Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-06-16

art, he don't! All thre2 or EN- are
to he about the doing Of something.
and think it will be mighty uplift-
ing to men that has to work as hard
as them men does to have a great
it. He says this one is his best-has
got more climate than the others"
More climate?" asked Miss Cynthia
in a small voice.
Eyes, climate all around t.; like
that sunset light on the Prov Of the
boat and the mems backs and SIGH"
Didn't he call 1t atmosphere? ven.
tured Miss Cynthia delicately.
That's it! l knew it had some.
thing to do with the weather. Any.
way I am learning to know it when
| see It, like out the back door at
early sun-up when I take in the FLAIR
ty twins. 1t seems like all the men
in the Painters Union tries to paint
with it. Once along come man
named Singer and painted it better'u
any of 'em cause it's horned in some
folks. like the making of pies and
cake and SIGH. That's a copy of the
picture the man done of his own
mother. over there by the cot Mr.
Alan always takes it with him cause
he amt got no picture of his own
mother who had the mischance to
die when he was horned. He says
the picture means everybody's mother
anyway-and l think it do
"Oh. Whistler's mother. How
copy HIMSELF"
Yes. he done 1t over across the
ocean-in Jerusalem. think And the
mans name is Whistler instead of
Singer. ! remember it was some kind
of a musicianer. He talks ard tells
me all about every kind of art-thing
and sometimes l am kinder slow at
catching on, but I like it and feel
like l was a-hearing a person come
back from heaven and atelling about
what's over there. And Mary Ellen
Dobbs and Mis- Kinney and the rest
feels the same about it. him being
jest as kind about telling and showing
them as can be. Mary Ellen left
Ethel Maud to watch the pot for din
ner the other day while she come
over here to see a picture he had
painted of her back yard and clothes
line l was a-telling her about, and
the child let the bacon and cabbage
burn and then tasted EN-! When
her mother got back she ran screech.
ing something orful with burnt
tongue. Mr.. Alan put some of his
own tooth-wash on 1t to make her
hush; he's such hand with children
as l never saw often"
AS Miss Selma Lue talked. Miss
Cynthia was looking from one picture
to another rapt in delight. The
rough sketches of men and draft
horses and great loaded carts and
straining mule teams were awe-in-
spring. but were relieved by tender
bits of landscape and quick sketches
Of the children in charming character
istic poses. How strange it seemed
the old Bluff barn! And yet perhaps
no stranger than to find the painter
himself coming and going among the
Bluff people in perfect sympathy and
friendship. For a moment her heart
was abased before him in admiration
and could 1t have had touch Of
longing when Miss Selma Lue pre-
cipitated the old enmity upon her
again.
And this here picture of you, Miss
Cynthie, is jest done to turn. When
| first seen it l took such fit over 1t
that he promised to do real big like
ness of you some day. But whatever
made him paint the back of you
don't Snow. 1t was on the river road.
wasn't it," And Miss Selma Lue
picked up a small sketch that stood
against pile of books on the table.
The recently melted blood in Miss
Cynthias veins froze again stiff and
hard as she gazed on the picture in
Miss Selma Lue's hand. 1t was bit
of the river road with the forked tree
in the distance. and retreating down
the vista was back view of herself,
skirts switching. ribbons flying, end
roses on her hat as stiff as possible.
Every line in the figure breathed stiff
ness and snubbery, and it was the
cleverest bit of work she had ever
seen. Oh, why had she passed him
stonily there in the lane, only to give
him such chance? The wretch!
And under the picture was line that
added injury to the insult-"What
care how fair" Her face burned
and an explosion was imminent. but
was cut off in the fuse by Miss Selma
Lue.
II think the writing under it is so
sweet and good, and like him; for OF
course he means he likes you jest as
much with your blue eyes and yellow
hair even If it amt the style he most
ly admires Looks don't make no
difference in his liking: though
heap of men is all for looks, and nice
goodness in women don't interest them
noways Not that you amt got looks
in plenty Of your own kind. Dearie
me. If l amt left the grocery to mind
itself! must hurry on down, but you
come along when you're done looking.
He says his friends are always well
come to come up and look and know
he means you more'n anybody"
Miss Selma Lue paused as she gath
cred her stiff1y starched gingham
skirts about her preparatory to de-
scending the ladder. Honey" she
said. 1--WE jest got to tell you what
he's a-going to do for me. You know
that little. old, faded tintype I've got.
what is all that's mortal left to me OF
Adoniram Millsaps? Well, he's going
to make me life-siZed likeness Of it.