The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-05-23
He Was Taught
Lesson
By F. TOWNSEND SMITH

When Helen Armsby and l were but
len years old we were great chums.
At dancing school Helen was my
favorite partner, and when we were
pairing of for the cotillion the other
boys steered clear Of her, knowing that
she would be engaged to dance it with
me.
Our Intimacy continued through
youth. and when it came time for me
to choose a profession Helen objected
to my choice. At school. instead OF
studying my lessons. l devoted my
time covering the blank leaves and
margins Of my textbooks with little
pictures. The fancy grew upon me,
and the profession l selected was that
Of an artist. Helen was my opposite.
a practical girl. not given to floating
In the clouds. but walking right down
on the face Of the earth.
didn't then suspect the truth. Helen
had been looking forward to q union
with me and realized that II l spent my
time daubing on canvas marriage with
me was impracticable. She had a
little money Of her own. but not enough
to admit Of her husband sitting on a
three legged stool copying clouds and
waterfalls. However, I started In.
studied awhile in an art school. b e
set about practicing on the beautiful
landscapes about the village in which
Helen and I lived. One day while I
was thus engaged she came along and
stood behind me. looking at the pic
ture on my easel.
Every pretty. she remarked In that
tone which damns with faint praise. I
asked her what she especially admired
In the painting.
"Well. in the first place. that machine
for gathering grain is excellent"
"That isn't a grain gathering ma
chine; it's a windmill"
"There isn't any windmill about
here,'' she said.
mo: I am using the scene before me
for a study. Putting in what occurs to
me would make it more attractive"
"You mean improving on it."
Only a woman could give the cold
tone to produce perfect irony.
| I didn't ask her to point out any
more beauties. but she did so OF her
own accord.
did you put that balloon in for an
Improvement? y she asked.
"You mean that tree on the hilltop!
No, I copied that. You can see 1t In the
natural landscape"
"Oh!y. ..' .
There was an embarrassing silence;
I dared not speak for fear I should say
something I would be sorry for. Helen
didn't seem afraid to speak and made
another criticism.
what kind Of trees are those SUI.
rounding the tree on the hilltop?"
I made no reply. She referred to
clouds covering the sky.
you're cross today" she added and
proceeded on her way.
Not long after this I took a studio In
the city. No one w came there to
buy pictures. and It was very lonesome.
One day a dealer came in and said he
did a great deal for beginners BY buy
ing their pictures and selling them to
persons who wished them to help fur
nish their houses. He looked rel mine
and selected the painting that Helen
had SO ridiculed. offering me the enor-
nous sum Of 500 for 1t. l was the
more delighted because I could tell her
that the picture had been sold, and the
price paid for It showed plainly that
her criticism was unjust and absurd.
Well. I had u new interest in life.
was absorbed in the fate Of the n
picture L hadlsold. One day I.saunter-
ed into the shop Of the man who had
bought It and looked for It among his
stock. did not find it. Then I asked
the dealer If he remembered buying q
picture from me and what had become
Of It. He said he remembered me and
the picture very we'll. He had sold it
at a profit
This ended my connection with that
particular picture. I went on paint
ing. but since I sold nothing I soon
found myself In a state bordering on
starvation. Then another dealer came
to my studio and asked me IL I could
duplicate the landscape I had sold.
did SO. ard he paid me the same price
as I had received for the other. After
that, about once In three months. l sold
a copy of that picture for exactly the
same amounts hundred dollars. Since
II had been improving In my work !
could not understand why my clientele
should all want that same picture.
I grew suspicious. The next time q
dealer came to my studio to buy one Of
these paintings he paid me for It, leav-
|it with me and directing me to give
It to a boy whom he would send for It
asked the boy II he were to take It
to the art store kept BY the dealer or
Ito the purchaser. He declined to an.
swer the question.
This made me o suspicious than
ever. but / said nothing. I watched
the boy from a window when be left
the house. saw the direction be took.
then followed him at q distance.
What was my amazement to rec him
leave It ut Helen's home.
I was much Impressed, not only with