Ralph Henry Barbour

“ I guess it’s human nature to always want to do something you can’t. And that reminds me,” he turned to Harry, “you look like an amiable young lady. Suppose, now, you should sit for me a little while to-morrow. What do you say? It won’t be difficult, you know. Just sit kind of still for—hem—an hour. I’d be awfully much obliged, really.”
“Sit for you?” stammered Harry. “Do you mean that you want to paint me!”
“Exactly. Sounds a bit alarming, does it?”
“N-no,” answered Harry, “only—”
“I know,” laughed the artist. “You haven’t anything to wear. Isn’t that it?” Harry’s silence gave assent. ”

“ A MEETING OF FRIENDS IT turned off quite cool that evening toward sunset, a stiff breeze blowing up the river, snapping the flag at the top of the pole and sending the smoke from the stove swirling away in sudden gusts. They lighted the camp-fire early and, although the “dining-room” was sometimes invaded by choking gray fumes that made them cough and set their eyes to smarting, the warmth was grateful. ”

“ If you like you may bring one of these young gentlemen with you, but we don’t want a crowd, do we?”
“I guess I’d rather not have any one, if it doesn’t matter,” answered Harry.
“Isn’t she tight?” cried Chub. “She’s afraid we’ll get some of the candy! If she backs down, Mr. Cole, I’ll sit for you any time.”
“Ho, ho!” laughed the artist. “You like candy, too, do you? Well, there’ll be enough for all. The rest of you can happen around when the sitting’s over.”
There was a noise in the woods and Billy Noon appeared and joined the circle around the fire. ”