The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-01-16
LIFE OR DEATH.
BY THE LATE HEGH CONJT4
4Jat' ior of "Culled Baci'. "Dark Days"
~ Family affair" Etc.


n ',l-,l4up,l,ed copy of tho Pilgrims Prog
,s:." the leaves of which Miss Herbert con-
'@scendetl to turn daintily over until shs
va, quit terrified b. the picture Of the
c"mba. with Apolyon.
Meanwhile. Jerry" with beating
I,eart. led Mr.. Herbert III stairs to a room
destitute Of furniture. save ia old table and
chair \ bucket half full of common red
clay stood III one co.n,r. and on the table
were several of the E'tl, clay figures which
hal excited tn, farmers ire ANA coasterna-
ton.
Crude. defective. full ii faults as they
We're. there was enough pcwe. In them to
make Mr. Herher; look a. the lad in won
derment. almosf envy. He was man who
worshipei art: who had dahsled as an
amateur i'll painting and sculpturins for
years: who t,n~l;crel Il gifted artist the
most fortunate # mankind. So the word
envy is not i'll chosen. What he would have
given half his wealth to posses 81 came to this
hoy unsought for-to the son of clod OF
farmer the precious gift was vouchsated!
AS he would have expected, the most am
bilious efforts were the worst-the NAKED
CONAN was particularly atrocious-but,
still wet, and not ruined by nm abortive at
tempt at taking, was group modelled from
life. vulgar subject, representing, as it did,
Abraham Leiyh's prize SOW. surrounded by
her ten greedy offspring. There was such
power and talent in this production that,
had he seen nothing els,, Mr. Herbert would
have been certain that thu lad as q mOdeler
and copyist must take the first rank. If. in
addition to his manual dexterity. he had
poetry, feeling and magma ion, it might
well be that one Of the reatest sculptols of
the ninctc nth centuc: stool in embryo be-
lore him.
AS Mr.. Herber. glanced from the rough
c,av sketches to the pal, boz who stood
hrentbless. as one expecting a verdict Of
life or death, he wondered what could have
leca the cause Of such divergence from
thu traits hnbitual to til, Laiyhs. Then he
remembered that som. twe,ty years ago
Abraham Leigh had chosen Tor wife not
one Of his own kind, b,l. dweiler in cities
IA gOvernesS, VINO exc i.ang,l. no dCu t, a
life OF panu"y and se"vtude TO: the rough
but comfortable home the Somersetshire
farmer was willing to give he. Mr. Her
bert remembered her, remamle.cd how ut
terly out o. ylace tia del rate. refined
woman seemed to bc as LII r.'s wifi; le-
n'cmbcrel how, few years after the birth
Of the boy she sickenel anu died. I. was
from the mothers side the artistic taste
cane.
Mr.. Herbert, although a kind man. was
eau iious. He had no intention of raising
hope' which might be futile Yet he felt
word Of encouragement was due to the lad.
Some of these figures show decided
'alent," he said After seeing them,
,,eel scarcely ask you if You wish to BE- a
s:ulptor!'
Young Leigh clasred his hands together.
"Oh, sir!" he gaspel. III it could only
ba!'
You do not care to Le farmer like
II could never he farmer, sir. am
not fit for it,.
Yet, if you follow in ycur iather's track,
you will lead a comfortable. useful life. II
you follow art you may go through years Of
poverty and suffering t4'sfore success is at
tained."
lhe boy raised his head and looked full at
Tho speaker-there was almost passionate
eltreaty in his eyes,
"Oh, SIR he said, IF you would only
persuade my father to let me try-even for
few years. IT did not succeed would
come back to him AMI work as laborer for
the rest OF my life without u l.,urmur.'
Mr.. Herbert was impressed by the BOYS
earnestness. II will speak to your father, :"
he said. Then the two went back to the
,itting-room. where they found Abraham,
Leigh much exercised by some difficult
questions propounded by Miss Herbert 10.
speeding the nature Of Apolyon.
Take my littls girl for walk round the
garden" said MIR. Herbert to young Leigh,
II want to speak to your father"
In spite vt ttsa great gulf between her and
tn clay be spattcrad toy in his shirt sleeves
tho little princess was too glad Of a change
of scene to wish 10 ttisobey her father. She
followed her c ,niuctor to tine back IF the
house and tho boy and girl stepped out int
he autumnal sunshine.
The little maid LOGGED 80 trim and dainty
in her neat riding habit, ccqu.ttis!l hat and
tvlv gloves, that his own draggletl appear
"uce struck the boy forcibly.
'lsyou will excuse me minute" he said
= will run and wash my hands,
YES. ltb nss it will 10 better" said Mis-
Herbert, with dignity.
In minute or two Young Leigh returned
he had found time not only to " as.. the ricl
rel clay from his long. well-shap.l fingers
but to slip on his coat an | generally beautif,
MNself. His improved appearance had ,
great effecs upon the enid. who, like mos
ct her age, was influenced by exieriors.
81 Miss Herbert, this little great lady
Inbent. and allowed jerry .n load he
round the old-fasnioned garden, 10 the out
houses and p!gsoves. where the obcs pigs la,
"bllvious OF what fate had in store for them
10 the dairy, where she co.lles,rntled +
drink glass Of new milk, au,l bv the tim
ihe' had returned i" tie garden the tw
were ~ good friends as their different sta
lions in lifa would permit Young Leigh
who saw in this dainty little maid tn, il,
ca,nation Of fairies, nymphs, gol6es,es an
other ideals which. In dim way. were form
ing themselves in his brain, cn;eayore]
after his frs: si,yness had passed away. t
show her what beautiful shap,, aad form,
c"Il be founl in flower. leaf and tree, an