The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-12-02

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 d 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
aIight-COnnie studied them all she
was seeing III 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,
he Gueer little bridge over the deep
nd beautiful Stream-a bridge with
seats along its sides where countless
lovers had sat and courted. The old
adv who had been Comics volunteer
Aostess old her. with the pink coming
and going in her withered cheeks.
ahnut the lovers. For ii was there
.hat Ter own husband had asked, and
rad ern anSwered-hiS question. The
nav thot Connie had CHANGED to visit
MS beautiful country place and 10
meet there the dear old lady was quite
remarkable chance TOO. She had
srarted out ol the trolley car for one
rcStful dry IN tie country and had
losen THIS station at random. And
c.hen she had stopped TO admire the
%vondarfrI roses il the old lady's gar
demand they had Spent some agree
lhle time together-thc old lady. Mrs.
Martina Snow by name. had said;
MY dear. Why don't you come on
and visit me for a week or two? I'm
lonely for a young sweet face"
And Connie had zone that was AL.
Halr 'ler iater water colors had been
gIorifed memories of that delightful
visit. Vow Connie had a new inspira-
riun she would raint the queer little
bridge over an icy stream. and its
sears should be covered with snow.
She could fancy lust how the trees
would look waving naked branches.
And she'd uaint the church in ire hol-
low with lights in the windows gIeam-
;ng over the snow and the bell in the
over a~-swaving for Christmas.
oh. Connie was very happy as she
hurried home TO her attic. hut there.
in the te-mperamental way artists
hovo khe heaan to draw instead.
working in Il fever of enthusiasm
lie sitting room Of the old house
vhere She had been a guest. With
Martha Snow herself seated in the
freight. Just half of her peaceful pro
flc slowing beneath its 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 ii breaihlessly to the "Shoppe"
around the corner.
Yes. we will display it, a smiling
old man agreed.
The picture sold. OF course you
| were UItDdI6u IUI lidl. Uut tlt
strange part was that before it was
sold 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
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 n of our best
customers" said the manager, and
when we mentioned your peculiar m
dition of sale he suggested talking the
matter over with you that you might
both come TO a satisfactory bargain.
Our customer thinks that you possess
wonderful artistic ability. We have
given him your address,"
as he.' asked Connie falteringly,
"a philanthropist?"
Some way she did not want her pur-
chaser to be just a philanthropist and
spoil all future ambitious hope.
Mr.. Armstrong is a 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 a successful young
wielder of the brush. The purchaser
might arrive any minute. But it was
the next afternoon when he came and
Connie was wearing a bungalow
apron.
The purchaser was young and tall
and good looking, and the golden cat
greeted him with a purring rub, which
was to Connie a recommendation as