Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-08

OF a sign II was to be.
. I looked at the girl, and thanked
heaven that he was gentleman, fol
l saw in her face the dawn of q
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 we'll
that am old and that love moves with
unrelenting swiftness in these days. Al
least she was well-bred miss and
not flirtatiously inclined
eyes, the carpenters were a noisy
| lot," l admitted, after mature reflec-
| ton. Then I launched out to satisfy
my-perhaps I should say our-crav-
| ing for knowledge. What is the sign
| to be-" i queried, endeavoring to sup
press any suspicion Of rudeness in my
tone. The question had the double eff
teresting information, and of letting
| the painter forever into our good
! graces. You see L 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 and
glancing upward, as if to see how the
intelligence was received. f1atter my
self that l have now reached an age
when l can assume stOical cast of
countenance under stress of deep and
lasting disappointment. 1t was not so
with the girl, however. Her face not
only gave evidence of displeasure, but
she voiced the feeling in words. The
words were:
"How perfectly h0rrid!"
The painter laughed imnloderately.
was certain now that he was no boor,
for it takes brave and courageous
man to stand a woman's scorn of his
work. He was not without reason for
his courage, though, and I must not
over-rate his good nature.
But this is not going to be horrid
sign" he said. "Its going to be hand
some and attractive" Here's young
American assurance. I thought.
features of the Dorothy cigar" he
continued, Ito illumine this sign with
the head of charming woman. She
must be beautiful and alluring in the
extreme. If I succeed my future is
assured, and my fortune ALSO"
There was a fine air of hopefulness
about the little speech that won my
heart in spite of his buoyant manner.
And do you feel certain that you
will be able to paint such a face?"
asked she.
He looked at her intently for a mo-
ment. II was somewhat doubtful of
it when took the contract" he said,
"but am beginning to feel that possibly
I may be able to accomplish something
that will help to sell the Dorothy
cigar"
That ended our first conversation.
OF course we could not see the work he
was doing, as the signboard was i'm
mediately below us and against the
building. l was, moreover, unable to
go down stairs that evening, being con-
fined to my room by painful attack
of rheumatism, although was haunted
by strange suspicion, and was more
than anxious to have a glance at the
rough outline on the sign-board. Nor
was l able to move about much the
following day.
The painter arrived bright and early,
and was awakened by a combination
of harmonious melody, which emanated
from a masculine whistle below and
a girls voice from the next room. The
three of us exchanged salutations and
discussed weather conditions without
variance. Presently l found intent
watching from the window more pain
full than pleasant, and sank back from
sight into my rocker. Then it was 1
willing eavesdropper. The first re-
mark that reached my ear was the fol-
lowing from the girl:
"Is this beautiful woman you are
painting to be blonde or a-bru-
nette?' She hesitated slightly On the
last word.
(Which do you consider advisable?"
The slap of his brush had ceased, and
l knew he was losing valuable time.
l could also guess that his eyes were
elsewhere than on his work.
''Why a blonde, of course. Every
body thinks blondes are more attract
i've than brunettes." The girl spoke
in a manner that brought to my mind
a number of impressions, chief among
them being that. she did not mean
what she said. Realizing that she was
probably conscious, or should be, of her
own dark beauty, could not bring
myself to censure her.
"A blonde it will be, then," was his
quick reply
But you have such dark supply
of paint. How will you be able to paint
blonde with that?"
He did not answer for a moment.
Then he said: well, it's all in the
mixing, you know" I,hoped he was
blushing with shame If not, l was
for him.
SIS this-this girl, to be your ideal?"
They were becoming acquainted re-
markably fast, and began to feel that
my life was tapping over into a new
and strangely rapid generation
II hope l can bring the picture up to
my IDEAL" he finally answered.
My rheumatism was still aggravat-
ing me greatly that evening, but I
made a groaning descent to the ground
floor and out onto the opposite side
of the street. Then turned and be-
held for the first time the gigantic