The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-11-30


fX Connie told herself deter
| hGEYfzT minedly that snowfiakes
| were accountable for tbs
blur; then, she wiped hel
eyes.
| ITS 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 all 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 were the usual
| night-clad children looking up broad
| chimneys. there were landscapes of
| snowy fields with distant windows
| alight-Connie 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 swayiHg 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 1t was there
that her own husband had asked, end
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 in the old ladys gar
demand they had spent some agree
able time together-thc old lady. Mrs
Martha Snow by name. had said.
MY dearl Why don't you come on
ard 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 hsd been
glorified memories of that delightful
| visit. Now Connie had a new ,inspira-
ton. She would paint the queer little
bridge over an icy stream, and its
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 gieam-
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 temperamental way artists
have, she began to draw instead
working in a fever of enthusiasm
the sitting room of the old house
where she had been a 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 boys stocking hanging
there. Connie never stopped until she
had completed the picture, then ran
with 1t breathlessly to the "Shoppe"
around the corner
"Yes, 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
scld Connie had added her other views
to the "Shoppe" window, and her dis
corning purchaser had bought them
every one. While the other Christ
mas studies pleased him not at all !;
Crnnie 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 II
was the day but one before Christmas
that the "Shoppe" manager seeing her
peeking about, beckOned her inside.
"You have pleased one of our hest
customers" said the manager. "and
when we mentioned your peculiar con
dition of sale he suggested talking the
matter over with you that you might
both come to a satisfactory bargain.
Onr customer thinks that you possess
wonderful artistic ability. We have
:i1tH liin your address,
"ls "r' asked frnnIe falteringly.
- tAtNHihropist
Spne way she did not want her nnr.
chaser to be just a phianthropist and
spoil all future ambitious hone.
MIR Armstrong is a man who usual
~ drives pretty shreYd bargain"
the "Shoppe" manager said.
So. though it was early afternoon.
Connie hurried home to turn on n eas
blaze and don her most presentoble
dress so TINT she might make a favor
able impression as successful younc
wielder of the brush The purchaser
might arrive any minute But 1t was
the nexi afternoon when he came and
onnie was wearing bungalow
apron.
Ih3 purchaser was Young and tall
and good looking. and the golden cot
greeted him with a purrfng ruh which