The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-07
THE ID
sH0RTsT0RY
Hearts And Arts
Copyright 1920, by the Nc
Clure Newspaper syndicate.)
BY FREDERICK HART


particular young man Is dressed
IN flRnnels instead of the blue
jeans" that were the accepted
weekday attire Of her immediate
enViroment, when he carries in one
hand a spindly looking arrange
ment of rods and braces and in
the other a black case that Is too
small to be a suitcase; and when
he has on his back an oddly shap-
ed bundle; and in particular when
he is handsome and cure-free look
ing, Is small wonder that Elsie
looked after him.
Indeed she went to the front
gate to see him go down the road,
which Is why she saw him sudden
~ swing aside from the beaten
path and climb over the fence that
divided the woodlot from the
outer world.
Now her fathers wood-lot was
terra sanctissima, as she well
knew. It bristled with mo Tres
passing" signs and warnings hint
Ing at the extremities OF legal
palms and punishments for the
hardy soul who should set foot
within its sacred Elades; SO Ell
sizes surprise soon turned to
wrath.
Her father and his men were all
in the far field, haying, and there
was no Immediate male to whom
she could look for assistance; but
she did not hesitate. Down the
road she ran and over the fence on
the strangers trail.
She was up with him In almost
moment; he had evidently not
heard her coming, and she was
prepared to blast his soul with
scathing command to depart, when
the oddly of his conduct struck
her. He had unfolded the spindly
arrangement, and 10! It was a tri-
nod rested a square of snowy can
vas; and out OF the little black bag
many. many brushes and a lot of
little tubes and a heart shaped
niece OF wood on which the young
man proceeded to squeeze the con-
tents OF some OF the tubes-the
brightest reds and greens and vel
lows Elsie had ever seen. And
then this startling young man be
gan to make lines on the white
canvas, hummIng to himself as he
did so. Enthralled, and totally
forgetting her previous vengefui
ideas, Elsie drew nearer; he heard
her. and turned sharply.
"Oh!" she gasped. And then
went on sharply. This is my
fathers wood-lot!"
"Really The young man did
not seem particularly impressed
by the statement.
Eyes, 1t is-and you are tres
passing"
signs, but didn't pay much aten-
tom to them. l don't believe IN
signs"
."Oh!" Elsie was not quite sure
she was not being made fun Of;
the stranger seemed so irritating
ly salm, us though the right was
on his side rather than hers.
You'll be arrested II you stay here
much longer"
"Pve never been arrested. I
wonder what it's like. Is the local
calaboose comfortable, do you
Think" Then, dropping his man
nep Of badinage. he continued:
Really, l know quite we'll that
1 am trespassing; but am work
ing on a painting with which
hope to win q great prize, and
these woods are exactly what
want for a background. 1t seems
pity to miss the perfect oppor-
tunity Just for the off chance of
being arrested. so came in.
Intended to ask permission. but
there seemed to be no ono in sight,
30 1 Just broke and entered. Now,
please don't turn me over to the
police!"
His penitent manner Modified
Elsie, and besides, her curiosity
was aroused.
"Oh-you're an artist"
Eyes in a way. If my picture
takes the prize shall know that I
am an artist. / live in hope. And
YOU must not be so hard-hearted
as to blast my ambition. There is
no other stretch of forest which so
exactly suits my purpose as this. "
"Well-you can stay-but you
must ask my fathers permission
after today"
IT will" But he seemed in no
y hurry to go on with his work. In
j stead, he looked at Elsie-looked
so long that she became embarras-
ed and blushed.
al beg your pardon!" he ex-
claimed. II had no right to stare
30, but"
"But what?" as he hesitated.
"Oh-nothing. II you will ex-
cuse me I will go ahead with my
work"
Elsie fingered; but no did not
seem to be doing much but putting
Rimless looking lines on the cIn-
vas, 30 she soon left. When she
had gone the artist fell to work
With a fur, painting like lightning.
~ must hold it," he muttered to
himself. II must hold 1t! Just
what ! have sought" And he pain
ted more furiously than ever.
That evening he came over to
the,furmhouse to gain official con-
sent to paint his picture in the
wood lot and Elsie's father, good
natured man, allowed him to con-
tInue, "so'long as ye don't light no
ores or cut no timber. Assured
Of the young mans intention to
Rbstain from arson or larceny, all