Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-09-27
Sunlight on Her
Shoes 90
By CJARISSA MACHIE

quiet and sleepy there in the summer
afternoon and the lids dropped over
her dark blue eyes and the DOCK
half slipped from her fingers. Her
bright hair against the sober brown
of the tree trunk made a flash OF
golden color.
When she opened her eyes again
1t was to gaze incredulously and then
with growing indignation at q nat
less young man sitting before an
easel and undoubtedly painting ner
picture
Lila coughed.
The painter looked up and slightly
frcwned. IF you could hold that
posi- len another Instant" he pleaded.
You have no right to paint me
without permission" protested Lila
Indignantly.
~ could not ask permission with
out awaking you," he said mildly.
Il was not really asleep.
'But 1t would have spoiled the pic
lure If you had stirred-the light on
those leaves is perfect" He gazed at
the, heavy branch beyond her where
the sunlight struck warmly through
the pale green leaves.
Miss Moore's instinct was to de-
scend from the tree at once, but on
second thought she decided not to
spoil perfectly good picture by
changing her attitude.
She wished that she knew more
h3ut art so that she could talk TO
ne painter, who was strangely ao'
sorbed in his work. He was a sIen'
Derby built youth with a dark, keen
face and bright black eyes. Lila was
not surprised that his clothes were
shabby. and she had no doubt that
he was poor. Perhaps this picture
would bring him fame and fortune.
81 wonder what he will call it." she
soliloQri&ed. "Perhaps-'Girl IN the
apple Tree or something like that"
its very good of you to favor me
in this manner" said the artist at
last as he gathered his pencils and
ciattered them into the box beside
him. The instant saw the sunlight
on your shoes l said to myself:
Here's what you're looking for,
Wilbur"
The sunlight on my shoes"
shrieked Lila.
He nodded
Would you like to see the thing?"
"Of course" said Lila rather crisp
ly, "one cannot help but feel a little
curiosity concerning ones own pic
ture."
The youth looked rather discon-
certed at this remark. but he stepped
forward to give the fair model help
ing hand But Lila needed no assist
ance. She sprang lightly to the turf
and fastened to the easel.
She swept one glance at the strong
pencil drawing and stared for one in
credulous instant at the artist, then
with haughtily lifted nose she flashed
about and disappeared among the
trees.
The artist gazed ruefully at his
drawing of the apple trees. with the
girl sitting in an attitude Of careless
repose. He had produced wonder
'ul effect of light and shadow with
his pencil, and the little buckled
shoes braced against the tree trunk
seemed fairly to scintillate with bril-
liancy.
But he had left Lila's lovely face
out of the picture! Her hair was
there and her softly curved throat
and everything save her features.
While he stood there she came
back again, her white linen skirt
swishing the long grass as she hur-
ried toward him. Her cheeks were
bright with color and her blue eyes
sparkled dangerously.
pardon my curiosity, but will you
be good enough to tell me why you
left my face out Of the pictureT'
Its for an advertisement, you see,"
he said, coloring, land could not
take the liberty Of having your face
scattered broadcast over the country"
"Oh! And what will you do for
facet" asked Lila, In an absurdly re-
lieved tone.
az shall find professional model
to sit for that in town. The whole
attitude was so charming-it would
have made great picture in OILS" he
said. with enthusiasm.
why didn't you paint 1t in oils,
them" she asked.
His face clouded "Can't afford to
spend the time now. I'm in the ad-
yertising line and Eve got to stick to
II for a while. Some day, when i've
cot enough saved up, I'm going to cut
this stuff" He nodded savagely at
the drawing.
ats splendid-as 1t Is" said Lila.
"Do tell me what It is going to ad-
vertise?"
Again he colored with embarrass-
ment. "Closeht Shoes" he said,
grimly.
"And that was why you was so par
ticular about my shoes"
Eyes. You see, 1t will make a stun
ming advertisement for the shoes on
q vacation trip-understand%
Lila nodded. II thing this is splen-
d,d-iust think of all the people who
will see that picture and how many
shoes IL will sell-eh!"
He shot a gratefully admiring
glance at her. Most people wag
thei, heads and tell me l have no
,rr,perament to waste my time over
this stuff; they babble about art for
arts sake and all that, but one can't
cot naint and drink turpentine-not