The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-03
TIE EVENING STORY
The Sunlight on Her Shoes.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)

| over her dark blue eyes and the book
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
it was to gaze incredulously and then
with growing indignation at a hat
less young man sitting before an
easel and undoubtedly painting her
picture.
| Lila coughed.
| The painter looked up and slightly
frowned. IF you could hold that
position another instant!' he pleaded.
You have no right to paint me
Indignantly.
Il could not ask permission with
out awakening you" he said mildly.
Il was not really asleep
| But it would have spoiled the pic
ture if you had stirred-the light on
those leaves in 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 a perfectly good picture by
changing her attitude.
She wished that she knew more
the painter, who was strangely alb
sorbed in his work. He was slen-
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.
Il wonder what he will call it,, she
soliloquized. Perhaps in the
Apple Tree or something like that"
It's very good of you to favor me
| in this manner" said the artist at
last as he gathered his pencils and
clattered them into the box beside
him. THE instant I saw the sunlight
on your shoes I 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, lone can not help but feel little
curiosity concerning ones own pic
ture."
The youth looked rather discon-
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 attitude of careless
repose. He had produced a wonder
full 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
81, he +
and everything save her features.
While he stood there she came back
again, her white linen skirt swishing
the long grass as she hurried toward
color and her blue eyes sparkled dan
gerously.
Pardon my curiosity, but will you
be good enough to tell me why you
left my face out of the picture ?"
Its for an advertisement, you see,'
he said, coloring, and 1 could not
take the liberty of having your face
scattered broadcast over the country
"Oh! And what will you do for a
face?" asked Lila, in an absurdly re-
lieved tone.
Il shall find a professional model
to sit for that in town. The whole |
attitude was so charming-it would
have made a great picture in oils" he |
said, with enthusiasm.
why didn't you paint it in oils, |
then? she asked.
His face clouded. Cant afford to
spend the time now. I'm in the adj |
vertising line and I've got to stick to |
it for while. Some day, when I've |
got enough saved up, I'm going to cut |
this stuff He nodded savagely at |
the drawing.
It's splendid-as it is" said Lila. !
do tell me what it is going to adj |
vertise?'
Again he colored with embarrassment |
"Closefit Shoes ne said, grimly.
And that was why you was so par
ticular about my shoes?"
Yes. You see. it will make a stun |
ming advertisement for the shoes on |
a vacation trip-understand? ?"
Lila nodded. II think this is SPLEEN |
did-just think of all the people who |
will see that picture and how many |
shoes it will sell-ehI''
He shot a gratefully admiring glance |
at her. Most people wag their heads |
and tell me have no temperament |
to waste my time over this stuff; they |
babble about art for arts sake and |
all that, but one can't eat paint and /
drink turpentine-not fer long, any
way!'
II should say not! ANYWAY, I'd rath- |
er be a successful advertisement artist |
than a failure as portrait painter or
as landscape artist" cried Lila little /
breathlessly.
It's mighty nice of you to say
thatl''
Il mean i'll don't believe Velasquez
or any of those old masters could pro
duce a good advertisement went on
Lila recklessly.
He laughed outright at her last re-
mark and was about to put the draw
ing away, when she held out a re.
straining hand.
please don't think me conceited,
buff you could use me as a model |
now, perhaps you could finish the
drawing a once and not wait until
you returned to the city" She was
blushing warmly when she ended
1. =. ]. LII. Il