The Jones County news., 1920-12-09

- Connie told herself deter
Ttf minedly that snowilakes
were accountable Cor the
blur; then. She wiped her
eyes
Its Merry Christmas
time" Connie said 90 her ola yellow
,at "Who ever beard Of christmas
without the Alerryg So cheer up.
prowler and let's join in the game
/ Al the little "shUnpe just around
he corner she stood longesl OF an
And All al nice Into CouNie's bri4si
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
nlghtclad children looking mp broad
chimneys. there were landscapes of
snowy fields with distant windows
nllght- Connicrstudled 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 IT'S 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 II was there
that her own husband had asked, and
had been answered-his question. The
way that Connie had chanced 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 lady's gar
demand they had spent some agree
able time together-the old lady, Mrs.
Martha Snow by name, had said
"My dear why don't you come on
and visit me for week or two7 I'm
lonely for young sweet face"
And Connie had gone that was all.
Half her later water colors had been
glorifed memories OF that delightful
visit. Now Connie had a new nspira-
tlon. 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 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 temperamental 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 Its halo Of white
hair.
There was holly above the old hre'
place and a boys stocking hanging
there. Connie never stopped until she
had completed the picture, then rar
with II hreathlessly TO the "Shoppe'
around the corner.
ayes, we win display IT," smiling
old man agreed
The picture sold. or course yo'
were prepared for Tint: hut th'
strange part was that before II wa
sold Connie had added her other view
TO the "Shonpe" window, and her dis
cernlng purchaser had bought then
every one. While the other Christ
mas studies pleased him not NJ all
Connie could not count the number 0
times that she passed that window
FIRST closing her eyes chlldishly IN th
hope that her picture would not b
there when she opened them. And
was the day hut one before Christina
that the "Shoppe" manager seeing he
peesing about heckoned her inside.
"Ynu have pleased one Of our hes
customers" said the manager IAN
when we mentioned your pecullar col
ditIon OF sale he suggested talking n
matter over with YOU that you mlel
both come 20 a satisfactory hareai
Our customer thinks That sou nosse'
wonderful artistic ability We has
given him your address"
"is ne. assed Connie faiieriugl
"a phnanthronlstg
Some way She did not want her pn
chaser TO be iusi q philanihropisi %
spoil an future ambitious hope.
mir Armstrong is man who usu'
~ drives pretty shrewd bargain
the "Shopne" manager snid
So ihongh ~ was curly afieruoc
Connie hurried home to turn 90 o g
blaze and don her most presrnfaf
dress SO Tint she might make faV'
I able impression as a snccessful you
wielder OF the brush. The purchns
might arrive any minute. Bur V "
the next afternoon when be cane q
Connie was wearing q hungali
apron
The purchaser was young and
and good looking and the golden
greeted him with nurrlng rub. VIII
was 10 Connie Recommendation
= to his honesty.