The Washington herald., 1913-11-21
DAILY SHORT STORY

had been sent there previously and she
was afre with eagerness to see them on
exhibition.
Just as she had dreamed. they occu-
pied the most conspicuous position In
the handIwork booth.
Look. fatheri' she cried excitedly,
cIutching the arm beside her. See! NY
Quilt Of Ambition has taken the first
prizer'
Receiving no response. she turned dis
appointedly Then she gasped. The arm
she. had clutched was not her fathers,
but young mans!
II beg your pardon" she began in
confusion.
But the young man swept away her
embarrassment in a breath
did you do that quilt?' he inquired
quickly. do you paint?"
She stared at him. All at once she
noticed that his face was refined and
sensitive, his hands long and artistic.
his keen eyes Enthusiastically those of a
critic.
No" she answered interestedly. quite
oblivious to the fact that she was vio-
lating one of the cardinal laws in her
mothers code of etiquette. by chatting
with a stranger. mo-" don't paint. /
wanted to go away and study. but my
people wouldn't hear OF it; so decided
~ PdAIil Win rags. mbLeaO.
The young man took step nearer the
prize quilt.
Unusual imagination-sensitiv to
tonal values" he said. Then turning. he
smiled sympathetically into her eyes.
m an artist. too" he introduced him
sell; only I'm one that's had a chance.
My names Winthrop. I come from New
york And If I can fix 1t up with your
tolks' by George, you're going to have
a chance. too
Lefty gasped. She was blank with
surprise. All at once her frustrated
hopes and dreams rushed back over her
and transformed themselves into two
bright. unshed tears. She could only
look at him, speechless.
Even when her family suddenly came
up. she was unable to find her tongue
But the young man had full power over
his. This is your mother?'' he said.
bowing to Mrs James politely. May
make myself acquainted?' he went
on to the dazed woman. II am John
Winthrop. of New York, an artist. I see
such unusual merit in your daughters
quilt designs that I should like very
much to give her lessons in drawing
The satisfaction OF giving such unmistak-
abla talent a chance to develop, will
amply repay me for my time and trouble
You live around here. I suppose?''
Yes" gasped the bewildered woman
OF his entire speech she had caught
little else but the last question
And through the rest Of the afternoon,
she continued to wonder and to gasp
She could uot quite understand how he
happened TO be walking along beside
Lefty; how he managed to be one of
their. ctrcle on the picnic grounds at
lunch time. His animated talk about
perspective and "chiarooscuro" which
Lefty seemed to be absorbing so under
standingly, was wholly unintelligible to
her.
Have you ever seen that man before.
Letty?" she asked suspiciously at the
end Of the day. when, after saying good
by to the stranger, they had started on
their way home. You two seemed
mighty familiar"
Lefty turned her face away in the
gathering dusk.
NO" she answered softly, 'I've never
seen him before or any one like him"
Mrs James sat a moment in silence.
do you really think he meant what
he said about giving you lessons?'' she
asked then DO you really think you'll
ever see him again, Letty?'
But the girl did not seem to be in a
taIkative mood Steadily she gazed at
the distant gray skyline.
Tomorrow night" she said absentIy,
dreamily. "He-he said he was coming
to bring my quilts back, mother"