The Yale expositor., 1911-10-26
THE ARTIST
OF THE PLAINS
BY EDNA ELLEN WEEKS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871.

!
tleman. being ordered by his daugh
ter's physician to take her to Il south
western climate. where the air Is dry
as we'll as comparatively warm during
the winter months. took board in
ranch house in New Mexico. spending
his time riding and driving with his
daughter.
One day the two met cowboy
whose appearance was different from
those usually occupied in punching
cows. His hair was rather long. and
his beard was trimmed to a point. His
eyes were large and wore n dreamy
expression. He bowed to the couple
as he passed them. taking off his som
brero with courtesy not common
among those Of his calling.
The next morning the young man
rode up to the porch on which Virgin
Ia Winston was sitting. He carried
before him box. while strapped be-
hind him were an artists easel, maui
stick and other artistic appurtenances.
Raising his hat to Miss Winston. he
said:
you and was seized with desire to
transfer your face to canvas. have
come to beg that privilege"
The young lady did not reply for
few moments. She was flattered at
the request. but knew that her IA
TIERS permission must be obtained.
II do not know you" she said. I'm
tba ooet xvboro 7 comn from thara iS
certain formality about such mat
ters."
II am called the plains artist" he
said mo one here knows anything
about me. and have no intention of
informing them. If YOU will give me
the required number of sittings l will
come here and do the work on this
porc H."
"And your price for the portrait
when it is flnished?"
at shall belong to YOU"
every well. | will ask my father
and will let you know il you will come
again."
The next morning the artist of the
plains rode up to the ranch house,
found the father with his daughter
and obtained his permission to paint
the portrait. He stipulated that he
was to have the portrait when it was
finished at whatever price he should
himself name provided he wished It.
but it was in no wise obligatory on
him to buy it. These details having
been settled, the artist set up his easel
on the porch and was accorded the
first sitting. Mr. Winston took book
and read while the artist put the out
line on the canvas.
The portrait grew under the artists
brush not only likeness Of Miss
Winston. but speaking likeness.
Sometimes during the sittings Mr..
Winston was present and sometimes
he was absent. When he was present
the painter worked on the girls dress,
her hands, indeed anything but her
face. When her father was absent
Miss Winston was kept conversing
with her portrayer and on subjects
that called forth such agreeable idio-
syncrasies as were in her. These ex-
pressions the plainsman transferred to
the canvas. Neither father nor daugh-
ter knew anything about art, but they
knew that something was being pro-
duced which greatly pleased them.
When it was finished Mr. Winston
said to the artist:
"Now, my friend, confess that you
have painted my daughter just as she
is, and l want the picture. What
shall I pay you for it?'
"It was understood between us that
you were to have 1t at your own price
Suppose we make it hundred dol
lars"
"Whatever you choose to give"
The buyer wrote check for 500
and took the picture. When the artist
had departed Mr.. Winston said to his
daughter, 81 suppose good photo
graph of the largest size would cost
that, and painting is supposed to be
better than photograph"
The daughter sighed, but said moth
ing. She was sorry that the sittings
were ended She had never been so
entertained I'm her llfe-that Is, when
the plainsman had been working on
her features.
At the opening of the warm season
Mr.. Winston took his daughter back
to the east. In New York they sent
the portrait to a shop to be framed.
The proprietor looked Mt 1t critically |
and ask the name Of the artist, since 1t
was not on the canvas, Mr.. Winston
asked him why he wished to know,
and the reply was that 1t seemed to |
be fine work. This excited the owners |
curiosity and he brought an expert to |
look at it.
"It's Kennard," said the man, |
STOPPING to find the artists name. |
"Kennard Is queer chap. Sometimes
in freak he will put mark on his |
portraits. Here ii is-that querled X.
in the lower corner"
"And who is KennardT"
"At present the principal portrait |
painter in America, and the second or
third in the world"