The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-06-03

The painter raised his head, having
overheard the remarks, and there was
a little smile of appreciation on his
clear-cut lips.
1.-The carpenters made it disagreeable
for YOU, did they?" There was quiet
reserve in his manner that convinced
me Immediately that he was gentle
man. Otherwise l should not have en-
| couraged him to continue, on the girls
account, though I was burning with an
i old mans curiosity to know what kind
of a sign it was to be.
l looked at the girl, and thanked
heaven that he was gentleman, for
| saw in her face the dawn of a
| healthy interest in the proposed adver-
| tisement did not at the time imagine
| for moment that the interest eX-
| tended to the painter, and still do. not
think so, though realize only too well
| that am old and that love moves with
unrelentine swiftness in these days. At
least she was well-bred miss and
not fiirtatiously inclined.
Eyes, the carpenters were noisy
lot" | admitted, after mature refiec-
ton. Then ] launched out to satisfy
| my-perhaps | should say Our-crav-
ing for knowledge What is the sign
TO be-" | queried, endeavoring to sup
press any suspicion of rudeneSS in my
tone. The question had the double ef-
feet of securing the somewhat unln-
teresting information, and of letting
the painter forever into our good
graces. You see | have adopted the
plural now without excuse, and the
girls wide-eyed interest and seeming
dependence on my good judgment was
beginning to justify it.
"A cigar sign" he announced pleas
antly, pausing in his preparations ano
glancing upward, as if to see how the
intelligence was received. | f1atter my
self that | have now reached an age
when l can assume a stoical cast OF
countenance under stress of deep anc
lasting disappointment. 1t was not 81
with the girl, however. Her face no
only gave evidence of displeasure, bu
she voiced the feeling in words Th'
words were:
"How perfectly horrid!"
The painter laughed immoderately.
was certain now that he was no boor
for it takes brave and courageou
man to stand woman's scorn of hi
work. He was not without reason TO
his courage, though, and l must no
over-rate his good nature.
But this is not going to be horri'
sign he said. Its going to be hand
some and attractive" Here's youni
American assurance. l thought.
Il am commissioned by the manu-
; features of the Dorothy cigar" n
continued, ''to illumine this sign wit
; the head of a charming woman. Sh
. must be beautiful and alluring in tn
; extreme If l succeed my future
, assured, and my fortune also"
"And do you feel certain that yo
, will be able to paint such a face?
asked She
e He looked at her intently for me
: ment. 81 was somewhat doubtful c
2 it when | took the contract" he sai(
2 "but am beginning to feel that possibl
3 I may be able to accomplish somethin
r that will help to sell the Doroth
[ cigar"
That ended our first conversation
OF course we could not see the work h
was doing, as the sign-board was i'm
I mediately below us and against tn
building. l was, moreover, unable
L go down stairs that evening, being cor
: fined to my room by painful attac
: of rheumatism, although l was haunte
y by a strange suspicion, and was MOI
than anxious to have glance at I'll
: rough outline on the sign-board NJ
e was | able to move about much til
{ following day.
The painter arrived bright and earl
and | was awakened by combinatiC
u of harmonious melody, which emanate
Il from a masculine whistle below an
a girls voice from the next room. tt
u three of us exchanged salutations ar
'. discussed weather conditions witho,
u variance Presently l found intel
&c watching from the window more pail
~ full than pleasant, and sank back fro
sight into my rocker. Then it was
became an unwilling, and at first III
." willing eavesdropper. The first r
= mark that reached my ear was the fo
! lowing from the girl:
- "Is this beautifully woman you a
painting to be a blonde or abr
:. nette?" She hesitated slightly on tt
= last word
(Which do you consider advisable
=. The slap of his brush had ceased, al
w knew he was losing valuable tim
N 1 could also guess that his eyes we
20 elsewhere than on his work.
n "Why blonde, of course. Ever
e. body thinks blondes are more attraC
OF i've than brunettes.' The girl spol
20 in a manner that brought to my mil
a number of impressions, chief amor
f. them being that she did not me;
tn what she said. Realizing that she W
| probably conscious, or should be, of
j. own dark beauty, l could not bril-
Is myself to censure her.
f. "a blonde it will be. then" was /
quick reply.
in But you have such dark supp
err of paint. How will you be able to pal