The Bozeman courier., 1927-01-14

wall for q while before finishing II. lie
was going on with it this fall, though,
and / had the pleasure Of designing a
sunken garden for 1t. This picture is just
a study for the evergreen planting. Ever
greens show better, you see, in snow
scene-not being mixed up with the de-
ciduOus things"
"How interesting" said the lady. "I see."
Yet she did not seem interested. Some
how it was conveyed to Ashta that Miss
Burntfield would have preferred some
other reason for the Kings neglect Of the
house. The golden voice had an icy tinkle
in it. She laid the picture down rather care
lessly and, humming to herself began to
move about the shop again, eXaming1ng
plans, carvings, mOdels-seemingly forget
ful of Alice. Alice gravely stood the picture
once more aainst the carved panel and
waited quietly with her hands in the
pockets Of her outrageous mackinaW. The
bright color remained in her cheeks and a
curious light burned in her near-sighted
eyes. She looked amazingly handsome,
Ashta thought. Handsome and-mad.
The kitten had not been idle since enter
ing the shop. Having demOralized all the
heaps Of shavings one by one, and coming
upon that nice little red lost chimney be-
meath them, he had it out Of that directly.
He put both paws upon it and skidded
across the floor to the door, and then
in surprise, not enmity, made backup and
a bushed tail at the King, whose approach
| ing steps had been muffled by the snow.
"HullO," said the King, $50 Alice is here
| is she?" And he entered with the kitten
riding upon his shoulder.
| 80, / say"-be caught sight of the pic
ture. "HOw bully that is! I always said
that was the sort Of thing you ought tc
be doing"
"You really like it?"
| Alices wide eyes sought his face intent
/ ly, trying to decipher its out -Of-fOcus blur
quite unaware that he was returning hel
stare with long queer look; as if, though
FAshta he enjoyed seeing Alice WithOu
her lenses, just as Ashta did.
! Like it? Well, rather!' And then Mis-
Burntfield, with her laugh like a run o.
harp notes, came from behind a grille.
| "Arlener' said the King He laid aside
the picture and made a swift step toward
her, holding out both his hands. She tool
them both in hers, and they looked intentl.
at each other.
"I was so sorry not to see you when yoI
called at the hotel" she said softly. IS
I thought I'd come and look you up. You
houses are wonderful! How busy yOuV
been all these years I've been looking a
the little model of my house You don
mind If I still think Of it as mine, do you?
| "YOu built it," he answered gravely.
Miss Burntfield's laugh commented non
=, lcOmmittally upon that statement. Sh
, dropped her voice and went on in a wistfu
. musical murmur Of which only a few word
came to Ashta and Alice. Something abOu
, regrets > and very softly, 'for
give"
They were moving slowly but steadil
! away to a remote corner Of the shop.
| Once more Alice was dropping and pa
/ and tired looking. The King and Mis-
} BurntfieId seemed to have forgotten hC
entirely. They we're seated now at Il
! farthest window, turning over book
old blue prints, their heads close together
the plans of the house which Miss Burn
!, field still thought Of as her own.
s Alice remained solitary and awkward b
e side the shelf of houses. Presently 81
reached out and took up the tiny mod
q fpor,, ha fna1n6nfionl imGh Miss RUTn
i field had done, but how differently! The
b was no amusement in her face as the
It had been in the others rather it w
e a kind Of passion. Actually she was ratSil
; ir to her lips-was it for a farewell? Th
IS she saw that one Of the chimneys W
% gone.
4! At that moment, however, the kilt
h chivied the little red chimney inside t
It shop door again, hustling it among t
N pile Of shavings. Alice, bending down ST
Is piciOusly to see what mischief those wh
< paws were up to, found, rescued it. a
lg adjusted it once more to the little
q from which it had become unglued. Th
Nv she carefully restored the house to
foundations, busted it with her handk'
er chief, and Strengthened a tree that "
n. leaning sideways. The Kitten meWed a
en- rubbed her ankles. She picked it up a
ce cuddled 1t under her chin, but kept
en- back to the two who were busy with
re blueprints quite unaware OF Ashtas wat
is. full eyes, she kept no guard upon the
ng preston of her own face, so all its tr0u
was written plain
ng Girls Of eight know more than they
Of given credit for sometimes. Ashta beca
ng pOignantly aware that Alice loved the sh
in the shelf of houses, and that one no
IDS in particular most fearfully; she percei
nd also that the furry purry Miss Burntfi
tn was about to take them all away from
that the King himself was allowing
the cruel thing to happen.
itP Ashta ached with desire to comfort A
My to give her something
m cookies? No. they were all gone. Blu
ack burst of joyous inspiration came like S
light. Alice could see through Ash
arp glasses! They had tried it one day.
here was poor Alice in a world all 2
ted blurry, unable to see clearly the ShOp
ant the King, or Miss Burntfeld, or the S
Of houses over which she was now so "
D.. fully. bending. Ashta knew just how n
OOk it feels, once you have got used TO SCI
1in things with sharp edges and as they re
aif, are. to have them all go cloudy again.
D, ! glasses, then. and quickly, to cure
zen sOrrOwful look
But one must hurry, for Alice was
tile ting on her gloves and buttOning
ally mackinaw. She half turned as If to
Eyes gOOd-by, bat the King and Miss BU
the field seemed to have forgotten she
sly in the shop. Their heads were low OveI
ace, blueprints and very near together.
bled With her chin dropped into the Kit
bly,. comfortable fur, she turned toward
out door.
the so long. She flOundered and fell he
here against the side Of the paralleIOpipedO
cor reeled and crashed over.
and "Oww said Ashta.
lear, But it wasn't only the parallelOpip
and and Ashta that fell. Just next the pa
not lOpipedOn there was a step-ladder,
not next the step-ladder was a SnelI, on
in there ware cans OF paint. 1t was S!
1out. ling shelf. When the step-ladder was
ming against it by the parallelOpipedOn
sons swung-sOFt of kicked up its heels-an
had the cans OF paint came tumDnng I Howh
,ftlv. among these there was one big black
ewes low, a half gallon, in fact, which wa
lrely most full. 1t was amazing how that
)uses gallon Of black paint spread lIsen owe
shOp: appalling, the number Of things
d to changed color before you could wink.
e on it fell square upon the shelf Of houses
ainst all that fairy village was engulfed
black lava-as done with as Hercuia1