The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-07
EVENING STORY
Beneath the Bonnet.
DIV Dorothy Douglas.N

When Mary Anne was too that her
father had accepted the / osition of
lodgekeeper out on the ChigwelPs
estate she wanted to shout aloud her
delight. Instead she flung her arms
around her fathers neck and thanked
him.
Il know you have done it so that 1
can be in the country and paint" she
told him softly. Il can paint, and
paint, and paint" she laughed joyful
ly at the prospect, .and between
the Chigwell carriages to pass thru"
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 were 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.
tom can keep the flat, so that
when you and 1 get tired of the coun-
try we can come IN. He can be your
agent and sell all your canvases for
you" The major was looking for
much as his daughter. A means
whereby he might be a help rather
than a hindrance to his small family
had long been problem to him. The
post as lodgekeeper had suggested it
self when a friend had told him of
the place at Chigwell House
Mary Anne could not silence the
scream of delight that burst from her
lips when Chigwell House lodge first
daWned upon her vision.
+i-pC lodge locked like nOtllllaS
much as an overhung basket of trail
ing vines. Up the chimneys, over the
doorway and all around the windows
Virginia creeper and honeysuckle riot
ed. Beside it small matched pigeon
cote added an extra touch of beauty.
A number of white fantails peered
down TO see who the new lodgekeeper
was.
isn't it lovely?" questioned Mary
Anne breathlessly. In her mind she
was already becoming a great artist
famous for the sketches she would
make of Chigwel House grounds. I'VE
will never want to go to town, Dad,
you and l." she added.
Major Wells was busy writing a
book on the Military Age" and it
was more often than not Mary Anne
who ran down to swing open the great
gates that the carriage might pass
thru. Always she slipped her big blue
sunbonnet quickly over her tumbled
while the carriage drove either into or
away from the estate. Mary Anne
knew, however, that the master OF
Chigwen was decidedly good to look
upon. Had she been a portrait paint
er she would have longed to put his
strongly modelled face down on can
vas. AS it was. she was more than
content to sketch from the lodge win
dows, and the canvases she sent in to
Tom to sell for her were little gems
of color and treatment.
The little sketches began to sell. One
or two flattering checks found their
way from Tom to Mary Anne. He be-
came 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 a tiny stream behind the
lodge gate. There was a bit of the fir
grove, small matched pigeon cote
and two wonderfully white fantails
perched gracefully on the rustic
bridge.
Without stopping to look at anything
else in the window he went inside.
There was no doubt in his mind that
some artist had been trespassing on
his estate and Sketching without per-
mission. The art dealer brought forth
the sketch with the pigeons.
who is the artist?" he asked cas-
ually, not wanting to betray his reason
for inquiry
THE pictures are signed Mary
TAnne'-thats all. 1 know nothing
about the artist. An agent brings
them to me. 1 want all can get of
Mary Anne's' work. They are wholly
charming-al1 of them
Chigwel was puzzled. when next
that agent comes in just get his ad-
dress for me, will you?' he asked
Mary Anne had been rising with the
SUM- There was a bit of rose arbor
backed by tall sentinel fir trees that,
in the early mist of morning, was of
unearthly loveliness. Mary Anne sue
ceeded in getting that atmosphere of
mistiness that caressed the flowers
and the grass and the fir trees down
on her canvas. The roses we're like
tiny ghost blossoms peering softly thru
a curtain of dawn. The sketch was
a poem in color.
Even untemperamentaI Tom quite
held his breath upon seeing it. He
carried it proudly into the art shop
on Fifth avenue.
I've got a peach this time" he
said with his genial smile.
" The art dealer agreed. Later he
got Toms address and held the paint
ing greedily in his own hands until he
should himself place it in the window
Chigwell was curiously interested
in the artist who had trespassed on
his estate that he dropped IN at the
shop daily When he saw the glorious
little ghost rose picture he took it as