, 1902-02-24
The Man in Corduroy.
BY E. J. APPLETON.

'N-' ~ N&iS ckoIy W.. WI
She sat on the top rail Of the ram
bling old fence and looked critically at
the landscape before her. Her hat
was tipped from her white forehead,
releasing a dozen tendril-lke yellow
curls. slightly dampened by her walk
In the summer sun. Her short skirt
was q trife higher than her governess
the only mother she had ever known
would have sanctioned, revealing .
round and pretty ankle dressed in
dainty black silk hose: and under one
arm she carried a box Of paints and
brushes. In her lap a light camp stool
rested.
1T is pretty" she said, after a time,
and it Is absurd for me to attempt to
paint it: but what can one do? We
must begin ambitious work sometime,
or we will never be classed among the
immortals Of art. Hitch your wagon
to a star or-Oh! OH"
The quotation was cut short by an
ominous cracking Of decayed rails and
the next moment the pretty girl with
the yellow curls and the high ambi-
ton had sat down very hard and very
suddenly In a patch Of clover on the
other side of the fence.
you cannot hope to become fam
GUS" she added calmly enough.
though tears came to the blue eyes as
she spoke. Then. before she could re-
cover herself and her equilibrium a
calm voice back of her asked, May I
help you up?"
Dorothy Mann turned quickly. A
bearded man, with a much worn suit
of corduroy. and carrying a heavy
rake. was holding out a helping hand
to her. mo. thank you" she an
swered, getting to her feet with all the
dignity at her command. while her
cheeks grew becomingly red. d
The fence Is not very strong"
No" said he gravely, st isn't. l
hope to get around to 1t this week,
however. and will repair it as we'll as
I can"
Dorothy took the camp stool he was
offering her and looked at the man az
II she had expected the interruption to
her noble resolve.
Il suppose you are one OF Mr.. Van
Dykes workmen?" she said. His
sanE-froid. with the evident common
ness Of attire seemed strangely incon-
gruous to her.
II am-Yes. Miss" he said, touch
ing his hat respectfully. The motion
was not awkward, and the hat seemed
inclined to come all the way of in
place of being merely disturbed mo-
mentarily by his hand. A throb Of ar
tistic fervor made itself felt in the lit
tie artists breast. The newcomer was
good looking, and she made q quick
resolve.
Are you busy now?" she asked, in
her most business-like tone. "If you
are not I would like to have you pose
for me to paint you. Half an hour
will be long enough. You can do 1t
easily. I am sure. and it would be half
Z dollar extra for you. without work.
OF course Mr.. Van Dyke would lose
your time while I have it, but he is a
rich man, I understand. and he would
not know anything about it."
A brief smile fitted over the labor
er's tired face, and Dorothy wondered
quickly II she had been guilty of any
high crime in suggesting the matter
to him. Then the man spoke. Thank
you. miss" he said. "Ill be glad to
pose for you. Mr.. Van Dyke isn't any
friend Of mine, eve IL l do work for
him. and he wouldn't dare say any
thing II he found it out. Where'l I
stand?"
Right there by the fence" said
Dorothy, breathing easier now that
she saw the man was inclined to BE-
respectful and glad Of the opportunity
she found for q figure study. I'll
be ready In = moment. Just lean
against the fence and turn your head
the other way. Yes, hold the rake the
way you have 1t now. Don't look at
me, but Just think Of what you have
to do IN the place tomorrow. There"