Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1915 — Page 6

The Pink Sunbonnet

How an Artist Found His Medel

By CLARISSA MACKIE

Neal Whitcomb whistled cheerfully as he climbed the hill to the low white farmhouse. On every side the ground sloped away from the hospitable looking domicile. In front was a tree covered lawn, on the north was a vegetable garden, on the south a flower garden and on the east sunny fields of strawberries. *..Neal went up the front walk and rang the doorbell. A middle aged black woman respond ed to his summons. “I am looking for Mr. Huxford,” said Neal. Huxford am gone to town with' a load of berries,” replied the servant, “and Missis Huxford am gone to de sewin's’ciety.” - - . Neal smiled pleasantly. “Then I'm afraid i nKst call TfgaTn. Ferhtffts you "can tell me if there is a Miss Huxford Here?” 'i. Thg, Woman shook her head. “No, sah; ain’t never heard of no Miss Huxford. Dere’s young Master Huxford, but he’s away at school jes’ now.” • “I am a painter—an artist,” explained Neal as he turned Away. “I am staying at the hotel. The proprietor told me I might find a young lady to pose for me up here at Huxfords’. 1 told him I wanted some one dressed as a country girl in a pink sunbonnet—to put in a picture, you know.” Then, suddenly realizing that he was doing

“MISS BEMIS, I WONDER IF YOU REMEM BER ME?”

much useless explaining, he added hastily, turning away, “Of course there may be another Huxford.” "Dere ain’t no mo' Huxfords around hTaV advised the woman, and she ' "a Twinkle in iier~ eye-T: ! •'P’raps mebbe Mr. Dowd down to the hotel meant yo' could find a young lady out in our strawb'ry beds here. Dere’s any sight of ’em pickin’ berries this minit.” “May I go around and look for myself?" inquired Neal. And without waiting for permission he started around the house. “Mebbe yo' might find a pink sunbonnet yander in de field,” called the servant after him. Nqal Whitcomb went around to the back of the farmhouse, through the green tunnel of a long grape arbor and down a winding path that led to a barred gate. Over the gate he went into a small field, and. crossing this field, where several eows were pastured, he came to another gate, against which he leaned in stunned surprise. Here were several acres given over to long rows of strawberries, and thickly scattered over the field was a sea of pink sunbonnets’ There was the sound of laughing voices, merry questions and answers, pink sunbonnets bobbing up and down as sun browned hands filled the square wooden baskets, -which were quickly removed by several older women, who kept tally of the pickings of each girl. Out/Of this sea of pink sunbonnets he . < was to choose his modell, The landlord of the village hotel was evident!}’ ti joker. No wonder the black servant at the-iMMise yonder had grinned when he mentioned pink sunbonnets!

Neal turned away and tramped, with what dignity he could muster back through the grape arbor and around the path to the front entrance. He had started down the path when the servant ran out and spoke to him. “{Scuse me. sail.” she said timidly. “I hope yo’ all don't think I was get.tin' a joke off on yo'?." “Not at all.” said Neal stiffly, “If yo'll scuse my presumptiousness, mlstah. I’d like to say somethin’,” went on Delia. “Yo' was sayin’ yo’d like to palijt a young lady inter yo'r pictur’?” “Yes.” “I spects dere’s money in it fer de young lady, sah?” “Of course I always pay my models.” said Neal. The woman came closer and spoke confidentially. “Den. sah. I’d like to recommend

Miss Sally Bemis, the pretties’ young lady in de county, lak a rose, sah—so pinky and sweet! Her folks has come down in de wotT, and dey’s livin’ in dat little cottage yunder on a weeny corner of de big plantashun dat belonged to Miss Sally's grandpap, old General Bemis. Dere’s jes’ Miss Sally and her ma, and her ma’s deliket, and Miss Sally works all kinder ways to earn money. Now she demeans herself by pickin’ strawb’rys fer Mr. Huxford. It ain’t no ways fer a Bemis to earn money erlong wid de village gals hereabouts.”

“Thank you, auntie, for the information,” said Neal who‘was much interested in the story of the pluckj’ young girl. “Shall I call upon Mrs. Bemis?” “Well, sah, suppose yo’ tak’ a look at Miss Sally fust. If yo’ spoke fust it might lift up dere hopes, and mebbe she might not suit. If she don’t yo’ must be mighty perticular!” she ended rather belligerently. • “Where shall I find her, auntie?” asked Neal patiently. “I certainly can’t go into the field and face thaf battery of sunbonnets.” | “Why, jes’ set here on de end of de veranda bellin’ de honeysuckle vines. I Dey’ll all come trailin’ past pretty j soon, and yo’ jes’ fix yo’ eye on de pretties’ and most uppsy one of de whole lot, and dat’s Miss Sally. If yo’! satisfied yo’ can go and see ’em. I j goiter go, sah,” | He went up to the wide piazza apd sat down in a great easy chair close to the honeysuckle that screened the pl-] azza from the path around which the strawberry pickers must coihe? Twq fear" ago? at the art school, there had been a little student, and he was sure her jiflmq wa§ Rally Bemis or something of that sort. He had, given several talks to the students, and i he remembered the girl’s lovely, ear-i nest face upturned to his. If he had met her oftener he would have fallen in love then and there, but he was very busy at that time, and he was about to sail for Italy, and the little student had drifted out of his memory. Voices were heard approaching from the rear of the farmhouse, and presently there strolled past, singly or in groups, the strawberry pickers.

Nineteen girls had gone out of the big gate, and be confessed himself disappointed that not one would do. There came a light step along the path and a rich contralto voice trilling softly. Through the honeysuckle vines lie saw her coming, sunbonnet slipped back on the dark masses of her curls; her fair face with its magnolia-like complexion tinged with soft pink; her lovely dark eyes, fringed with long, curling lashes; her sweetly curved lips, so tenderly smiling. It was Miss Sally Bemis. More than that, she was the one girl for his picture. She was the girl of his dreams, and she was the little student of the art school !

- Neal overtook her at the gate. She turned lovely, surprised eyes at him, and suddenly a deep rose Hush stained her cheek from brow to chin. There was embarrassed recognition in her glance. 7 ’ . Neal lifted his hat. “Miss Bemis, 1 wonder if you remember me?” he asked eagerly. ’’One does not soon forget a celebrity like Neal Whitcomb, the artist,” she said quickly, holding out a stained little hand. “What are you doing way down here in Dixie?”

“Painting,” said Neal, falling into step beside her. “I’ve been looking for a model to pose in a daisy field. 1 wanted a girl in a pink sunbonnet ; and wish somebody sent me up here to Huxfords'. Fancy my dismay when I went out to the strawberry fieffl and saw twenty pink sunbonnets!” - Sally laughed deliciously. “The pink sunbonnets are Mrs. Hux ford’s idea. She bought a piece of pink calico and made sunbonnets for all the girls; said she liked to see us in the field.” “It’s an amazingly pretty sight.” agreed Neal as he went down the hill beside her. “You are taking home some of the strawberries?” “Yes, to my mother. She is an invalid. Her failing health, combined with lack of money, compelled me to abandon my art career,” she explained cheerfully. “That was a hardship,” said Neal sympathetically. Sally laughed again. “It was at the time, but I have found out jthat my talents are more in the domestic line than otherwise. I am fortunate in finding it out in time. don't you f hink so?” "Brava!” cried Neal. "And now tell me, Miss Sally, is this your home that we are approaching?” "Yes, arid there is mother on the' porch waiting for me. You will come in and have a cup of tea with us. Mr. Whitcomb?"

“It will give me much pleasure,” he said, so emphatically that they both laughed with some sudden knowledge of good fellowship. Sally led him to the porch and introduced him to the sweet faced little lady who was her mother, and then she disappeared while Neal talked to Mrs. Bemis. Mrs. Bemis declared that she and Neal fell in love With each other long before Neal fell in love with Sally, but they all agreed that it didn’t matter in the least so long as Neal and Sally were married and lived happily ever after. If you ever see Neal Whitco*mb’s famous painting “He Loves Me—He Loves Me Not!” showing -a pink sunbonneted girl telling her fortune in a daisy field you will recognize the lovely girl stripping the petals froAt the daisy as Miss Sally Bemis, and those who know will add that she is the t rtist's wife.

IN THE WORLD OF SPORT

Jerome D. Travers, National Open Golf Champion.

Photo by American Press Association.

When Jerome Dunstan Travers, amateur, of the Upper Montclair (N. J.) Country club won the open golf championship of the United States he accomplished the remarkable feat of negotiating the seventy-two holes in 297 strokes, an average of four and oneeighth strokes per hole. The contest, .which took place on the links of the Raltusrol Golf club, Short Hills, N. J„ brought out a noteworthy field of professionals besides several crack amateurs, notably Ouimet and Evans. Travers was ranked high among the contestants, in view of his wonderful former achievements. His score of 297 has been beaten but four times in the open championship contest, as follows: 1!H)(>, Alex Smith at Onwentsia. 285; 1909, George Sargent at Englewood, 290; 1912, Jack McDermott at Buffalo. 294, and 1914, Walter Hasten at Midlothian, 290. The chances are that Travers’score was better than ary of these, as., the course at Baltusrol is harder than the others, and there was a great deal of difference in the length and the bunkering of courses in 1900, 1909 and 1915,

r rands Ouimet is the only other amateur who has Won the open championship. He captured the honor two years ago at Brookline. Mass., when he defeated Kay and Vardon of England. Mr. Travers has now enough championship honors to satisfy any golfer, having won the national amateur title four times, the metropolitan amateur championship five times and the New Jersey championship tluee times.

Connie Mack {Sizes ’Em Up. Connie Mack, the leader of the Athletics, sized up, ths American league race as follows: “The race me like a very open one, wirfi five clubs having a chance. J ’Sdf'-'it. Boston. Chicago, New YorT mid Washington are all dangerous, and it is too early to say which has the edge. I thought at the start of the season that the Bed Sox had something on the rest of the field in the way of being the smoothest working club in the league, but after seeing Chicago I am very much impressed by the White Sox. That is a great club and one which will make a lot of trouble. There is an enormous amount of batting strength in Rowlaud's aggregation and its pitching is strong, too. It is going to be a very hard outfit to beat. “Detroit has batting power and several good pitchers and has an even chance to win. I have thought that all along. Donovan has a fine club in New York and, now that the Yankee pitchers have rounded to form, it is a factor in the race. Washington is a fine club, but lacks the punch.”

Reilly Won't Turn “Pro.” John Sylvester Reilly, the best third baseman Yale has ever had, some say, has declared that he will never play professional baseball. Reilly has received offers from nearly all the major league nines, but has refused to discuss them. It is known, however, that agents of the Philadelphia Athletics, the Giants and the Chicago. White Sox each spent several days recently jn trying to induce Reilly to sign a contract. He was offered $5,000 by Connie Mack to join the Athletics two years ago.

Pinkerton’s Talisman Dies. Allan Pinkerton's great cross country gelding Talisman, which won the point to point race in Maryland last spring, dropped dead while being walked around his stable at Belmont park a few days ago. Recently Mr. Pinkerton refused $7,000 for Talisman. Talisman was destined, bad he lived, to race in England in the Grand National Steeplechase.

Frank Carroll a Giant. Experts predict that Frank Carroll, the crack third baseman of Fordham university, who recently signed a contract with John McGraw, will have a great future on the diamond. Both Connie Mack of the Athletics and Bill Donovan of the Yankees were after Carroll, but McGraw beat them od'.

1 J Compare Quality—Prices FISK NON-SKID SscT? TIRES W V s have a national reputation for X **’ - quality. Their exceptional mileage value is supplemented by the strongest Service Organization in the industry. ' Note the Prices ! 31x30 - 12.20 41x34 - 27.30 - '» 4 x 34 - 20.35 41 x 36 - 28.70 ' i .. - ,S | Why buy plain treads when you can get the ■-g safest, most satisfactory non-skid made at such > prices as these ? I ifrSf* Fisk Tires For Sale By RENSSELAER GARAGE I John marlatt, prop (■ i —I ,IJ- ■ !■■■—ll I. .W ITIIIIII 111 ■■ 111 I ■III—IM REGULAR PRICE SPECIAL CLUBBING OUR PRICE $3 - 60 OFFER 3250 \X/ ARE PLEASED I O ANNOUCE that we have been very fortunate in se- * curing exceptionally favorable terms from a list of high-class publications for the benefit of our readers and their friends. This list was selected yer)- carefully with the idea of supplying our farmer friends, at the very lowest price, such papers and magazines as will be a help to them in their business, and also from w hich t ach member of the family will derive pleasure and benefit A WORD ABOUT THE PUBLICATIONS WE OFFER EVERY FARMER should take his own county or local are beginning to see the advantage of keeping ac paper in order to keep in touch with local affairs counts. A farmer should know where he loses and and also to see what his local merchant advertises where he makes his money the same as any business 3 tor sale, etc. man. The United States government urges all farmTHE INDIANA FARMER is widely and favorably known „J h T w bo °E als ° . c ° ntains ™ uch as one of the best up-to-date farm and live stock On dlfferent subjects, a farmer papers published. It has all the departments of the snouia Know. live, progressive farm paper, besides a number of POULTRY KEEPER is one of the leading poultry jourspecial features worth many times the price of the nals published, and is a valuable paper for all farmers paper to any farmer. TODAY’S MAGAZINE is a splendid high-class magazine THE INDIANA FARMER ACCOUNT BOOK is a book with beautiful cover designs each month It con of about fifty pages for keeping farm accounts of tains good stories, latest styles and patterns, best every kind. It is gotten up in a plain, simple form recipes and all matter of interest and value to home and can be kept by anyone. Farmers everywhere loving women. The "Regular Prices of the Publications We Offer for One Wear Each, Including Farmer's Account “BooK_ are as Follows: JASPER COUNTY DEMOCRATSI.SO INDIANA FARMER.. 60 ACCOUNT BOOK 50 POULTRY KEEPER 50 TODAY’S MAGAZINE.. 50 $3.60 Our Price for All One Year and Farmer’s Account Book $2.50 Send all orders to THE DEMOCRAT. s early as possible as this offer may be withdrawn at any time.

flanitoba Canadian Lands Wise people are investing in Manitoba Canada lands. There is fortune £here for you in the famous farming country where bigger, better cattle and bountiful acres of farm products are produced for less money. Unimproved lands $30.00 per acre. Improved lands from $55 to S7O per acre on easy terms. Our personally conducted excursions are the Ist and 3d Tuesdays of each month. Write us for particulars or see Mr. Harvey Davisson, Rensselaer, Indiana, our our local agent. P. S. —The round trip railroad fare from Indianapolis is but $35.60. In five days you can make the trip and give two days on our lands. THE U. 6. MICHENER LAND CO. 517 Traction Terminal Bldg. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Pi ft M i ft Demoffli-ii poii i

Notice of Sale of Ditch Repair In Barkley Township. Notice is hereby given that on Saturday, the 31st day of July, 1915, the undersigned, Trustee of Barkley Township, Jasper County, Indiana, will sell at' public outcry, to the lowest and best bidder therefor, separate contracts for the cleaning and repair of the following drains, viz: The Helvas Outlet to the Honan Ditch. The Knight Ditch. The Davisson Lateral to the Knight Ditch. The-Grant Davisson Spur to the Davisson Lateral of the Knight Ditch. The William E. Moore Ditch. The Barkley Lateral to the Moore Ditch. The Potts Ditch, and The John R. Lewis Ditch. .l ■' The William E. Moore Ditch and the Barkley Lateral thereto, will be sold at the Eldridge Bridge on the line of the Ditch, at the houf of ten o’clock, a. m., on said date. The remaining ditches will be sold at my residence at the' hour of 2 o’clock, p. m., on said date. Prospective bidders may examine specifications at my residence at any time and should go upon the ditches and examine the proposed, work before the day. of sale. All successful bidders and contractors must give bond in twice the amount of the bid submitted, with approved security. GRANT DAVISSON, Trustee oP Barkley Township. Another new supply of Ideal Account files received in The Democrat’s stationery < department. These are much cheaper and niore convenient for keeping moderate-sized accounts than a cumbersome ledger.