OPENED SHUTTERS

Thames Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 10128, 9 December 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

OPENED SHUTTERS

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"Xian'l doing isyivia any hai'iu, anyway," she reilected, "iinu 1 know taicU never JUave a Oisloyai thougnt oi ncr iatner,' anu sliu puilea unother stocking over her uand.

"Well, you are interested now, coy tainiy," remai'ked iidna, increasiugiy surprised at the girl's perception oi the quality oi- the w.ork oi the various artists, combined with suoh coin paitive ignorance oi their names and reputations.

"'I have never had much opportwr ity(" said Sylvia simply, "and, a* you can see i never made the inobt of what 1 did have. I suppose fotaer had ambition once"-— ~

"Indeed he did, my dearl" put in Miss Lacey emphatically. Sylvia started. In her absorption she had forgotten her aunt's presence.

I "Yes, I suppose ao," she replied; but things" went hard with him, and for years past the only work-"he could depend upon were the pictures he made for advertisements and an occasional cartoon- for a. paper." "Indeed,"' returned 'Miss Lacey, leaning forward and poking the iiie in her embarrassment. This was entirely gratuitous frankness on SjJvia's part. "Well, I can assure you he -sva^s made for better things" she wenf'on, bridling. "When you visit me I will show you a landscape in my parlour worth a thousand of the draibs people rave over. iH»lf rhe time you can't tell whether to*y, re trying to paint a turnip field, wr a prairie fire. Ridiculous 1 You caa almost count the rings on the noras of the cows in this landscape. Lt\ what 1 call a picture." It was well that Miss Lacey un • joyed this work of art, for it was all she had to show for many a squeeze given to her slender purse by ilia artist.

ifidna paused iv the talk sue was led into toy her guest's eager; attoution and questions.

"Listen to the surf!" she exclaimed. "You must see that show, bylvia. We must go down to the rocks.'

"Fine! But i haven't any otuer clothes if 1 wet these," returned the girl looking down.

"Oh, it's bathing suits to-day, and rubbers, and mackintoshes.''

Soon they were equipped, tuid leaving the cottage by the back door they worked their way around thi? comer of the house to the sea frour, and. by, the help of the sturdy trees that were making their usual good fight with the elements managed to creep down to the upper tier of rocks Here it was impossible to hear one another speak, and the girls' oxhilai'ation could be expressed only by glances as they clung to eaoh other and the rocks, where to-day the roam flakes flew, about them, although it was usually high and dry for some distance below this. The Hue sharp needles of rain, which at first made their eyes smart, ceased for a time, and they watched the giant waws at their hoarse, clamorous revel, joiu ing the roar with their own shrieks of mirth and, excitement whenever some reckless fling of spray drenched them from head to foot.

Edna had placed Turkish towels and their clothing in a shed at the back of the house, and when finally the rain began again to cut their eyes and shut away even the neirest view, she succeeded in dragging »he reluctant and dripping Sylvia thither, and they again made ready for the house.

"Come in, ypu two mermaids," exclaimed Miss Laoey when they appeared. She threw, more logs on the fire. "I began to think you had gone to see the land 'where corals lie."' -•■■'■■ '.;■,.. .: ■■• ■ ■ ■-.

Edna laughed and took the pins out of her hair so that it rolled i» ijiamp, lengths about her. Sylvia's curls were gemmed with bright drops, and 'both girls were rosy and sparkling, from their tussle with the gale. :

"Sylvia has the only hair that ever ought to go to the ueashore," r? marked Edna, looking with open admiration at the piquant face under the jewelled diadem. "You. can take a chair, Sylvia, but I shall have to turn my back to that lovely fire " Sylvia stretched herself luxuriously in a reclining chair. before Ihe Maze while her hostess sank on the [rug and spread her dark locks to the

fFo be continued.^ _

"Now, for three seasons wo have had a fairly close basis fin- fftmiJiirison between the growth uf cliiakf reared at the old homesicad and others of the same breeding: reared on free range, witih both field and forest, cropped land and lny land, alnd while the chicks with ilio v.i float field iwngti-.hjavte invariably done! l>et■fce* than thorn confined mo>e l'neely aa hWe tho&s wiffi the blue grat-s."