THE PAINTING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 18, 20 July 1935, Page 20

THE PAINTING

Eia and Janet bad quarrelled. Thejr had been "inseparable" ever since everyone at school could remember, and now they were strangers. Nobody; knew what the quarrel had been about, and nobody inquired, but aU weres horrified at the outcome. Ria took it very much to heart. She was a lovable, serious girl, who could! not bear to be on unfriendly terms with anyone, least of all with her best chum. Janet viewed it in a more matter «>f-faet. way. Of course, it was hateful, she said, but what was to be done? Everyone knew Ria had entered for the Rawson Medal. It was a medal presented each year to the girl who painted the best portrait, and the work was to be done wholly- by. the competitors, and independently of any class work. Ria had always intended to ask Janet to sit for her, but now that was out of the question. However, she had no intention of abandoning the decision to paint Janet, and set about her task with zeaL Each day she toiled at the canvas. It was a picture of a girl standing on a hill, one arm raised above her heed, and waving a Rawson School pennant. The girl was unmistakably Janet Ria had studied each line of her friend's face and form. She noted' the fine forehead, the rounded nose, the laughing mouth, and the perfect curve of the chin. She studied the,golden brown tint of the hair, the bronzed tan. of the skin, and the rich colour : o£ cheeks and lips. . At last the painting was completed. As Ria examined it before taking it to the studio, she couldn't help feeling a thrill of pride as she realised it was undoubtedly the best painting she h;^| yet made. Nobody was allowed to see the paint* ings until after the winner had been announced, and on Saturday afternoon, the whole school gathered in the.assenv bly ball to hear the results of the judging. Miss Newman, the headmistress, ascended the platform. "Girls," she said, "I have great pleasure in announcing that Maria Wilmot is the winner, of the Rawson Medal. Mr. Kennedy, who Judged the portraits, said that Maria's style is excellent, and that'the work surpasses the standard he would have expected from a girl of her age. Will Maria Wilmot please step forward?" . With much more composure than sh« would have thought herself mistress of, Ria edged her way through the girls up to the platform, and amid loud cheering and congratulations, Miss Newman pinned the medal on her tunic. "Now, girls," said Miss Newman, "you may go over to the studio to see the paintings." Ria found herself half dragged over to the studio by laughing girls, and the next minute was aware of a familiar voice in her ear. "Ria, why it's me you have painted. How could you have done it after the way I have treated you?" Janet was saying in her old breezy way. ' "Why, I'm glad you like it," said Ria. "Let's be friends again." . ''Who said we weren't friends," sa!4 Janet, linking her arm in RJa's. And that painting has stopped many*