The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-04-20
A Pastoral Love
Affair
Combination of the Natural and
the Artificial.
By ARTHUR BEN1ERTON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
alton. 1911.

for the animals and birds to mate
without having TO look into each
others record. tiger may not only
kill man, but eat him and mate with
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 clean record, or
there comes lot of trouble.
And the most singular thing about
it all Is that either OF them will MUIR
der any animal. except their own kind,
and eat the carcass,
|, being O 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 wood working In the
colors when | heard the bark of dog
and a moment later a little terrier
stood growing at me- A girl, budding
like the trees, not into leaves, but into
womanhood, hurried up, calling in
soft Voice:
"Frlsk! Come away, Frlsk! What
do you meanT
| paid no attention to the dog, and
there was no need for the girl to call
him off, for he had no idea of attack
ing me- but he gave me an excuse for
addressing the girl.
And yet l question II any excuse
was required People who meet In
crowds are constrained by convention
alities. We two, meeting In wood,
with not a sound about us-when the
dog had ceased barking-except an oc-
caslonal twitter of birds engaged In
nest building, felt constrained in an
other way. We were impelhd to be
companionable. began by telling her
not to mind the dog, that he wouldn't
disturb me, and she sided around
where she could catch a view OF my
sketch. One thing led to another until
we felt quite well acquainted. | had
chosen a delightful spot to transfer to
canvas. 1t was on a declivity. An
opening In the trees below revealed
patch> of landscape, while at my feet
glrgled 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
~ 20 70 n raonlf
an opening spring In a wood, buds, wild
flowers, twlttering birds, vista,
brook, dog and lastly young man
and young woman. both in the first
freshness Of youth, what follows2
Why. exactly what the poet says-the
young mans land the young woman's)
fancy turns to thoughts of love.
The result Of this meeting was an
other meeting and another and another
| didn't count them; l was too preoc-
cupled to do so. l painted so long on
my picture that before finished 1t the
delicate shade 1 had come to the coun-
try for had grown into a 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 the natural features of
this story. Now come the artificial
viz, a girls confession to her father
that she had met her fate, but had not
met with any knowledge Of that fate's
antecedents: then a command from
the father, tears from the girl and
triangular condition between the IA
Their, the girl and the artist such as
has taken place ever since the first
primeval girl planned to give her ia
Their the slip and climb tree with the
first primeval youth, the tree being too
high for the old gentleman to follow.
Bessles father was really as reason
able as we considered him unreason-
able. He merely wished to know who
I was. Since I had lived In South
America from the time was two until
twenty-five years OF age l must send
there for my credentials, involving a
delay of month or more. What cruel
ty to force pair Of lovers to walt all
that time in state of suspense!
Sweetheart" said to her one day.
suppose the reply should come that l
am an escaped defaulter, jailblrd, muir
derer."
~ would not believe the story"
"But your father would" | added
sententiously.
One day. after having painted alone
In the wood, on leaving 1t l saw some
thing half covered with shriveled
branches and dead leaves. l exam
lned 1t and found the dead body Of
man. Horrifed lest l might be i'm
plicated In a murder, l threw back
what | had removed and was about
10 hurry away when l saw two men
coming for me. Within five minutes
was on my way to the nearest po-
hce station.
My antecedents were now not 30
much needed to enable me to possess
my love as to preserve my neck. The
status had changed a second time
The case was not now one of father,
a girl and an unknown man. but n
father, a girl and an unknown man ac-
cused of murder. sent at once a
note to Bessie, informing her of my
trouble, encouraging her to keep up a
good heart and assuring her of my in
Our baby cries for Chamberlain s