Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-03-22

ture. 1t was large and roomy and sat
on the brow of the Bluff overlooking
the river, while the little handful of
houses that clustered about the gro
Gerry seemed stranded at its feet 1t
had been built for the teams that had
worked on the dam up the river, and
had become the property of the gro
Gerry owner for a song when the work
that had brought the horses and men
to the settlement was finished. The
army had moved on, leaving the barn
and the grocery in a sort of guardian
ship of the few families which elected
to stay and find work on the river or
over IN the city. Only the Hill Man
sion Of Mrs. Jackson Page farther up
the river on the Bluff had any such
outlook, and for all its wide, tall
pillared verandas and spreading wings
it failed entirely to dwarf the impos-
ingness of the barn.
rs it a new calf. Miss Selma Lue?"
demanded Miss Cynthia as they en-
tered the door together.
Lands alive, child. the little spotted
what's sold to Mr. ST Bradford's cousin
on count of the richness of Charitys
milk to raise from"
Il beg your pardon, madam" said
Miss Cynthia with elaborate courtesy
as she threw Charity a bough of sugar
maple leaves she had pulled for that
exact purpose on the way up. Charity
!, F.-sz. ! Il
her large soft eyes roamed over the
radiant vision by her stall with placid
appreciation.
Don't you and Charity gossip too
long" called Miss Selma Lue from
halfway up the ladder Mind your
dress don't get snagged on that nail
there"
A little breathless. Miss cynthia
pushed her head up through the open
ing and cautiously swung herself to
the floor above; then halted and stood
spellbound. The barn loft had become
another world! A large window that
stretched half across the end. opened
out to the blue hills across the valley
and the river wound through the pic
ture like a silver thread On the
walls were rough sketches and some
pictures. hold and startling. and in
the middle of the room stood an easel
on which was a huge canvas. A cot
with one of Miss Selma Lue's old
patchwork quilts covering it stood in
one corner. and a familiar gray coat
hung from peg.
With horror Cynthia realized that
she was in the camp of the enemy.
and her first inclination was for pre-
cipitous flight, but Miss Selma Lue's
bright eyes held her, and for the
life OF her she could not voice her
dismay to that plainly overjoyed lady
Now. there" she exclaimed,
breathless from the climb and from
delight I've got you here at last,
and can see how happy you are
from your face Amt it surprise
TO have art gallery jest sproUt up
at your back door unbe snownst to
you or anybody else? 1t do beat all
how that boy can paint Now come
here and get a good light on this
one here in the middle. You would
think that any light up here would be
a good one, with that big window he
knocked in the wall Therein. Flarity
helping him Of nights and Mr.. Dobbs
a-putting in the glass-but II amt,
and you've got TO step around to git
jest the right view of them"
Miss Cynthia stood before the can
vas, lost. unable to utter a word He
had painted the sunset hour on the
wharf and the roustabouts unloading
bales of hay from up the river in the
mellow light. 1t was tremendous,
decorative thing of which Miss Gym
th9s had never seen the equal
It's a order for a big building in
Chicagy. and. Miss Cynthie. what 10
you think? It's TO be hung on the
walls Of a room where workinED,sa
can 60 Snd hs~v meetings. and some
big rich men are going TO pay him
ten thsaEsnd dollars for this one and