The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-20

d
well, mind said Polly, haught-
| lily.
So Taunton Cove had it's first shock
of surprise two days later when it be-
held it's new fair visitor sally forth
from the lane AMI calmly nail a sign
upon the side fence.
Private. No Thoroughfare.
It kept out strangers, but not the
regular denizens of the region beyond
Polly's new house. Night and morn
ing they took the short cut with
cheerful disregard of the sign and it's
owner.
She Cd want to be left alone. she
had chosen the Cove solely because
of its isolation from the beaten track.
Here she could rest and work for two
or three months in secret on the pic
ture wonderful. 1t was ordered, and
meant a thousand dollars to her. Ger
tainIy Polly did not have the true ar
tistic temperament, for as she worked
she would pause, and dream while,
not Of how ideal it would be to have
child of her brain hung in the new
white marble library back home, but
of what she would do with the prize
when it was paid over
She had won in the competition held
that spring. The library was to have
an art gallery. This was stipulated In
old Mrs. Batterson's will. She had left
100000 to the town for its library on
condition that it build an art gallery
annex, and fill it with treasures. The
first picture she was willing to donate.
It must be a portrait Of herself. done
in oil.
1T can paint her." Polly had de-
clared vigorously. Haven't seen her
every day since I was a baby?''
GO to it. Poll" urged her brother,
cheerful1y.
So Polly had entered for the Bat
terson thousand, and out of five
sketches submitted. the old lady had
decided on hers. A few sitttngs up at
felt fairly startled when one morning
Dan startled her by saying Mrs. Bat
terson had died during the night.
"Weu. I'm glad she waited for me
to get the sittings anyway" said Polly;
dear. I know just the way every lit
tie gray curl goes on her forehead.
I shall tell father I want to go away
down on the shore, and rent little
bungalow, don't you know, Dan, and
paint all by myself
"Where?" asked Dan.
"I think around Taunton Cove. I've
heard Mrs. Patterson speak of the
Cove. and it's beyond New London,
right near the art colony there, SO
shall feel the atmosphere"
you'll feel the atmosphere all
right if you try roughing 1t down there
alone" said Dan. "One OF the fellows
whats his name ?" |
''Walt harrington. He had some |
sort of a little place there"
write and offer to rent it at once
for the summer
Dan had written to Mr.. Harrington,
and the response had been immediate
and joyous.
Every day she carted out the tall
easel and the half finished canvas and
set them up under the apple trees.
Old Mrs. Patterson beamed benevo-
lently on the orchard and the lane.
But one daily occurrence bothered
her. Every day about 4:30 a person
on horseback would ride slowly
glance at her. The picture was hid
den from the curiously inclined. but
Polly was fully revealed in a large
dark brown apron over pink MILDLY
blouse.
One day when Tony brought her up
something's from the village she ask
ed who the stranger was.
That's Mr.. harrington" said Tony,
Polly frowned 1t was nto meet that
she should rent Mr.. Farrington's whole
place and crowd him out to board. She
had gathered from Dan that he was
a young person of private income who
wandered where he pleased. Why did
he roam through Robins lane and
gaze at her in silence instead of coming
ting acquainted?
Tell him." said Polly, delicately
deepening the tint on Mrs. Batterson's
ear lobe, tell him that the roof leaks
In the kitchen. and I wish he'd come
and see to 1T at once"
The. following morning early Mr.. Far
rington called.
He seems nice sort of fellow" Dan
had written to her Polly Endorsed the
opinion AS she expressed it later in
q letter back to Dan, TT did seem good
to have somebody who could talk about
besides babies and
the run of cod. and how much Cy Bas-
sett had paid for his cat boat
Every day at Mr.. Harrington called
to see how his tenant was progressing
She never permitted him to look at the
picture on the easel
And after the fourth week Polly had
somehow fallen into the habit of walk
ing down to the end of Robins laneI
with him.
.'I wish you lived here all the time"
he said one sunset hour. IT'S a dear1
Did place. I shall hate to lose it,
Lose to" she echoed. ''Why?''
Fortunes of war. guess. My aunt
always intended it for me because she
knew 1 liked it. I used to live here
when I was a little chap, you know,
Miss Carew- She was awfully queer.
She left her money scattered around to
different places. homes for INDECENT old
females, and cats and canaries and
medals for horse doctors, and I don't
know what Why, she even left a
RI dollars for oil rofr1fiu1 of