Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-10-12

GOOD MOhSING, NAM SELLE, SAID He.
ence TO associate with the peasant
girls Of Brittany. She was a happy,
laughing creature-fresh, comely and
undeniably beautiful. Indeed, her
regular felt tures and her slender figure
caught the artists eye even as her
red lips and her delicately arched
brows appealed directly TO his mascu-
line soul.
Judson jumped from his scat and
bowed low
Good morning, mam'selle," said he
gravely "A beautiful day. isn't it,"
The girl smiled, displaying her firm
white teeth. She shook her head and
ratified off q stream of French idiom
in which "PAnglals" was the only
word Judson understood Clearly she
was endeayorlng TO convey to him her
lack Of knowledge of his language.
'Of course" said he; "of course.
Neither would you understand my
homemade French. It's a pity we don't
know NOlapuk."
The girl pointed to the canvas and
raised her brows inquiringly. Jud"1n
spread his palms outward and
shrugged his shoulders despairingly.
Her eyes lighted with a quick sym
pathy. She touched the pebbly beach
In the picture. which, Judson flattcred
himself, was the one thing in it well
done. She nodded her emphatic ap-
prevail Then she touched Il cloud and
smiled her dissent
II believe you," said he. THAT cloud
is all at odds with the rest Of It, but
your clouds Of Brittany need study
They are no ordinary clouds, assure
you"
The girl pointed to the sky and the
gray sea. She gave Judson to under
stand II was worth painting He in
turn. by sign language, intimated that
It was beyond him. She stamped her
foot and plainly indicated that he
must have patience. lie gave smiling
assurance that he would do his best.
Then she went on and left him there
before the easel, dreaming Of her
wavy brown hair and her eyes, that
seemed 10 look into his very soul.
The next afternoon. while Judson
was lndustriously painting and scrap
ing again, there came the same rus
Ting, and the girl stood beside him.
She seated herself on stone near the
easel and watched his work Judson
kept up a running fire Of conversa-
ton, and 10 his jests and his serious
utterances she gave impartially her
imperturbable smile
He made her understand that he
worked better when she was near him,
and she blushed, whether with pleas
ure OF maidenly reserve or both Jud-
son was unable TO decide
Each afternoon for a brief period she
came 70 watch his progress. She was
artlessly happy when his efforts 10
catch the atmosphere Of the place were
successful and once, when he had ad-
mirably caught the tints OF the sea-
the dull gay OF the foreground. the
violet OF the middle distances. the
purple black along the horizon-She
ciapped her little hands deliEhtedly
and cried Bravo" again and again.
One day. -hen the picture was near
iy finished and she was sitting quietly
on her stone watching HIS work. Jud-
son suddenly put aside his brushes
and palette and turned 10 hoy.
Il want 10 talk 10 YOU" he said
eagerly. Il want To say whole lots OF
things even IL you can't understand
them"
She smilircly nodded. II was evident
20 hin that she thought he was speak
iRg Of the picture.
Il have caught bit II the coast Of
Brittany" hc said. waving his hand
toward the easel ~but I've lost my
heart 10 a little peasant girl. love
can't understand EuglishG love you"
he repeated reckleSSly.
To his unboundcd amazement, she
sprang TO her feet, her face SufTused
with deep color
''Oh-oh, You mustn't" she gasped
in English.
And then. overcome with confusion,
she fed. leaving him stunned and
trembling.
Judson sought Pere Caesar, an old
peasant who often posed for him, and
by dint of much sign language to fill
out the deficiencies Of his eXecrable
French he made the old man under
stand that he was looking for a girl
who dressed like a peasant and spoke
English.
AT the chateau" said Pere Caesar
shortly.
Then, drawn out by Judson, he eX-
planned that the chateau had been rent
ed to an American gentleman-"lord"
was the term Pere Caesar uSed-wlth