The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-02-23
"Why?"

uD1Sneu Il OIL OI WOi.i we are llHDie W
either undervalue or overvaue it. If
you leave what you have done this
morning without lookig at it till to-
morrow you will he abe to put much
better estimate upon it than now, just
after working upon it,
"And if l leave it here l can't see
It, can ~
"No, you can't. And in the morning
when you are fresh you will know
just what it requires. You see, the
course l advise is beneficial in more
ways than one"
Constance left him and, striking a
disused road through the pines, walk
ed away toward Harpswell village
After dinner instead of going back to
her work she took siesta and later
tour of observation in search of OBJ
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 pic
ture resting Oh it. She was far bet
ter pleased with what she had done
than she had been the day before.
just then the stranger came out, and
she said to hir.:
"You are 81 admirable teacher.
Last evening l was disposed to throw
my work into the fire. This morning
am very we'll 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. 1t 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.
II fear that l have spoiled it," she
said to him. 'This morning 1t was
fine; now 1t is worse than it was yes
terday."
"Put it away from you again." he
said, 'till tomorrow morning."
II will leave it with you till to-
morrow morning If you will kindly
keep it, but I know that during the
day 1 have injured it rather than Inn
proved it. l am heartsick over It,"
Growing confidential: II am very poor
and have hoped soon to be able to
make my living in this way. If the
more work put on a picture the
worse it is, what chance Is there for
me?"
eve must all meet Encouragement"
he replied "but when we are In its
tolls there is kind fairy called rest
that unwinds them, and when we are
refreshed we take hold again with
renewed vigor."
So Constance left her picture with
her new found friend, went to her
room and lounged the rest of the day.
again set up in all advantageous light.
and again her dissatisfaction with it
Of the day before was changed to
comfort.
Day after day Constance worked Oh
her picture, every morning comfortcd
by it's 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 a trick" us
he called it, by which objects were
brought to their relative position and
striking effects produced One thing
she knew-tasen altogether, the pi:'
ture was really growing into solle.
thing beautiful. She believed that
what she was doing was due entirely
to q subtle influence her instructor
exerted over here
During this time the summer was
fading into autumn. The water and
the sky took on Il cod hue. and the
cottage residents of Orr's island began
to return to their permanent homes.
Constance finished her painting and
was delighted With it. She was sur
prised at her talent.
Constance's instructor told her that
if she would take her picture to q
prominent art dealer in Boston he
thought she would get Il good price
for it. He said he would meet her
there on a certain date and introduce
her. On the day named she took her
work to the store, but her instructor
failed to meet her. She showed the
dealer the picture, and he studied ii
carefully.
"Did you paint it?' he asked.
"Certainly. Why to you ask that?"
because l would have sworn that
was a Frank Elliot"
Taking UP small microscope, he
brought it to bear on lower corner.
1T Is an Elliot" he said.
"What do you mean?" exclaimed the
astonished Constance.
The dealer handed her the micro
scope, and she brought it to bear on
the picture. There she saw IF. Elliot
del"
"Who is Frank Elliott" she asked.
sour principal American marine
painter Just at present"
| "N'here does he liye?"