Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-10-15
the older man inquired.

the older man inquired.
'Well. you know we artists have to
live. Few Of us paint for fame alone.
so it is like the rest. Only l hope it
goes to some one who will appreciate
1t. The circumstances of its painting
are dear memories"
"Are you-are-you her-son? Tell
me" And the questioner put trem-
bling hand on the artists shoulders.
"No," replied Carroll. II wish was,
or, rather. IL my own mother had lived
! think she would have been like her"
"Can you spare me the time to tell
me the circumstances you speak Of
that is. If you will? Thank you, but
not here. Let US go to my house.
live near" And he led the way out.
ut isn't much Of story except in it's
personal appeal to me-" began Carroll
few moments later. "But l presume
it reminds you Of some one, and if the
two women are alike know you un-
derstand how fond am Of her.
Last spring l was threatened with
fever and was told to get out of the
city. / found quiet place owned by
the original Of the portrait. and she
took me in. Unfortunately did not
escape soon enough, and the fever
caught me. There was no one with
her but an old servant. and asked to
be moved into the nearest town.
"She would not hear of it and
nursed me on a journey to deaths door
and back again to the sunshine to the
trees and the birds-and life. 1t is
something that one cannot explain
her tenderness. her motherliness and
the sense Of comfort, Of love even, for
stranger that she gave to me.
"Her entrance would light up my
sickroom; her presence was better
than all the medicine in the world.
Frankly, she is the dearest, sweetest
woman l have ever known. was
only two when my mother died.
That's about all, Think
"Mr. Carroll" his host began, II have
never met you, but am perhaps known
to you. l am Judge Johnson Lee Car
ter, and am from Virginia. When l
was hotheaded young man was in
love with girl who is probably the
double of the lady in your picture. 1
loved her devotedly. madly. sir. and
she loved ME. But was headstrong,
sir, and quarreled with her one night
and came north.
"All my life the years have been
loveless except my love for her. Three,
four, FIVE years passed, and l knew she
was probably married, so have never
inquired. but the picture, sir, brought
1t all back to me, all the years have
missed that might have been crowded
with happiness, for they would have
been happy ones. Mr. Carroll, sir. she
was the finest lady on earth. Now
you know why I want to buy your
picture and
Judge Carter, there can be no talk
of buying and selling that picture after
what you have told me. There, there;
no one else will get It. The exhibition
will last another month. You can get
back from Albcmarle county before
that
"What are you saying, boy? Abe
marie county? Why. that's where
lived. Is 1t Ruth? Is she widow?
Is she free, and is it,
ruth Cressley, and she is not
widow" said Carroll quietly. "She
has never married."
Honest, boy? Honest? Forgive me,
forgive me, Mr.. Carroll. Then she
didn't forget?"
''She Is the sort who love once-for
always, think" and Carroll extended
his hand.
"And the picture?" asked the Judge.
"Will be my wedding present"
God bless you, sir; God bless you,"
and there We're tears in his eyes as he
showed Carroll to the door.
Carroll is famous now and a few
years older. Ask him the best thing
he ever did and he will tell you
Mother" Perhaps you won't under
stand him, but Judge Carter knows,
and Mrs. johnson Lee Carter shares
the knowledge
| L..