The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-13
BARBARA
And the Beast
By Dorothy BlaCkm0re

Barbara Graham was an artist, and
like most of her kind she was strug-
Cling to keep the wolf from stepping
over the threshold Of her studio.
Practical beyond the usual run OF
young woman possessed of the artis-
tic temperament. she had even gone
so far as to make capital out Of that
same hungry wolf by painting his i'm
aginary image SO realistically that It
sold for a goodly sum.
Animals were Barbara's specially.
She had been a lover Of the dumb
beasts ever since she was old enough
to love anything, and when she took
up her palette and brush her fancy
seemed to run always to animals.
For this reason, she had obtained for
the summer months an outdoor studio
converted from the small back garden
OF an English basement house. She
found it more convenient for her ami
NAL models and. in lieu Of going to the
country herself she found the outdoor
work beneficial. An old stone wall en-
closed the garden and ivy and Virginia
creepers struggled over it here and
there. The small grass plot in the
center was edged with bright, old
fashioned flowers, and Barbara had
added . rustic urn or two to the cor
| ners.
This morning she was putting the
| finishing touches to canvas over
which she had worked unusually hard
In the picture big, tri-colored mother
cat lay in an overturned basket with
her small family about her.
Barbara had discovered the feline
family in her big rustic chair one
morning when she came down to work
and she had taken 1t as gift from the
gods, for she was in need of a mode
for a new canvas. She had waited
only long enough for the wee kitten
to get their eyes open and assume ia
and chubby proportions before begin
ming to transfer their likenesses to he
canvas. Meantime, she had made thu
mother cat comfortable in baske
and fed her half bottle of her owl
precious milk each morning
This picture, with two others, wa
to be hung in small exhibit durin
the approaching winter
Barbara now had two of her picture
ready, and, for the third, she was VOL
ried. 1t was an easy enough matter t
go to the animal home and secure
model from which to paint, but Bal
bara's heart was set on painting
certain little thoroughbred dog she ha
seen pass her windows every mornin
for three weeks. The question was
how to get him! The dog followed hi
master closely and Barbara could ne
we'll accost stranger and beg to b
allowed to paint his pet dog
AS she stood putting little toucht
here and there to the cluster of kitter
on her easel and realized that IL
, work before her was finished, she b
, came more and more obsessed with II
desire to paint that white dog for h,
| third picture. She placed great hol
: in the criticism of the work to be hur
this winter and something told her 81
= could do her best work If inspired
that strange little animal.
: She became restless and, II. aking Il
kittens comfortable in the righted ba
e ket. she dOnned her hat and We
forth to walk off her uneasiness.
t barbara had been of the idea, ev
I lsince she had come 10 the big city
!, follow her profession, that If she
exactly what was right at all time
I thought evil of no one and harmed
}. one by deed or word, she would
8 given all that was her due. She HI
been brought up with this idea a.
e the teachings of her mother chung
8 her now that she was alone in {
world
Therefore, as she walked s
e thought, and gradually a peaceful fe
r. ing took the place of the spirit of I
u rest that had possessed her for da
After a turn through a nearby pa
she retraced her footsteps iowa
le her studio.
u. When she was within half a bio
Re of the house behind which was
Ell work garden, she was surprised to s
OIL the old tri-colored mother cat
X preaching her 1t was the custom
the animal, after she had put her
!, bies to sleep, to mount the garden W
and go out for air and exercise.
Barbara was not expecting to see
On the public street
We'll, Puss," Barbara was beginni
h, and had stopped to pick up the amir
,y when, with spit and a growl q
rapidly bushlng tail. the cat ms
:. for the narrow passageway betwt
en- the houses. white dog in full 2
rs suit
If My dog" cried Barbara aloud, /;
at running to peep down the narr
ed passage "Oh. If | could only k,
ad him!" she wished aloud
er Footsteps came quickly behind
as 81 beg pardon. my dog is chasing y
Is, cat" said mans voice behind b,
to Barbara turned and faced the ow
DIS of the dog.
he "Ho was" Barbara corrected q.
-Puss has climbed the wall and y
II dog is barking frantically at her"
m, The nan followed Barbara's di
I'D tion and saw his white dog dane
about in mad desire TO be at the
tie lect of his chase.
J. He's death on cats-is Tchucaa
ny he explained I'm glad he did
I'D get her | beg a thousand pardons
de his behalf"
ITS Fate" barbara said half
herself
The man looked at her oddly.
I'M. hans mis- Young woman-though il