The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-23

SkWplS, 1ktN 41086 VI ts1GAu WStg snapshots, come to think of it. Please remember that I'm having a species of stage fright"
 "Its the first time," laughed McDougall, "that Two ever been allowed to sketch an actress, 60 II you're shivering from nervous ness just remember that I am, too Don't imagine that I be- lieve this sketch will be . flrst- rate job, because I'm not trying to sell tn eidea that I'm q flrst- rate artist. N's just something wanted to do and I'll do 1t the best I can"
 with the material at hand" sup- piled Dorothy. "Aren't we humble, thoughf--and now where and how do I sit7"
 McDougall instructed her merely to take Q chair as if entertaining . a caller.
 At easel" he ordered. Forget the sketch. Just sit and talk"
 With his sketching block on crossed knees, he began the work, with frequent pauses while he studied his subject. The outline of her face. the line of her hair, presented interesting problems of Craftsmanship.
 "Did you enjoy the party?" asked Dorothy remembering his orders.
 "Very much"
 Something else nice happened to me there," she continued, "after you'd offered to do the sketch. couldn't help telling a few people about that Do you know Ralph Hanson, Jr,? He's Q grand kid Works all the time to help his family, and stands well in school besides. He does some really beau- tiful things in wood in his school shop class, and when he heard about the sketch = he was at the party, if you noticed, though not much in evidence - he asked me to ask you If he could mako frame ! for 1t, and if 50, what kind. I thought l. was awfully sweet oi him."
 McDougall smiled in appreciation
 "That was neighborly," he said his attention mainly on . line that defied him. That's something you get in small towns, in spite of .' He broke oii.
 "In spite of what2" asked Dor othy with amusement. "Our coun. | try ways?"
 He had reddened slightly.
 "Or in spite of the same neigh borly people being gossipy?" Dor othy pursued, with what inner prompting McDougall could mol guess.
 You've been hearing things she went on. Prom this person about that person, and turn about Well, with a confessional honesty which he could not suspect-"t there is gossip, of course. I don't know whether it's more or less than in the city; perhaps 1t ts simply more apparent where there are fewer competing distractions. I have known of some cruel things"
 McDougaIl regretting the sub Ject. bent over his sketch, aban- doning for the time his frequent appraising glances at his model.
 For instance" Dorothy con- tinued, there's a girl in town whom, to be frank, I never ap- preciated until recently. She waa rther the victim of gossip by per- sons who considered themselves affected, and even of others, who had no real interest at all. She was always envied by Q lot of peo- pie, for things she had, when 1t was no more q fault of hers that she had them than 1t was vir- tue in the other people not to have them. Yet. in effect, the other people made her pay for her pos- sessions by deliberately hurting her."
 Marcia, of course. Wherever he turned, there was a reflection of Marcia. Was she really such Q focal point of Bobbg Neck inter- est, or was 1t because he himself looked eternally upon the picture of her in his mind that she seemed to be @ constant center of atten- ton, Of conversation?
 His pencil moved in an auto- matic hand. As Q listener, sud- denly remembering a matter far afield, mentally deserts a speaker, McDougall was for a few minutes gone from that room. He came to himself with a guilty start, stealing a belated glance at his subject to learn whether his ab- sence had been noted.
 With relief he found Dorothy looking at her folded hands, and returned to his sketch. Amazed