
But his second Tuesday in the place
dawned brilliantly in the absence of
the dun, and the presence of an invita-
ton to "class tea" signed by the fair
Pinkie herself and written in the
latest angular hand upon Nile green
paper.
At the end OF the third week In
Trlppville half the girls at the college
were going in" for art, and Miss Pin
kie was trying to get up class. She
mad already picked up lot of his stu
dlo Jargon and was forever babbling
about atmosphere" "motifs" and
schools" Brushingham was invited
to address the "Twentieth Century
Ethical Circle" he donated n painting
OF the Trippville mill to the First Con
gfegational bazaar and received n let
Ter of praise from Mrs. Henrietta
Suggs who won it in the rattle. When
MS month was up" the artist was the
best-known man in town and very
popular, but when he sat down TO
hgure up his financial profits and losses
ne found that his assets and his liabili-
ties fully equal to the task of putting
MS balance on the wrong side of the
ledger. He hadn't sold anything. he
mad no pupils, his supply dealer was
commencing to ''roar," and, worst of
ALL Papa Trip was beginning to glow
er at him.
10 accentuate his tribulations Nam.
ma Tripp was beginning to smile omi-
nously upon him. He suspected that
she was responsible for her husbands
leniency about the bill but in her hon
eyed words and radiant smiles he
heard and saw the bodeful craft of a
matchmaking woman. Then Pinkie
suddenly came TO his relief with the
confidential assurance that she would
take lessons, mo matter what papa
said" EIe gave her a list of what she
would need, and she ordered enough
stuff to stock a studio. That bill for
artists materials put papa in an awful
temper. He didn't say anything, but
he looked at Jim as If he'd like Ia
throttle him. Meanwhile the lesson be.
gan and Mrs. Trlpp fairly scintillated
with joy. Brushingham was getting
nervous. Perhaps it was his over.
wrought imagination, but he thought
he detected some signs Of dawning ten.