The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-17
TIE D ally
SHORT STORY
Beneath the Bonnet.
10y DOROTHY DoUeLAs.)
Copyright. 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)


@TY1HEN Mary Mary Anne was told that
NV her father had accepted tho
w position OF lodgekeeper out on
the Chigwell's estate she wanted to
shout aloud her delight. Instead. she
lung her arms around her fathers
neck and thanked him.
II know you have done 1t so that |
can be in the country and paint" she
told him softly. Il can paint, and paint,
and paint" she laughed joyfully at the
prospect land between daubs l can
open the great gates for the Chigwell
carriages to pass through"
The retired officer smiled at his
daughters delight He had realized
FOR some months that the roses were
leaving her. cheeks and that her paint.
Ing was suffering. She was first and
foremost a landscape painter, but trips
to the country for sketChing we're too
expensive. Tom, his son, was unable
to live IN the country because OF the
long hours his position demanded OF
him. Anne had kept the small flat in
town for her brother and father most
cheerfully. Nevertheless. Major Wells
knew that she was slowly pinIng away
in the confines OF city life.
TON can keep the flat. 80 that when
you and get tired Of the country we
can come In. He can be your agent
and sell all your canvases for you"
The major was looking forward to the
change from city life as much as his
daughter. A means whereby he might
be help rather than hindrance to
his small family had long been prob.
lem to him. The post as lodgekoeper
had suggested itself when a friend
had told him Of the place at Chigwell
House.
Mary Ann could not silence the
scream of delight that burst from her
lips when Chigwell House lodge first
dawned upon her vision.
Tho lodge looked like nothing 80
much az an overhung basket of trail.
ing vines. Up the chimneys, over the
doorway and all around the windows
Virginia creeper and honeysuckle
rioted. Beside 1t small matched
pigeon cote added an extra touch OF
beauty. A number OF white fantails
peered down to see who the new lodge.
keeper was.
isn't 1t lovely?" questioned Mary
Anne breathlessly. In her mind she
was already becoming great artist
famous for the sketches she would
make Of Chigwell House grounds. I'VE
will never want to go to town. Dad,
you and l." she added.
Major Wells was busy writing book
on the Military Age" and 1t was more
often than not Mary Anne who ran
down to swing open the great gates
that the carriage might pass through.
Always she slipped her big blue sun.
bonnet quickly over her tumbled curls
and kept her head timidly bent, while
she carriage drove either into or away
from the estate. Mary Anne knew.
however, that the master OF Chigwell
was decidedly good to look upon. Had
she been portrait painter she would
have longed to put his strongly mod.
eled face down on canvas. AS It was,
she was more than content to sketch
from the lodge windows, and the can.
Gi5ses she sent in to Tom to sell for
,,ser were little gems Of color and treat
ment.
The little sketches began to sell.
One or two flattering checks found
their way from Tom to Mary Anne. He
became quite reasonably proud of his
artist sister. The Major only nodded
his head in approval. He felt grateful
for the chance he had got to put her
into the surroundings necessary for
her development.
1t was in an art shop on Fifth ave.
nue. that Chigwell caught sight Of an
exquisite sketch of the rustic bridge
that spanned tiny stream behind the
lodge gate. There was bit Of the fir
grove, a small matched pigeon cote
and two wonderfully white fantails