The Ordway new era., 1911-03-17


what's over there. And Mary Ellen
Dobbs and Mis- Kinney and the rest
feels the same about it. him being
Jest as kind about telling and showing
them as can be. Mary Ellen lef,
Ethel Maud to watch the pot for din
ner the other day while she come
over here to see a picture he had
painted Of her back yard and clothes
limo I was a-telling her about, and
the child let the bacon and cabbage
burn and then tasted EN-! When
her mother got back she ran screech
ing something orful with q burnt
tongue. Mr.. Alan put some Of his
own tooth.wash on II to mako her
hush: he's such hand with children
a. never saw often"
As Miss Selma Lue talked, Miss
Cynthia was looking from ono picture
TO another. rapt In delight. The
rough sketches OF men and draft
horses and great loaded carts and
straining mule teams were awein.
spring. but were relieved by tender
bits Of Landscape and quick sketches
of the children In charming character
istic poses. How strange It seemed
to find them hanging on the walls in
the old Blun barn! And yet perhaps
no stranger than to ind the painter
himself coming and going among tho
Bluff people in perfect sympathy and
friendship. For q moment her heart
was abased before him In admiration
and could It have had . touch Of
longing Miss Selma Lue pre-
cipitated the old enmity upon her
again.
And this here picture Of you. Miss
Cynthie. Is lest done to turn. When
I flrst seen 1t l took such At over II
that he promised to do a real big like
ness Of you some day. But whatever
made him paint the back Of you
don't know. II was on the river road.
wasn't IT." And Miss Selma Lue
picked up . small sketch that stood
against pile Of books on the table
The recently melted blood in Miss
Cynthia's veins frose again stin and
hard as she gazed on the picture in
Miss Selma Lue's hand. It was a bit
Of the river road with the forked tree
in the distance. and retreating down
the vista was a back view OF herself.
skirts switching. ribbons flying. and
roses on her hat as stiff as possible.
Every line in the figure breathed stih.
ness and snubbery. and It was the
cleverest bit of work she had ever
seen. Oh. why had she passed him
stonily there in the lane. only to give
him such chance? The wretch.
And under tho picture was a line that
added injury to the insult-"What
care I how fair" Her face burned
and an explosion was imminent. but
was cut OF In the fuse by Miss Selma
Lue.
Il think the writing under It 10 SO
sweet and good. and like him: for OF
couSse he means he likes you Jest as
much with your blue eyes and yellow
hair. even II It amt the style he most
fy admires. Looks don't make no
difference in his liking: though a
heap OF men Is all for looks. and nice
goodness In women don't interest them
noways. Not that you amt got looks
in plenty OF your own kind. Dearie
me. II I amt left the grocery to mind
itself. must hurry on down. but you
come along when you're done looking.
He says his friends are always vel
come to come up and look and know
he means you more'n anybody"
Miss Selma Lue paused as she gath
cred her stinly starched gingham
skirts about her preparatory to de-
scending the ladder. Honey" she
said. I've Jest got to tell you what
he's a-going to do for me. You know
that little. old. faded tintype I've got.
what Ia all that's mortal left to me Of
Adoniram Millsaps? Well. he's going
to make me a life-sized likeness OF 1t.
all colored according to Mr.. Dobbs.
who do favor Adoniram some I
knew you'd love him too for being
so feeling towards me. on count OF
Adoniram being snatched SO sudden
like from this world. You know bet.
ter than any one how he is Jest still
one Of the why's OF me-
"Oh. Miss Selma Lue. love
love his doing 1t for you"
Honey child. I knew YOU would.
MIR. Alan's a fine man. He couldn't
paint sich pictures II he wasn't beau.
tiful inside hisself. The wonderful
part is the thinking OF EN-: the paint.
ing em Is Jest work"
iTO BE CONTINUED)