Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-19

He must have been a mere infant,
growled the old man as he looked very
hard at the youth.
Isl, signore" smiled the latter, lin
re infantry"
Anyway" said the girl, hastily, he
had to flee, and when he reached this
country he was very poor. He was so
poor that he had to take any employ
ment he could find. So he became a
waiter in an Italian restaurant.
Me passa de Spaghet." said the
youth with his unblushing smile.
That's the way he got the name of
4 Plates" said the girl, " and it has chung
to him ever since"
/ The old man looked from the girl to
the youth.
That's very interesting" he said.
But how do know anything about his
ability? Because man has been :,
refugee and a waiter in a nacaroni
restaurant is no sign he can paint por-
traits Here have an idea. He shall
paint my portrait. Yes, this very even
ing. I won't require him to finish 1T.
but he must make start
/ The youth started at the word. So
did the girl.
l have re important" he began
| but the old man Interrupted him.
Your engagement will have to wait"
he sharply remarked.
But 1 have not re tools, re br-r-
rush, re palletta."
That's all right" said the old man.
Everything will be provided He
turned to the girl. when your uncle
Jim hurried away to accept that con-
sulate he left all his painting apparatus
in his studio up stairs. Has it been
disturbed"
II think not" said the girl family.
Come on" cried the old man, and
ushered the youth to the foot OF the
stairs. You go first, Alice, and l will
bring up the rear.
SO they passed up the broad stair
way, the girl reluctantly leading ana
the old man grimly following close be-
| hind the youth.
When they reached the room on the
| third floor that had been the studio
| the gas was lighted and all the tools
of the departed artist were found in
good order and within easy reaching
distance. There was even a clean can
vass on the easel.
The old man motioned the youth to
the low painting chair and himself took
| a seat dozen feet away.
Never mind the pose," he said. Just
paint me in any fashion that comes
| handy. And don't lose any time
The youth picked up the palette and
spread little color upon it. Then he
seized the brush.
You like re hattering portraita?' he
asked.
certainly not" growled the banker.
l"Paint me as am"
| Not for IL public exhibition, said
| the youth as he made dab at the can
| vass.
"Eh! OF course not. Do you think
want lot of silly fools commenting on
my appearance? Go thead.'
The youth dabbed again at the canvas
and then cast furtive glance at the
girl. She was sitting at one side OF the
room on a low stool with her elbows
on her knees and her chin resting on
her hands, and her expression was a
comical combination OF amusement and
| anxiety.
"ze newa school Of painting is deef-
| erent from re Old" said the youth, as
he smeared the white surface.
rs it?" growled the old man. you
surprise me. Still, it seems very pos
| sible."
"ze old arteest used to glorify re
curved line" said the unabashed paint
| err. 'Now eet ees re straighta line.
Zere ees no skeel in using re curved
| line. Anybody can do Eat. But when
you TAXA re straighta line. and usa re
straighta line alone, ah, Eat ees gr-r-
reat!"
| Are you going to use the straight
| line alone on my face?" demanded the
old man.
st ees my intentione." replied the
artist. ut gives zee square and upright
expressions. Ze signor has re vary
straighta face
"Oh. have, have II" grunted the old
man, and his sharp eyes suddenly turn
ed towards his daughter But she was
demurely studying the ceiling.
How you like zee nose?"
"The nose? My nose? Why, just as it
is, of course
"A leetle pale, signor?"
Pale? OF course not
you like re countenance in repose?"
Yes"
wiz re eyes shut?"
NO! Is that your idea of repose?"
So the artist painted on, and the old
man sat and glowered at him, and the
girl held her position and furtively
watched them both.
Presently the youth took out his
watch and hung it on the easel.
II breaka re record" he said.
What record?" the old man demand
ed. i
"ze record for re finished portraita
while you wait"
You don't mean to say you have 1t
all done?"
"All excepta one ear. signor," replied
the youth. "Zere eet ees compleet! All, |
divina art! I can see re lofely daugh- |
ters looks in re fathers face! Zere!"
And he pulled the easel around.
The old man came forward slowly.
Then he shrank back
"Wh-what!" he gasped. us that me?
Why, you unmitigated daub. I've seen |
better portraits than that on a child's |
slate! It's villainous! You make me
look like a tramp in fog. I ought to
hand you over to the police. Horrible!"
The youth drew a little nearer the
door and folded his arms.
You wouidna hand me over to re po-
r1.>,,n, n