Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-08
The
Photograph
Though Disappointing, It Has
a Happy Result
By ALLAN P. AMES
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

"h INC sue OF the hilI. Around Il the
acres that one generation bod cleared
and two others had prohkiDly titled
during the golden age OF New England
agriculture were growing up TO birch
and white pine. But the hilltop pas
turc 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
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 ut a time.
Breakfast over and the dishes wash
ell. the sisters went into the garden.
Every pleasant day until the sun rose
nigh and hot they worked there. Blue
cotton gowns faded by constant wash
ing covered their thin, bowed figures
rs they stopped over the onion bed or
with the hand cultivator scratched the
corn. Blue Bingham sunbonnets pro
tectcd their delicntely wrlnkled faces.
Miss Binley, seeing them for the
first time, paused TO study and ad.
niire. 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 Blnley was an amateur
photographer. She seldom walked
abroad without her camera. but un.
fortunately this was one OF the rare
mornings when she had left her cam
era at home.
"Oh, Mr.. Holbrook," cried the girl
regretfully, ''see those perfectly dear
old women in that onion patch. What
a genre study. I've often said IL new
er was safe to go anywhere without n
camera"
81 might run back and fetch It,"
suggested the carrier meekly.
"Nno." she replied reluctantly. "It's
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
abundant youth and enthusiasm began
to sparkle I'm the faded eyes of the Sis
ters.
"Oh. Mnrthy. 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 was thutty-nve
You were mighty putty girl in those
days. Marthy."
'Oh, g'long." commanded her young
er sister.
1T used TO be turrible lot OF trou-
ble," continued Phoebe. eve had to
sit pufiickly still for five minutes
couldn't stir. and It seemed like FIVE
hours"
you wouldn't have to sit still at all
now" said Miss Binley eagerly. 1.-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 10 so
much trouble"
Familiar with the fundamental char
acteristic Of the older New England
generation, Miss Binley advanced eau
tiously. Already I'm her artist mind
she saw the print she would make-a
marvellous study OF two gaunt figures
wringing an unwilling toll from the
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 / love
TO take pictures you would understand.
Would you be here I'm the garden at
this time tomorrow
Yes" answered Martha, yielding.
But wouldn't you rather take us lY
the house. DO folks ever have their
pictures taken outdoors?"
THE light IS much better outside"
explained Miss Binley. "And. bc
sides, / wouldn't think Of keeping you
from your work. I'll come and take
some snapshots Of you just as you
are-weeding the onions"
You can come with me tomorrow,
she said TO Holbrook. II had prom
ised to drive with Johnny Larcon. but
all engagements are on I'm the face
OF an epoch making chance like this"
The next morning brought weather
perfect alike for pedestrianism and
photography. The day was cool, and "a
thin haze tempered the rays OF tho
mountain sun. Miss Blnley ran down
the steps TO meet him, radiant with an
ticipation. and as he received the biz
camera from her hands Holbroot
thrilled with The thought OF another
morning &C her side.