The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-24
THE ARTIST
OF THE PLAINS
BY EDNA ELLEN WEEKS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

as well as comparal@ ,ly warm during
the winter months, took board in q
ranch house in New Mexico, spending
his time riding and driving with his
daughter.
One day the two met cowboy
whose appearance was different from
those usually occupied in punching
cows. His hair was rather long, and
his beard was trimmed to point. Ills
eyes were large and wore a dreamy
expression. He bowed to the couple
rs 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
ia 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.
Il noticed you yesterday when / met
you and was seized with desire TO
transfer your face to canvas. | have
come to beg that privilege"
The young lady did not reply for a
few moments She was fattered at
the request but knew that her IA
theirs permission must be obtained.
Il do not know YOU" she said. I'm
the east, where I come from, there is
a certain formality about such mat
ters'
ar FA1a snG
said. mo one here knows anything
about me, and | have no intention OF
Informing them. If you will give me
the required number of sittings | will
come here and do the work on this
porch"
"And your price for the portrait
when 1t is finished"
ut shall belong to you"
very well. | 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 1t was
finished at whatever price he should
himself name. provided he wished 1T,
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 boob
and read while the artist put the out,
line on the canvas.
The portrait grew under the artists
brush not only a likeness of Mise
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 hef
face. When her father was absent
Miss Winston was kept conversfnt
with her portrayer and on subjecN
that called forth such agreeable idttN
syncrasies as were in her. These eS-
pressions the piainsman 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, confess that you
have painted my daughter just as she
is, and / want the picture. What
shall l pay you for it?"
ut was understood between us that
you were TO have it at your own price.
Suppose we make 1t 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, Il suppose a good photo
graph of the largest size would cost
that, and a painting Is supposed to be
better than photograph"
The daughter sighed, but said moth
ing. She was sorry that the sittings
were ended She had never been so
entertained in her life-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 II
was not on the canvas. Mr.. Winston
asked him why he wished to know,
and the reply was that 1t seemed to
be fine work. This excited the owners
curiosity and he brought an expert to
look at it.
'Tt's a Kennard," said the man,
STOPPING to find the artists name.
"Kennard is a queer chap. Sometimes
in q freak he viii put n mark on his
portraits. Here 1t isthat querled K.
In the lower corner"
"And who is Kennard?''
"At present the principal portrait
painter In America. and the second or
third in the world"
"Good gracious exclaimed the own
err" and what would You consider
fair price for the work"
"Oh, you can get anywhere from 49,
600 to $4,000 for It,"
where is Kennard now" pursued
the astonisl1ed Winston.
Trying to recover his health in New
Mexico"
After all Kennard made the buyer