Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-08
THE PAINTER *
AND THE SIGN.
By ROBERT {. McELRAVY.

CHE noticed him the first day he
~ came; | noticed them both. l
make no particular apology for the
confession, and in fact am now so hard
ened that I take particular pleasure
in the recollection. At first l had the
same moral right to watch the young
painter at his work that she had, or
any other roomer in the block, for that
matter. After the affair became in
volved, which it did so gradually that
at first l scarcely recognized the in
roads of Cupid, l acknowledge that
for a time conscientious qualms min
gled frequently with the pleasure
experienced in overhearing their re-
marks, but after day or two the de-
lights Of eavesdropping swept all my
computations to the winds.
First the carpenters put the sign
board up. She and I could hear the
noise of the operation early in the
morning, and reached our windows
simultaneously. We watched them a
little while, mentally debating, or at
least | was, as to the probable length
of time the hammering would continue.
Turning, she seemed bit confused to
see me leaning out at the next window.
l thanked heaven that I was old and
white-haired and decrepit; otherwise
l am sure she would have drawn back
hastily into her room. AS it was, I
spoke to her and she smiled. Our won
derment as to the work going on below
took words, and We discussed the mat
ter thoroughly. The immense sign
board reached from the ground up to
our windows, which were on the Sec
Ond floor, and when the job was COM
pleted we understood only too plainly
that the mercenary disposition of our
landlord was about to wreck the ap-
pearance of our clearinghouse. For
myself, l was in no position to allow
trifles like sign-boards, loaded down
with glazing advertisements, to coerce
me into changing my quarters An
old man with a scant income, and be-
You'd the power of increasing it, is not
apt to be squeamish about his living
quarters.
The girl, however, in pretty, pout-
ing way, was greatly displeased with
the commercial acquisition, albeit, l
am afraid, with compulsory forti-
tude equal to my own. Young girls
who sew for living can scarcely af-
ford to be too particular either.
But about the painter. He put in
appearance about the third day, after
the board had received a coat Of white
paint at the hands of two young fell
lows, who conversed loudly and chewed
an immense amount of plug tobacco.
The painter, can scarcely call him al
artist, although some of his brushes
were quite fine, made favorable i'm
preston with us from the first. After
the preliminary racket caused by the
rigging and adjustment of his swing,
the work took on a comparative quiet
in its execution, and he moved about
with fascinating dizziness that it was
really pleasure to witness.
II am glad there is to be no more
noise below us, at any rate" said the
girl to me as the young man began
his measurements, following each with
the slurring sound of a soft pencil.
eyes, it will indeed be a relief" I
replied, mentally remarking on the
fondness have always felt for the bru-
nette type of beauty.
The painter raised his head, having
overheard the remarks, and there was
a little smile of appreciation on his
clear-cut lips.
"The carpenters made it disagreeable