The Hope pioneer., 1920-12-16


"It's Merry Christmas
time," Connie said to her old yellow
cat. "Who ever heard of Christmas
without the Merry? So cheer up.
Prowler. and let's join in the game"
AT the little "Shoppe" just around
the corner she stood longest of all.
And oil at once into Comics bright
eyes came speculative light. The
window was full of small framed pic
lures, most Of them with the Christ
mas spirit. There We're the usual
night-clad children looking up broad
chimneys, there were landscapes of
snowy fields with distant windows
alight-Conne studied them all; she
was seeing in vision the winding hill
road of the place where she had spent
her last summer vacation; the church
with Its swaying bell in the steeple,
the queer little bridge over the deep
and beautiful stream-a bridge with
seats along its sides where countless
lovers had sat and courted. The old
lady who had been Comics volunteer
hostess told her, with the pink coming
and going in her withered cheeks,
about the lovers. For it was there
that her own husband had asked, and
had been answered-his question. The
way that Connie had CHANGED to visit
this beautiful country place and to
meet there the dear old lady was quite
remarkable chance too. She had
started out on the trolley car for one
restful day in the country and had
chosen this station at random. And
when she had stopped to admire the
wonderful roses iE the old lady's gar
demand they had spent some agree
able time together-thc old lady. Mrs.
Martha Snow by name. had said:
"Ny dear! Why don't YOU come on
and visit me for week or two? I'm
lonely for young sweet face"
And Connie had gone that was all.
Half her later water colors had been
glOrified memories of that delightful
visit. Now Connie had a new inspira-
tion. She would paint the queer little
bridge over an icy stream, and it's
seats should be covered with snow.
She could fancy just how the trees
would look waving naked branches.
And she'd paint the church in the hol-
low with lights in the windows gleam-
ing over the snow and the bell in the
tower a-swaying for Christmas.
Oh, Connie was very happy as she
hurried home to her attic. but there,
in the temperamenta way artists
have. she began to draw instead
working in fever of enthusiasm
the sitting room of the old house
where she had been guest. with
Martha Snow herself seated in the
freight, just half of her peaceful pro-
file showing beneath it's halo of white
hair
There was holly above the old fire.
place and a boys stocking hanging
there. Connie never stopped until she
had completed the picture. then ran
with it breathlessly to the "Shoppe"
around the corner.
eyes, we will display it," smiling
old man agreed.
The picture sold. OF course YOU
were prepared for that; but the
strange part was that before it was
sold Connie had added her other views
to the "Shoppe" window, and her dis
cerning purchaser had bought them
every one. While the other Christ
mas studies pleased him not at all !:
Connie could not count the number of
times that she passed that window,
first closing her eyes childishly in the
hope that her picture would not be
there when she opened them. And it
was the day but one before Christmas
that the "Shoppe" manager seeing her
peeking about. beckoned her inside.
"YOu have pleased one of our best
customers" said the manager, "and
when we mentioned yonr peculiar con-
dition of sale he suggested talking the
matter over with you that you might
both come to satisfactory bargain.
Our customer thinks that you possess
wonderful artistic ability. We have
given him your address,"
"Is he," asked Connie falteringly,
"a philanthropist?
Some way she di6 not want her pur-
chaser to be just philanthropist and
spoil all future ambitious hope.
"N1r. Armstrong is man who usual
ly drives a pretty shrewd bargain" !"
the "Shoppe" manager said.
So. though it was early afternoon,
Connie hurried home to turn on a gas
blaze and don her most presentable
dress so that she might make a favor
able Impression as successful young
wielier OF the brush. The purchaser
might arrive any minute. But it was
the next afternoon when he came and
Connie was wearing bungalow
apron.
r. purchaser was young and tall
and good looking. and the golden cat
greeted him with n purring rub. which
was to Connie q recommendation as