Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-02-25

Bessie and l fell In love natural.
Yin fact. too naturally have Of
ten thought how pleasant II must be
for the animals and birds TO mate
without having to look into each
others record. A tiger may not only
kill a man. but eat him and mate with
a most respectable tigress without any
questions being asked. Two birds
may meet on the branch of tree and
without the slightest knowledge Of
each other become mates. But man
and woman must not only know all
about each other. but be OF the same
grade and each have a clean record. or
there comes a lot OF trouble.
And the most singular thing about
II all IL that either Of them will MUIR
der any animal. except their own kind.
and eat the carcass.
I, being an artist. when the buds
were beginning to open went into
the country to catch that first delicate
shade OF pale green which appears on
the trees at that season. ! was sitting
on my tripod In a wood working In the
colors when heard the bark of dog.
and a moment later little terrier
stood growing at me. A girl. budding
like the trees. not into leaves. but into
womanhood. hurried up. calling in q
soft voice:
"Trisk. Como away. Frisk! What
do you mean
paid no attention to the dog. and
there was no need for the girl to call
him of. for he had no idea of attack
ing me. but he gave me an excuse for
addressing the girl.
And yet question II any excuse
was required People who meet In
crowds are constrained by convention
alities. We two. meeting in wood.
with not sound about us-when the
dog had ceased barking-except an oc-
casional twitter OF birds engaged In
nest building. felt constrained in an
other way. We were lmpelled to be
companionable. | began by telling her
not 20 mind the dog. that he wouldn't
disturb me. and she sided around
where she could catch view OF my
sketch. One thing led TO another until
we felt quite we'll acquainted. had
chosen delightful spot TO transfer TO
canvas 1t was on n declivity. An
opening in the trees below revealed
patch OF landscape. while at my feet
gurgled a stream, at this season well
supplied with water from SHOWS re-
Gently melted at higher attitudes. The
air was balmy and laden with per
fumes.
One has but to mention this outline
picture to indicate the result. Given
an opening spring In wood, buds. Wild
flowers, twittering birds. a vista. n
brook. q dog and lastly young man
and n young woman. both In the first
freshness Of youth. what follows?
Why. exactly what the poet says--the
young mans land the young womnn's,
fancy turns to thoughts OF love.
The result of this meeting was an
other meeting and another and another.
didn't count them: was too preoc-
cupied TO do so. | painted so long on
my UlEtuTt tudl OrlOtt uutchth ~ wv
delicate shade had come to the coun-
try for Ind grown into n dark green
and the full grown leaves had blotted
out the vista which gave the work
more than half Its beauty. But while
this beauty was disappearing the bud
Of love was opening
So much for tie natural features of
this story. Now come the artificial
viz. a girls confession 10 her father
that she had met her fate. but had not
met with any knowledge Of that fate's
antecedents: then n command from
the father, tears from the girl and
triangular condition between the IA
ther. the girl and the artist such as
has taken place ever since the first
prlmeval girl planned TO give her IA
thcr the slip and climb tree with the
first primeval youth, the tree being too