The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-06
THE EVENING STORY
An Artist and His Dog.
(By Carl Jeknins.)

An Artist and His Dog
(By Carl Jeknins.)
1t was known to the Sneffields. the
Durhams, the Chattertons and all other
country families for five miles around
that the little farm known as Rose
lands had been sold to some one in the
city, but the name of the buyer had
not TRANSFERRED. Roselands had been
owned and occupied by an old recluse
for years. His hobby was growing
roses, but he would never sell or give
one away. They simply budded, bloom
ed and faded.
On two occasions Miss May Shelf
field. who was by all odds the best
looking young woman who drove past
Roselands, had stopped and tried to
melt the old mans heart, but it was
in vain. Had she been re6-headed and
cross eyed, and had big mouth and
nose tilted up at the end. he could not
have been more surly with her.
Neither praise, fiattery, smiles or cash
would melt him. Red roses-pink
roses-white roses-roses enough for
dukes wedding, and yet the passers-
by could not have one or them.
When it was known for certain that
the old recluse had departed, and that
the buyer was coming down from the
city in few days to take possession.
Miss May put on a determined look
and said:
'tWeIl, I'm going right ove- there to-
morrow afternoon and get some cut
tings from those rose bushes. 1 don't
believe the buyer will care. At any
rate I'll chance it,
Hes probably a married man. said
her mother. ''and you don't know what
his wife may say about it,"
eff she's mean enough to say any
thing III offer to pay. Why, we've
given away cuttings and roots and
bulbs by the cart load
At o'clock next afternoon, after a
walk of mile. Miss May arrived at
Roselands. She had brought a knife
along, and she lost no time selecting
the bushes and making her cuttings.
When she had bundled them up she
took look into the cottage through
a window, and was amazed to find that
a lot of new furniture had been moved
in. Weeds and grass had also been
cut down, and it was evident that the
buyer was ready to take possession.
If the trespasser had delayed a single
day longer
And then she heard the chug of an
auto, and lost it as the machine stop
ped at the gate, and there came the
sounds of mems voices and the barking
of dog. The buyer of Roselands was
at handi Should the girl walk out
with that bundle of cuttings under her
arm, and her chin held high in def
ance? No, of course not Should she
go without the cuttings? Should she
break her way to the fields in the rear
through the rank grass and weeds? A
shed with vines climbing over it, and
the door standing half open caught her
eye, and a few seconds later she was
concealed.
A good looking young man, talking
with his chauffeur, came up the path
and unlocked one of the doors and en-
tered. Half a dozen trips were made
by the two, and when they came to an
end the hiding girl knew that the
chauffeur had driven away alone, and
that the master and his dog were seat
ed on the doorsteps within fifteen feet
of her. She scented the smoke from a
pipe, and she heard the man say to the
dog:
''Well, old fellow, we are here at
last. Wonder if we are going to be
lonesome? Well put in few days
cleaning up Roselands and then we
must to our canvasses."
An artist. Ell? That's what Miss
May had thought as she peered at the
mans face through a crack in the
shed. He had brought the last of his
effects, and was going to stay right
there. Now, then, was she to get out
unseen?
mo rain for week and everything
around here wants water continued
the man. 1--WE must put the hose on
and wet down. You look out for
tramps and I'll take care of the roses.
And say Carlo, be a little careful as
around here. They must be up to the
mark. They say a man is judged by
his dog. Something in the shed there
Go and see.''
The dog had scented the trespasser.
and now he ran down ard stuck his
alarm.
"Only cat, old boy" said the man.
land you needn't drive her away. We
want a cat to make 1t seem home-like.
May be a coon or a rabbit, from the
way you bark. I'll come down and
help you rustic it out. Here"
You needn't put yourself to any
great trouble" said Miss May Shelf
field as she appeared in the open
doorway.
''T-thunder!' exclaimed the artist.
Sir said the naughty girl before
him; you called me a cat!"
"I-I-by no means"
And you called me a coon!"
But II never meant to-
"And you called me rabbit"
Yes, but you see
And you ordered your do: to hustle
me outi''
"But I didn't know
"And when I am hustled out you
swear at mel"
But my astonishment-mys surprise
"And now 1 am expecting a blow
from a club"
"Miss-young lady-my dear@''
But as you haven't hit me, / wish
to thank you for your ciemency and
bid you good afternooni"
And with head held high and the
gait of a duchess the girl swept the
fioundering man aside and walked to
the gate and up the road. The dog
followed her for a few PAGES in a
wondering way, and then returned to
his master, to be addressed with:
carlo, have we had a pipe dream,
or have we actually seen the queen of
her sex for fifty miles around?"
Carlo went down to the shed to see
If ANYTHING more like that was linger-