The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-04-28

l-H
like / was a-hesring person come
back from heaven and astelllng about
what's over there And Mary Ellen
Dobbs and Mis- Kinney and the rest
feels the same about it, him being
Jest ais kind about telling and showing
them as can be. Mary Ellen left
Ethel Maud to watch the pot for din
ner the other day while she come
over here to see picture he had
painted Of her back yard and clothes
line 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 burnt
tongue. Mr.. Alan put some Of his
own tooth-wash on It to make her
hush; he's such hand with children
as never saw often
AS Miss Selma Lue talked, Miss
Cynthia was looking from one picture
to another, rapt In delight. The
rough sketches of men and draft
horses and great loaded carts and
straining mule teams were awe-in.
spring. but were relieved by tender
bits Of landscape and quick sketches
of the children in charming character.
istic poses. How strange 1t seemed
to find them hanging on the walls in
the old Bluff barn! And yet perhaps
no stranger than to find the painter
himself coming and going among the
Blur people in perfect sympathy and
friendship. For a moment her heart
was abased before him In admiration
and could it have had touch Of
longing when Miss Selma Lue pre-
cipitated the old enmity upon her
again.
"And this here picture Of you. Miss,
Cynthie, is jest done to turn. When
/ first seen it I took such a fit 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. It 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 froze again stir and
hard as she gazed on the picture in
Miss Selma Lue's hand 1t was bit
Of the river road with the forked tree
In the distance, and retreating down
the vista was back view of herself,
skirts switching. ribbons flying, and
roses on her hat as stir as possible
Every line in the figure breathed stir.
ness and snubbery, and It was the
cleyerest 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 the picture was line that
added injury to the insult-"W What
care how fair" Her face burned
and an explosion was imminent, but
was cut or in the fuse by Miss Selma
Lue.
Il think the writing under It Is SO
sweet and good, and like him; for OF
course he means he likes you Jest as
much with your blue eyes and yellow
hair, even IL It amt the style he most
ly admires. Looks don't make no
difference in his liking; though
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 ain't 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 stiffly 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 is all that's mortal left to me of
Adoniram Millsaps? Well, he's going
to make me life-sized likeness Of 1t,
all colored according to Mr.. Dobbs,
who do favor Adoniram some. u
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, I love
love his doing 1t for you!"
Honey child. knew you would.
Mr.. Alan's fine man. He couldn't
paint SIGH pictures If he wasn't beau
tiful inside hisself. The wonderful
part is the thinking Of 'em: the paint.
Ing 'em is jest work"