The Press., 1911-10-11

0cou luSm.
 "You gre very kind," Constance re piled. ''Do you live here all aloneY'
 "For the present. l go back to the city early in September"
 q will relieve you of my belongings about 8 o'clock this afternoon"
 "If it is not necessary that you
 work all day would advise you not
 to do so."
 "Why?''
 "Welr'-he looked up at the sky fol
 reason and found one-"in the morn
 ing we are fresh and can do our best
 work. Besides, when we have just
 finished a bit of work we are liable to either undervalue or overvalue it. Ii you leave what you have done this morning without looking at it till to. morrow you will be able to put a much better estimate upon it than now, just after working upon it."
 And if I leave it here I can't see 1t, can I?'
 when you are fresh you will know Just what it requires. You see, the course 1 advise is beneficial in more
 ways than cne."
 Constance left him and, striking a 1isused road through the pines, walk ed away to yard Harpswell village. After dinner instead of going back to her work she took a siesta and later a tour of observation in search of ob- jects to transfer to canvas.
 The next morning was clear and crisp. Constance walked to the cot tage where she had left her belong ings and, approaching, saw her easel set up on the north porch and her pie ture resting on it. She was far bet ter pleased with what she had done than she had been the day before. she s-id to him:
 "YOu are an admirable teac her. Last evening was disposed to throw my work into the fire. This morning I am very well satisfied with it.''
 "Perhaps it is because you see it through rested eyes,"
 Constance took her picture down to the position she had occupied the day before and began her days work. She was again disappointed. It seemed to her when noon came that her pic ture looked much as it had done the day before. She carried it up to the strangers cottage. He saw her coming and went out to meet her.
 "I fear that have spoiled It," she said to him. ''This morning it was fine; now it is worse than 1t was yes- terday."
 "Put it away from you again." he said, "till tomorrow morning"
 "I will leave it with you till to- morrow morning if you will kindly keep it, but I know that during the day have injured it rather than i'm proved it. I am heartsick over it." Growing confidential: 'I am very poor and have hoped soon to be able to make my living in this way. If the more work I put on a picture the worse 1t is, what chance is there for mel"
 we must all meet Encouragement" he replied, "but when we are iu its tolls there is kind fairy called rest that unwinds them, and when we are refreshed we take hold again with vigor."
 So Constance left her picture with her new found friend, went to her room and lounged the rest of the day. In the morning she found her picture again set up in an advantageous light, and again her dissatisfaction with it of the day before was changed to 
 Day after day Constance worked onA her picture, every morning comforted by its appearing to her to be improved from what it was the day before, every noon fearful lest she had lost more than she had gained. The stranger taught her many trick" as he called it, by which objects were brought to their relative position and striking effects produced. One thing she knew-taken altogether, the pic lure was really growing into some thing beautiful. She believed that what she was doing was due entirely b a subtle influence her instructor aXerted over here.
 During this time the summer was fl ding into autumn. The water and the sky took on a cold hue, and the cottage residents of Orr's island began to return to their permanent homes. Constance finished her painting and Drised at her talent.
 Constance's instructor told her that If she would take her picture to a prominent art dealer in Boston he thought she would get a good price for it. He said he would meet her there on certain date and introduce her. On the day named she took her Jailed to meet her. She showed the 1ealer the picture, and he studied it 
 Did you paint it?" he asked.
 Certainly. Why to you ask that?"
 Because I would have sworn tha' was Frank Elliot"
 Taking up a small microscope. h. brought it to bear on a lower corner.
 ''It is an Elliot" he said.
 "What do yon mean? exclaimed the lstonished Constance.
 The dealer handed her the micro scope, and she brought it to bear on he picture. There she saw "F. Elliot lel."
 "Who is Frank Elliott" she asked.
 ''Our principal American marine painter just at present"
 Where does he live2"
 Nowhere. He's been trying to re- ain his health at Orr's island, I be- ieve." Constance was dumfounded. "What value do you place upon the icture?" she asked. The dealer pondered few moments. hen said: "It is worth about $1,2OO."
 "Goodnesa gracious!" exclaimed the .irl, her breath quite taken away. ,iAt that moment Constance's instruc- or walked into the shop.