The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-07


mics have taken all we have except a
few bits that we hid in the cellar.
Come, Fanehette, bestir yourself and
set the tabler'
The table was set and the supper put
upon ii. Tho stranger sat down, and
Fanchette poured into his glass some
of the cheap wine of the country. She
was between seventeen and eighteen
years old, simple French maid who
had no secrets from any one in the
world.
"You wear a sad look, Fanchette, |"
said the stranger. us 1t from seeing
the slaughter today?"
mo, monsieur / did not look that
way"
"Well, then, tell me what troubles
you
1T is this, monsieur. Antoine Bris-
son went out pong the fighting and
received a wound He is lying now
in the next room"
"He is your brotherT
"No, monsieur"
"Well, then, he is your loverT'
To this the only reply was eyes cast
upon the floor
"what was he doing out there
fghtingi"
mo, monsieur; he has not yet be-
come a eonscript. He win not be the
age for a month"
"Well, then, what business had he
on battlefield?
"Sketching.'
"Sketching? That's what was do
ing there. When | have finished my
supper will 20 in and see him"
The stranger chatted on with the girl
and easily CLEANED from her that she
and Antoine could not marry because
she had no dot. After having supped
and smoked pipe the artist went into
the room where Antoine was lying.
The boy had received a flesh wound,
but not of sufficient Importance to en-
danger his life.
so you were making sketches OF the
fght?" said the artist. THAT is my
business. / have been drawing for one
of the Paris illustrated papers. Let
me see what You have done"
Fanchette took an improvised port
folio that she had made for her lover
OF two pieces of pasteboard laced to-
gether with string and brought it to
the artist There were blood stains on
II, but he did not mind that He had
seen plenty OF blood that day He
opened the portfolio, took out what
there was in it-fve or six sketches
and began to look them over
Where did you learn to sketch?" he
asked the boy.
II have never learned, monsieur" he
replied.
"Nerer studied In an art school;
never had any instruction"
mo, monsieur"
The artist went on looking at the
sketches one after the other and when
he had seen them all looked at them
again. Then he turned his eyes to the
boy on the bed.
do you know, my boy, that my pa
per sent me here to make sketches of
this battle7 / have graduated at the
art school with honors, and yet you
who have never taken a lesson have
done what cannot do"
what do you mean, monsleur?'
asked the boy, his eyes opening very
wide, while Fanchette was all atten-
ton.
'You are a born battle painter You
have put into these crude sketches an
action that l have not been able TO
put in mine. And you have known
what scenes to select. Your soldiers
move; they fight; they are impelled
by the demon Of war: they die-really
die. while mine-well. mine beside
yours are like toy soldiers"
ooh, monsieur" exclaimed Fanchette,
clasping her hands, 'how good you
are TO say that"
Good TO say TINT! I'm not talking
to please you. I'm telling you the
truth. And, to prove what / say, II
Antoine when he has recovered will
rome to Paris am sure l can interest
art lovers in him who will see that he
receives instruction"
ooh, monsieur" replied Faachette.
how can he do that? He has no mon
ey. He would have to walk to Paris"
''Not at all. will take these sketches
with me. They will be used in one of
the Illustrated papers and will he well
paid for The money received FOR them
will send TO Antoine"
The same night. having hired a con.
veyance. the artist set out pOsthaste
for Paris. Antoine's sketches were
produced aud created a sensation. The
money paid for them was sent him.
He went to Paris. where owing 70 tie
interest created by his pictures be was
taken up and educated By the paper
that published them.
All this occurred forty years sco.
and the great battle painter has four.
ished and passed away. fiis widow
loves to tell how he got h.s star,