The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-08-04


think of that when they come back
home. This does not so much indicate
a mercenary nature as the instinct for
self-preservation. Even artists must
eat.
The girl artist, after weary days of
getting her belongings through the
custom house and more weary days OF
arranging her studio. was almost ex.
hausted as she dressed herself the
afternoon Of the exhibit.
"But everything does look NICE" she
said to herself encouragingly. "The
pictures are hung well-and, oh. per
haps Ill sell some of them!"
Everybody came to the tea. Old
family friends came and brought their
friends. Socially. at least. the home
coming of the girl artist was a grea,
success. Financially-well,o of course
one can't be too blunt about such
things, and all she could expect was
to arouse an interest which might lead
to sales.
That Is what the girl artist kept say.
ing over and over to herself, the while
she said aloud: "Oh. yes, 1t is good tc
be home again. OF course I love Paris.
but Chicago will always be home tc
me-" And all the time down under.
meath the words there was the minor
refrain of her thoughts: "Oh, some
one must buy something: surely some
one will like some of these pictures
Before the afternoon was far gone
the girl artists attention was focused
on the one woman in the studio who
gave most promise of being q pur.
chaser.
With voice which she tried to
keep calm she asked the woman to
come to the tea table.
Eyes. thank you." said the woman.
I'LL have cup of tea now. But want
to look at this picture again. I'm try.
Ing to make up my mind about some.
thing"
Trying to make up her mind! That
+ could mean only one thing. The girl
artist felt her heart was still faster.
When the woman had emptied her
teacup and eaten her waters and
French pasties she went back to the
picture in which she was so inter.
ested. In few minutes she came to
the girl artist and inquired II she
might use the telephone.
Il want to ask my sister about the
picture" she said. "She has such ex.
cellent taste that rely upon her q
great deal.'
The girl artist, hoping earnestly
that the sister would not spoil the
sale. fel her heart beat still faster as
she led the prospective purchaser to
the telephone across the hall.
She'll be over in an hour" said the
woman to the girl artist when she
came back. Il hope it won't incon-
venience you. having me stay after the
other guests go. want my sisters
judgment en- this picture"
Inconvenience her? Why the girl
artist was radiant and profuse in her
Joy.
After the other guests had gone the
girl artist and the woman sat down to
talk until the arrival of the sister. The
woman inquired about the picture and
the model for it.
Il enjoyed painting it so much" the
girl artist said, a dreamy look in her
eyes. You see, friend of mine
posed for it. She was in Paris on her
wedding trip, and her husband, who is
young millionaire, seemed deter.
mined to buy everything on the Rue
de la Paix for her. 1t was great sport
for me to go with them to help buy
the lovely things. But didn't really
lose my head until we found that
wonderful opera coat. The different
whites in 1.-THE white of the Irish
ACE, of the ermine, of the chiffon and
Of the cameo clasps-seemed to me
The most artistic thing ever had
seen. So when Margaret wanted to
make me gift said didn't want
anything except the privilege of paint.
ing that coat. The face isn't Mar.
garet's. but then 1t was her coat. not
her face. that I was wild to paint"
The girl artist was SO flushed with
excitement that she did not notice
how irrelevant was the woman's one
remark: "Oh. the coat came from the
Rue de la Paix, did it?"
When the sister came the girl ar
list delicately withdrew for a few min
utes. When she came back the Wis.
ltors were preparing to go.
Thank you so much" said the won.
an who had been there SO long. "I'u
tell you what it was wanted my sis.
ter to decide l have set of ermine
and was wondering If couldn't have
1t made up into a coat like this. But
my sister says she doesn't think I'd
have enough. I'm sorry, for think
that coat is beauty. and you say It
came from the Rue de la Paix. But
always rely on my sister. I've en-.
joyed your tea SO much. Goodbye"
The girl artist mumbled something
which she hoped sounded like a con.
yentional farewell. Then as the door
closed behind her guests she laughed
"a thin little laugh.
ssE&ut III I hadn't olu,ovo r,aAoA