Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-19

Inc OiQ hlmDalI mousse SCOOO alone
on the side Of the hill. Around 1t the
acres that one generation had cleared
and two others had proftably titled
during the golden age of New England
agriculture were growing up to birch
and white pine. But the hilltop pas
ture still furnished grazing for Betsy,
the aged Holstein, and Jael, the pot
bellied mare, sole survivors Of the
stock that once crowded the white
washed barn, while in the garden
grew potatoes, corn. turnips, beets and
the other hardy truck that wintered in
a corner of the big cellar and enabled
the Kimball girls" to sit by their air
tight stove and watch with unconcern
the storms that blocked the roads and
sometimes shut them off from the
store at the Center for days at a time.
Breakfast over and the dishes wash
ed. the sisters went into the garden.
Every pleasant day until the sun rose
high and hot they worked there. Blue
cotton gowns faded by constant wash
ing covered their thin, bowed figures
as they stopped over the onion bed or
with the hand cultivatOr scratched the
earth between the hills of beans and
corn. Blue bingham sunbonnets pro-
tected their delicately wrinkled faces.
Miss Binley, seeing them for the
first time, paused to study and ad-
mire. Against the background of vel
low green cornstalks Their bent figures
stood out in harmonious relief. In the
foreground the whitewashed fence, the
prim flower beds and the old house
with its rotting shingles and weather
washed green blinds contributed set
ting that appealed irresistibly to her
artist soul.
For Miss Biniey was an amateur
photographer. She seldom walked
abroad without her camera, but IN
fortunately this was one of the rare
mornings when she had left her cam
era at home.
"Oh. MT. Eolbrook," cried the girl
regretfully. "see those perfectly dear
old women in that onion patch. What
Il genre study I've often said it new
er was safe to go anywhere without
camera"
Il might run back and fetch it,
suggested the carrier meekly.
''N-no." she replied reluctantly. TITS
too far. Probably we can get them
some other time. I'm going to speak
to them"
Young Holbrook watched with ador-
ing admiration the process by which
the girl penetrated the barriers Of
New England reserve. Before the
three women had conversed five min
utes something Of Miss Binley's own
oI r7f Nd tEg3CfocT hoOa
to sparkle in the faded eyes of the sis
tiers.
"Oh, Marthy, don't you wish we
could have ours taken again? We
haven't had our likenesseS made since
we were girls. Remember. Marthy.
you were thutty and 1 was thutty-f1ve.
You were Il mighty putty girl in those
days, Marthy."
"Oh, g'long," commanded her young
er sister.
"It used TO be a turrible lot of trou
ble," continued Phoebe. I'VE had to
SIT pufIickly still for FIVE minutes
couldn't stir, snd it seemed like five
hours"
You wouldn't have to sit still at all
now" said Miss Binley eagerly. THE
process is instantaneous"
Eager assent was on the lips of Miss
Phoebe, but her sterner sister fore
stalled her.
That's very kind Of you, miss, but
we couldn't think of putting you to so
much trouble"
Familiar with the fundamental char
acteristic of the older New England
generation, Miss Binley advanced eau
tiously. Already in her artist mind
she saw the print she would make-a
marvellous study of two gaunt figures
wr1nging an unwilling toll from the
harsh mountain soil. 1t was the sub
ject she had been looking for all sum-
mer to enter in the fall exhibit of her
camera club at home. "Oh, it won't
trouble me in the least" she replied
guardedly. IF you knew how I love
to take pictures you would understand.
Would you be here in the garden at
this time tomorrow"
Yes answered Martha, yielding
But wouldn't you rather take us in
the house. Do folks ever have their
pictures taken outdoors?