The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-10
BY JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ.
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary PfesSl

erary Press.)
Miss Clara Pagent was an artist
She painted landscapes canvas
that is. she had painted a single one
and her grandmother, who had
brought her up from the age OF nine
to nineteen, had raised her hands
above her head and exclaimed:
How beautiful. There isn't an
artist in all America who could have
done better. It's just az natural as Ii
| stood looking at the real thing. My,
but almost expect that COW to throw
up her head and bawl out! Don't
you ever think Of getting married.
Clara You just keep right on paint
ing such pictures as that"
The scene had been taken from
Thornapple hill, half mile from
the old red farm house. There was
spotted cow In the foreground, to-
gether with a stump or two. Then
there We're bushes and trees, and In
the perspective. as if one were look
ing through joint OF stovepipe. WAS
duck sailing on a pond. II not told
1t was duck 1t might have been
taken for the eagle that Mapped his
wings and screamed at the battle of
Bunker Hill.
II the COW had thrown up her head
and beloved 1t would have been with
pain. Her horns Were longer than
her legs, and her tail would have
reached around u haystack- The
trees and bushes seemed to have been
sawed out for the occasion. and the
greensward was such as no herbiyo-
rous animal ever yet grAzed on
Oh. yes. 1t was an oil painting all
right, and it would be mean person
that would criticise 1t to the face OF
the artist or grandmother.
II was the artist herself who found
just a teenty weenty bit of fault.
She discovered that one Of the eyes
of the COW looked up and the other
down. and this didn't seem quite
natural The picture was taken back
To Thornapple hill for "a closer study.
The spotted COW could always be
found there. and II would not take
long to catch her true attitude. The
painting was on the easel and the
artist was all ready when the COW
stepped out from behind the bushes.
So did something else, but while the
COW faced the artist the something
else advanced from the rear.
Mr.. Burt Deievan was not a land
scape painter. He was just the junior
partner in real estate firm in the
city and was taking fall vacation
on the farm OF his brother and shoot
ing a few blackbirds by way OF
diversion. 1t was quite by accident
that he ran across the artist. but 1t
was rather impairment Of him to
sneak close UP and scan the picture
for two long minutes, and certainly
impudent to observe:
Il know you mean that for a COW
in the foreground. but"
"Sir!" exclaimed the young lady.
n MI
that the easel was overturned and
the COW started to walk away.
II beg your pardon" said Mr..
Deleyan. as the cap came of. 'but
l lspoke unconsciously."
P'Oh, you did. Then you are an
artist yourself?"
mo not exactly, That is
That Ia. you have seen . cow-7"
Yes"
this COW, and therefore you crit
icise?"
But, Miss, you see--see--
Yes. she saw that he had made
blunder and was confused over 1t,
and that her cold stare at him was
troubling him more than dose Of
bird shot. He had sneaked up and
was an interloper, and 80 she had all
the advantage. He made no further
defense. but retreated with gun in
one hand and cap In the other. A
look OF disdain followed him. but he
was only out Of sight when Miss
Clara began TO have her doubts about
that COW. To doubt the COW was to
doubt the duck and the trees. Grand
ma had piled on The praise. but she
might not be critic. In ted minutes
the horrible doubt crossed the art
lists mind--was she a born artist, or
was she only a dauber?
When this doubt came there were
only two things to do--throw q stone
at the COW and then go home and tell
grandma all about it.
why. the unhung villain!" ex-
the old lady when the tale
had been told. You say he sneaked
upon you?"
YES"
And began right off about the
cow"
Yes"
Didn't wait to introduce himself?"
NO"
And stammered and blushsd with
guilt as he sneaked away"
Il think 1t was with guilt
"Of course 1t was. Clara, that man
had poisoned somebody's we'll and
was fleeing from justice. Don't you
pay any attention to what he said.
That painting Is going to have So
frame and hang in the parlor OPP
5osite Napoleon Crossing the Alps"
But haven't l got the cows eyes
asked the artist. Should
one OF them be looking up and the
other DOWN."
They should, dearie. That's what
irst made me think you were born
artist. I've watched cows thous-
md times. They always keep one
eye on the grass and roll the other
up as II thanking heaven for the
'odder. Don't you worry about her
ayes.''
But what was the young man go-
ng 70 criticise u ! hadn't stoppsd
aim1" ,---.