The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-11-30
HE ARTIST
OF HE PLAINS
By EDNA ELLEN WEEKS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

|
tleman, being ordered by his daugh-
ter's physician to take her to a sontb-
western climate, where the air is drv
as well as comparatively warm dur;no
the winter months, took board In a
ranch house in New Mexico, spending
his time riding and driving with his
daughter.
one day the two met a cowbov
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 a DREAMY
expression. He bowed to the couple
as he passed them, taking off his SOM
brero with a courtesy not common
among those Of his calling.
The next morning the young man
rode up to the porch on which Virgin
la Winston was sitting. He carried
before him a box, while strapped be-
hind him were an artists easel, maui
stick and other artistic appurtenances.
Raising his hat to Miss Winston, he
said:
II noticed you yesterday when 1 met
you and was seized with a desire to
transfer your face to canvas. I have
come to beg that privilege
The young lady did not reply for a
few moments. She was f1attered at
the request, but knew that her IA
theirs permission must be obtained.
II do not know you," she said. "In
the east, where come from, there is
certain formalfty about such mat
ters."
'T am called the plains artist" he
said. "No one here knows anything
about me, and have no intention of
informing them. II you will give me
the required number of sittings l will
come here and do the work on this
porch"
"And your price for the portrait
when 1t Is fnishedw
''It shall belong to you"
every we'll. I will ask my father
and will let you know if 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 a book
and read while the artist put the out
line on the canvas.
The portrait grew under the artists
brush not only a likeness of Miss
Winston. but a 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 convers1ng
with her portrayer and on subjects
that called forth such agreeable lido
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, I confess that you
have painted my daughter just as she
is, and | want the picture. What
shall I pay you for it?''
cit was understood between us that
you were to have it at your own price"
"Suppose we make it a hundred dol
lars"
"Whatever you choose to give"
The buyer wrote a check for 500
and took the picture. When the artist
had departed Mr. Winston said to his
daughter, 81 suppose a good photo
| graph of the largest size would cost
that, and a painting is supposed to be
better than a photograph"
The daughter sighed, but said moth
ing She was sorry that the sittings
were ended. She had never been so
entertained in her Hfe-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 shop to be framed.
The proprietor looked at it 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 it seemed to
he fine work. This excited the owners
curiosity and he brought an expert to
look at it.
"Its a Kennard," said the man,
stooping to find the artists name.
"Kennard is a queer chap. Sometimes
in a freak he will put mark on his
portraits. Here it is-that querled K.
On tho lower corner"