Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-09-14

| lblIC WAS ltT Uoue VI pIDBTebSlOU, anu
putting both hands on his shoulders,
leaned her cheek against his head
Back already, dear?" she said; and
the tone fully Indicated the position in
which she stood toward her parent. Il
thought you were going to make a
long day Of It,"
Yes, yes" he said, without taking
his eyes from the sketch, Il did intend
doing 30, ! started full OF my subject
and-er-inspired with hope. And |
don't think | have altogether failed.
II Is difiicult-very. The tone of that
sky world fiji a careless amateur with
despair; but--but | am not careless.
Whatever | may be am not that. The
secrets OF Art, which she hides rom
the unthinklng and irreverent, she con.
| fides to her true worshipers. Now,
Leslie, look at that sky. Look at It
carefully, critically, ana tell me, do
you think have caught that half tone
that delicious mingling Of the
chrome and the ultramarine? There
Is wealth of form and color in that
right-hand corner, ana Yes, think
II Is the beSt-by far the best and
truest thing have MS yet done"
Leslie leaned forward, and softly
! and swil"y placed the picture right
side up.
1t was not very much improved by
the transportation. II was well, to put
II bluntly~-a dalTb of ,he most awful
description. Never since the world
began had there, even In Nature. been
| anything Hike It, the average school
boy libeling her with a shilling box of
colors could not have sinned more
| deeply. The sea was n brilliant wash
er.woman's blue, the hills were heaps
OF muddy ochre, the fishng.vessels
looked like black beetles struggling on
their backs: there was COW in the
meadow In the foreground which
would nave wrung tears from anyone
who had ever set eyes on that harm.
less but necessary animal, and the bit
or sky In the corner was utterly ana
completely lndescrbable.
Leslie looked at II with a SAD little
expression In her eyes-the plying
look one sees In the face of II woman
whose life Is spent In humoring the
weakness of II beloved one; then she
said gently;
ut Is very striking, papa"
Striking repeated Francis Lisle.
Striking! like that word. You. too.
are an artist, my dear Leslie. though
/ YOU never touch brush. How well
YOU know how to use the right expires,
sion. tlatter myself that 1t Is strik,
Ing. | think may say, without egot.
ism, that no one, no real critic could
look ut that sketch-for II Is n mere
sketch without being struck"
Yes, papa" she murmured sooth,
ingly.
lie shaded his eyes with his thin,
white hands in the orthodox fashion
and peered ut the monstrosity.
There is, II may say so. an-er-
originality In the treatment which
would alone make the sketch interest
Ing and valuable Tell me- now. Les
lie, what is In 1t that catches your
fancy most?"
Leslie looked ut II carefully.
Il think that heap OF searweed is
nicely painted, papa" she said, putting
her arm round his neck.
Heap of sea-weed?"-nls bruws
knitted-"heap of sea-weed? | don't
soc anything of the kind"
There, papa. she said, pointing.
My dear Leslie, have always slrs-
pected that your sight was not per,
feet, that there was some defect In It's
range power. That Is not n heap OF
soa-weed, but fisherman mending his
nets"
"Ot course. How stupid OF me-"
she said, quickly, I'm afraid | am
hear'sighted, dear, But don't you
think yor have done enough for to,
day? Way not put It away until 10.
morrow"
There is no tomorrow, l.esne." he
said, grarely. as he got out ais palette.
Art Ia long and time Is nectine-
never forget that, my dear No. | can
stipplc IN little. | intend FINISHING
this sketch and making miniature
a cabinet picture. Ii shall be worthy
OF place among those exquisite
sketches of Birnet rosters; and yet
he sighed and pushed the hair from his
torehead--"and yet, I'll be bound that
! II tried to sell II | should not find
dealer to give me few paltry
pounds for II, SO blind and prejudiced
they all are. No, they would not buy
IT, and possibly the Academy would re.
fuse to exhibit II, Prejudice. But
art has Its own rewards, thank Heav.
en-. paint because must-fame has
no attraction. am content to wait
yes, though recognition which is my
due may come too late. II Is onen
thus"
| The girl bent her beautiful head
she stood taller than the dropping
/ figure of her father-and lisseu-ah.
how tenderly. pitttingly the gray