Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-09

"Raphaers got it, replied Brook,
sympathetically. did your mother
come? Do you want to come in and
see them
Billy turned sick at heart; though
he had never really expected the
scholarship, yet he had always cher
ished the hope that something would
turn up, and now it seemed as If the
winters work had all been in vain
And his mother-how disappointed she
would be! His friend regarded him
half curiously for moment and then,
linking his arm in his, led him into
the gallery. The prize picture was sur.
rounded by only a small group, for the
exhibition was not formally opened till
the afternoon, and the boys own rela-
tives were almost the only onlookers |
as yet.
Don't wonder he got It'll" muttered
Billy, as they stood before the beauti-
full panel illustrating Spring. HE is
clever chap"
| "He certainly isl" echoed Brook.
Come and see your own; what's your
number? Oh, ffty-one-My Mother
| by ]. Williams"
| 1t was sweet, careworn face, with
soft, gray hair drawn back from the
forehead and the wrinkled hands cross
ed quietly in the lap, that the boys
looked into. Crude and faulty as the
painting was, yet 1T impressed the on
locker. with a certain sense of Tever-
ence, and the boys looked at it in 81
lence for minute or two.
1--WE got to go" said Billy abrupt
ly, "mother'll think I'm lost;" and he
crossed the room, leaving Brook stand
ing there.
"Wer, he's the queerest! He might
have asked to see my work of art, any
way. Poor fellow, guess he feels
pretty bad!" thought Brook, as he
wandered across the room to see If his
picture was hung in good light.
i Billy leaped up the stairs two at
time, and at the top his little mother
stood smiling.
"You have it, dear boy?"
I Billy shook his head.
81 knew l wouldn't get it. mother"
4 Poor boy, you look tired; come IN
and sit down." She stroked the tousled
head with loving fingers, and silently
watched his face.
"And I've worked so hard!" sighed
Billy tits just my luck, anyway,
mum; you'll come to the exhibition
and see what it's all like?"
The brown eyes smiled back loving
ly into his, and then Billy knew that,
whatever the judges might think, his
picture would, in his mothers eyes, be
the most beautiful picture in the world
The crowds were growing in the gal
lery as he and his mother came In, the
I greatest number standing in front OF
! the prize picture, wondering and ad-
I miring.
But the mother would hardly glance
at it, but gently pulled her unwilling
son to where No. 81 hung, with only a
I passing spectator.
"Who is it, deary she questioned,
: putting on her specs. "Why!" She
!, looked again, her old eyes growing
!, dim. Her boy had painted his mother
!, for the great exhibition! She turned
and caught his arm.
= ooh, my boy!" she whispered broll-
emily. this is better don't care blt
1, about the prize now. To think you
> painted your old mother. an she SO
nlain!" She smiled through happy
tears and looked again at the picture
ssIf father was only here!" she SAID
;, softly.
= Billy smiled, rather comforted. She
=. wasn't disappointed, and that was the
J great thing. Then Brook came up
9 s eager to be introduced and they wan
q dered off on a tour Of inspection, com
ing mack every little while to glance
# at the picture, which Mrs. Williams
q could moi be persuaded to leave. Hav
IS inp come back for her handkerchief
e which she had dropped, Brook noticed
n two gentlemen converslng IN front o
10 R,lly's nortrait. one of whom was Prof
l. Woodrush.
d .yerv crude. l know" said thu
}. stranger; Totally different style iron
d the other boys, but remarkably clever
g I tell YOU that boy will be heard from
. some day."
u Prof. woodrush nodded his head
u "Only a country boy and no money,
=. he said, doubtfully.
,f ooh, WELL let him come and clea
,e my brushes in Paris for a year or two
"a and mark my words, he'll make hi
~ way vet. " returned the other; anc
70 taking out his card, he scrubbed
~ word or two on 1t and stuck 1t in tn
~ frame.
re Brook waited no longer, but fle,
tn back and pulled the unwilling BIZ
10 over to his picture.
1T Look there!" he cried. excited!
IS ooh, Billy, I'm so glad!"
al Billy read: can excellent portrai
% M. Fleury.'" He grew quite pail
IN mot the Fleury, surely?"
" Brook nodded his head emphatica
d !. ly. "It was-I know-you just wa
III and see!"
eg What is it, dear?" asked Mrs. Wi
he liams, confused by the excitement.
an why, it means that Billy's gres
all painter" cried the triumphant Broo
er 81 always knew he was" retorte
the little lady, Indignantly, looking Il
ay her son.
he But Billy was talking to the strang
er, gentleman and did not hear. In fe
,e. minutes he came back with quee
he look on his plain face.
er you're all right. old fellow"
IS. said, huskiiy, to Brook. ."And he sa!