Meade County news., 1914-12-03

He was trying TO
get his picture in
his vision, and was squirting and 9th
erwise distorting his face when he
saw her drop into his canvas, as it
were. He was making bits of scenery
to frame for frieze In his study.
Some how or other, as young Mad.
ison began to sketch in the contour
of the landscape and to work in bits
here and there, the girl seemed a
necessary touch, and he let her take
her place on his canvas almost witd-
out meaning to.
A pouring rain prevented the artist
from going to paint on the next day,
but bright and early on the third
morning he wended his way to the
hilltop with palette and easel and all
necessary paraphernalia.
He had hardly begun to mix his
colors when the same girl in the
same dress and with the same salt
shaker in her hand took her seat on
the edge of the stream and began to
pick and eat watercress. George
Madison laughed to himself. 1t was
almost weird to think that she should
have returned, and he was sure she
had not seen him.
IF she's there again I'll say she's
nutty," he said inelegantly to him
self as he folded his easel.
But she was there, and she cor
sumed quantities of watercress an |
hummed and seemed content to le
alive. The artist began to wish she
would notice him, and yet he could not
move nearer and get the same picture
on his canvas. He believed as he
looked at his nearly completed picture
that 1t was the best thing he had done
yet, and the girl in her colorful frock
and golden masses OF hair sitting
gracefully on the edge of the stream
was not the least of 1t.
There was hardly an excuse left for
the young man to go again to paint
on his canvas--it was finished. But
he could not resist the desire to seek
his place again and see If perhaps
something might not draw the girls
attention away from the stream.
When he arrived he looked down
and there, complacently munching
the fresh grass at the streams edge,
stood an old COW. The girl stood
near by, evidently afraid to sit down.
She looked about her as II for help
and her eye fell on George Madison
we'll up on the hillside beyond.
AS IL she had summoned him, he
ran down the bank and picked up a
stick. Shall l chase her awayT he
asked
Winona smiled gratefully. oh
/ wish you would" she said.
The COW moved on with little per-
suasion and the artist assured Winona
that she was perfectly harmless.
Nevertheless, wouldn't have the
courage to sit down peacefully while
COW stood near me" the girl ad-
mitted. "And l must have water
cress."
Are you-do you like 1t so much"
George asked.
"Yes-it is a French cure for brpn-
chial or pulmonary weakness, and l
was not sure that had not one OF
them, so | am taking the precaution
of not letting anything get hold on
me. l must have health" she de-
clared earnestly.
You look as II you enjoyed IT.
now" the artist could not help say
ing as his eyes dwelt on the wonder
full fairness of her skin.
Il am perfectly we'll now, think"
the girl went on, "but 1t is due, am
sure, to the fact that l have dill
gently followed the advice Of this old
French physician whom | met In Nor
mandy. / have eaten watercress to
the exclusion of everything else, and
in order to have it fresh and to be
out of doors as much as possible, l
have come here for 1t every day and
made my meals of 1t. l live only a
mile from the stream" she added.
"And-does it satisfy your George
asked with wonder.
Perfectly; as long as do not see
the family at home sitting down to
tempting meals Of other things
That's another reason why l come
here to have solitary feasts of this.
And another reason l think-is
Fate" the young artist dared to say
What the girl thought of his re
mark she did not betray, but George
Madison knew that 1t was Fate, nev
ertheless, that had sent Winona across