The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-28
The Euenine Story

INV Harmony weller.)

by gOsh!" exclaimed Hiram Per-
kins, as his eye fell upon an adver-
tisement in the local newspaper. Il
reckon here's a chance to get that
picture painted of you. Miranda, that
I have always wanted for that easel
| in the front parlor."
Miranda, fat. fair and fifty. gave
| a pat to her hair, smoothed down her
| ample skirts and waited for Hiram
to continue.
Here's an artist chap who wants
to spend a month or so on a farm.
and instead of paying board he will
paint a portrait. How's that for a
chance for a real picture of you-one
that we can hand down to Polly and
posterity? If we feed that poor art
list up on lots of fresh eggs and milk
and butter 1 reckon he'll stay on an
| me to set DIP on another easel"
Hiram, 1t looks like the chance of
our lives. You answer that adver-
tisement and I will go and make the
room in the old wing artistic-like for
the likes of our guest" She stopped
a moment for a cautious whisper into
her husbands ear. Just tell that
artist that we would like him to feel
| like guest as has been invited down
from the city by our Polly. We don't
want our neighbors to be thinking he
| hasn't the price for a summer hOli-
day. The portrait can come in kind
OF accidental like"
| Miranda, you've got+a great head
for society,"" laughed Hiram with a
kiss for his wife's cheek before she
left him to put the room in order.
| When Dave Errick received so
prompt an answer to his advertise
ment he felt wonderfully relieved. He
| had been struggling with refractory
paints and brushes during a long
winter and his constitution had begun
1 70 oh To r,f iuH, av1f
and fresh air.
| Spring time on a Long Island
farm" he muttered, will make a
new man of me. I only wish 1 could
toss these brushes and paint out the
tenth story window and never see
| to make good my threat and paint a
portrait Of some red-faced farmer
He stretched luxuriously and reused
himself to the point OF putting his
clothes into q suitcase.
| When Polly Perkins heard of the
arrangement and the expected arrival
of city artist she was not in the
least pleased.
II was hoping to escape everything
in the way of city bred people while
mother. 'eI just wanted you and
daddy and the growing things on the
farm during my holiday from college.
You have no idea how I love to be
here. I simply stihe among city Gus
toms, but suppose can be polite to
this poor struggling artist She gave
her mother great hug and bounded
off to the chicken coop, where a
cracking Of shells proclaimed the en-
trance into the world Of fluffy yellow
chicks.
The struggling artist was in the
meantime inhaling long breaths of
Long Island air as he drove behind old
Bess toward the farm Hiram Perkins
had gone down to the station to meet
him, and somehow a peculiar attraction
had been found between the farmer
and the artist Perhaps it was pity
that touched Hiram's big heart, for the
young mans cheeks were colorless and
his eyes lacking in luster. David Err
rick responded to that paternal inter-
lest and before the farm was reached
the two seemed fast friends.
Miranda came out to greet them and
a second later went into the house to
return with a great pitcher Of milk
with home made bread and honey.
IT think 1 have never tasted any
thing quite SO good" said David. II
cannot begin to express my gratitude
to you for accepting me into your
household In this way. Art IL long
and dreary. 1 think 1t would have fin
ished me had not put that little ad-
vertisement IN the paper"
Forget all that now" laughed Hir-
am. You are our guest-that 10 how
we are going to feel about it,
You are far too good to me-" David
replied, then opened wide his eyes for
Polly had burst upon the scene Polly
surrounded by her pets from the barn
yard was well worth opening ones eyes
to look at. Her gingham frock waa
blue. but not bluer than her eyes, and
David Errick saw only the eyes.
Sine could not shake hands with him
because OF an armfnl of tiny rabbits
tshe carried
II am glad you have come" she told
! him by way OF wo1cou1e- And hops