The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-11-26
THE LOVELY GIRL

by MILDRED WHITE.


Copyright. 1918, Western Newspaper UniOn.J
Billy saw the Lovely Girl when he
was escorting his visiting cousins
through the art gallery; she was evil
IDENTITY a student, and glanced up from
her copy of a great painting at the
group which paused beside 1t. Then,
as she bent again to her work, she
looked back once more, as though
drawn by some compelling force,
straight into Billy's eyes. Swift as
the glance had been, 1t awakened In
that young mans honest heart some
heretofore undisturbed emotion.
Lovely girl, that" his old uncle had
remarked, so Billy knew that his own
was not a ~preJudiced opinion. He in
tended going directly to the Office up
on the following morning, instead his
footsteps Jagged before the art gallery,
and again he passed within.
The Lovely Girl was before her
easel, ambition also was n Of her
virtues. 0utwardly calm, but with q
pounding heart, Billy drew near the
painting which was her subject, and
was lost apparently In admiration.
Up the marble steps of the building
dashed a second student, a man. Billy
recognized the fellow. Brothers went
there to copy also, he remembered
now, having listened absently to Broth
ers' enthusiastic account of his w
progress In art. But this morning, in
spiration came to Billy, and he has
tened after his almost-forgotten friend.
There were hours when his time was
practically his own, affairs proceeded
at the office without his constant SUI
pervision. Why not impersonate for
awhile one of that class to which his
friend Brothers belonged. 1t would be
a simple matter to locate an easel near
that same great painting, license In the
way of communication might be given
a fellow by the Lovely Girl, with both
striving to accomplish the same pur-
pose.
A discussion of SKY lines" might be
allowable. Billy didn't know much
about sky lines" but Brothers could
give him the cue He surprised that
young man by a hearty clap on the
shoulder.
"Hello, Binr" greeted the other
breathlessly.
Billy came abruptly to the point.
Brothers," he said, 81 want to bor-
row all your tools for a few days, to
make a stand before that Rembrandt
painting; sometime I'll tell you my
reason"
Brothers blinked. "Can't have my
TOOLS" he replied, "going to use 'em.
But / guess we can fix you up"
Bi.ly's morning hours seemed to be
passed more in study han achieve
ment. Painstakingly he mixed colors
according to Brothers direction, re-
garding the girl from the corners of
his eyes. Then quite boldly he moved
over and stood before her copy.
Pardon me-" began Billy, "our mu-
tual subject is so great that / would
like to see how you handle It."
For a brief moment the girl hesitat-
ed, hen as with one desire to help. she
pointed out effects In light and color.
Billy, though gravely attentive. was
learning more about the color of very
blue eyes,, and the altogether satisfy
ing light of a smile.
THANK you" he answered, and re-
turned to further concentration.
The lo~nged-for, however, had been
accomplished. the barrier of silence
broken. The Lovely Girl called to him
occasionally some word of advice.
"Just start any place." she urged.
Billy examined Brothers paintbrush
ruefully as he packed Ii away. Flo
quently his eyes sought the girls. at
has been a great day." he said. seven
If I have failed In work. You will be
here tomorrow"
The Lovely Girl slipped into her coat,
and smiled back at him. II hope to-"
she replied. sunless my husband for
bids 1t. He may have a notion that
am working too hard"
Billy gasped, then stood blankly star
ing after the trim figure that tripped
down the stairs.
Married. He had never once
thought of that possibility. He re-
turned Brothers loaned tools next
day, and went no more to the gallery.
1t was strange, he ruminated
gloomily going on his way, that the
thing should have hit so hard. Just
q few hours spent at a girls side and
the world had changed for him. He
wondered what sort of a fellow that
lucky husband was, ana at this point
in his meditation Brothers called TO
him.
"Hello old top" he cried, show is the
picture?"
Billy realized bewilderingly that the
Lovely Girl was standing close to
Brothers, and was smiling.
my sister," the artist introduced,
"You have her to thank for hunting out
the easel and tools you desired, after