Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-04
The LOST GENIUS OF WILLOW CREEK.

oils, but it had no idea of the possibilities
within him until the day his picture Of
Balboa Discovering the Pacific" was
displayed in the window of McGregor's
drug store. The first day there were little
knots of people gathered before the show
window all day long. Everybody praised
the picture; there was not single dis.
sentient voice. 1t was not all owing tc
the fact that Ralph Houston was very
popular in the village; a connoisseur
might have criticised the color of the
Pacific as being too brightly green, the
sky as too staring a blue; he perhaps
would have said Balboa's legs were out Of
drawing, and that general crudity per-
vaded the picture, which plainly showed
the novice.
None of these criticisms occurred to
Willow Creek. IL admired with all its
eyes and marveled greatly that boy Of
twenty, born and grown up among them,
should be capable of producing this won-
derful work of art.
As DIR. Houston appeared upon the scene
10 McGregor hailed him from the door
way. q say, Doctor, that's likely pic
ture of Ralph's; reckon you'll be sending
the boy over to Europe before long,"
The Doctor quickly entered the store
before he replied. "What made you
think of that, 10; did he speak of going to
Europe to your"
Ralph? no, only lowed that 'ud be
the upshot of it, sence everybody pears to
think the boys genius"
"Well, well, he amuses himself painting
pictures, and paints them fairly well, but
my idea has always been to take Ralph in
with me as soon as he has read and studied
while longer. The boy quite agrees with
me, too-this is only pastime, at least l
have always believed so until this picture
him, HIM, if thought"-murmured the
doctor, unwilling to take McGregor toe
deeply into his confidence
doctor, they's no use to try to keep the
eagle from soarin'. A boy with his face
and gineral git up, warn't made to live an
die in Willah Crick. You an me may be
content to stay in the old burg doctor, but
then we're birds of another feather"
Whether the doctor objected to figuring
in the same metaphor with a man who
sold drugs and notions and tea and coffee
over the same counter, or whether the
matterof JOS speech was disturbing his
peace, he replied with gruff good morn
ing" and hurried out of the store.
That evening he had a long talk with
Ralph. My boy" he said at last, "my
heart has been set on your continuing
the profession of your father ever since /
first thought you had natural aptitude for
it, and you always seemed to me to like it.
Ralph. If you hated medicine and fell
that you were born to be an artist, God
forbid that / should attempt to coerce you
but think this is only fancy which will
pass away. know little about art, and CAM
tell whether you have much talent or not
but know that an artist, beside heaven,
sent genius, should have an all-absorbine
love for his art which should make him
willing to endure years of poverty and tot
in pursuit of a success which in the enc
may elude him. Do you think you have
this passion Ralph?' asked the doctor
anxiously.
The boy hesitated a moment only
Father, if you had asked me this thres
months ago | should have answered,
do not know Now l tell you that a!
truly as can speak, next to you l low.
painting better than anything else in tn,
world. Nevertheless, if the thought dis
tresses you, if you think l am not fit t.
become an artist, will give it up. / will
never" and the boys handsome fac,
grew quite pale.
" No, no, Ralph, not that don't NEAR
that" replied the doctor hastily i" we will
wait little while. Your Balboa is tn,
first real picture you have painted, ISM
itg
Yes, and that is only an experiment
Oh, have something else in my mind
father; such picture! 1t is the head o
Hebe, and Bessie Pollard has promised t,
sit for me-"
Bessie Pollard she is fitting mode
for the goddess of youth A lovely girl
Ralph said the doctor, looking at his sol
out of the corner Of his eye.
"Oh yes" replied Ralph enthusiastic
ally; "such hair and eyes, Just the fac,
for a Hebel And when the picture i
finished, father, let it decide my fate.
shall be willing to stand or fall by it."
"How long will it take you, Ralph ?"
/ shall want at least month";"
:" A month" repeated the doctor, feelin.
somewhat comforted.
In the next issue of the Willow Creel
Palladium it was announced that "Mr
.alph Houston, son of DR.. Charles Hous
ton, and painter of the picture called
Balboa Discovering the Pacific which
has attracted so much attention in tn,
window of McGregors drugstore, woulc
shortly begin painting of Hebe, the cup
bearer Of the gods'
Even before this it had become gener
ally known throughout the village tina
Ralph was going to paint picture o
"Heeb," and that Bessie Pollard was to b,
his model.
Whether Miss Pollard had, in dippin,
into mythology, become somewhat alarme,
at the possibilities of picture of herself a
Hebe or whether she dreaded the public
ity which its position in McGregor's win
dow would give her features, she at any
rate reconsidered Ser promise and sen
Ralph polite note to the effect that s'ol
second thought she had decided she woul'
rather not be painted in his picture"
Ralph was exceedingly disappointed an,
annoyed on receipt of this news. I'll
thought he had found the ideal Hebe an,
now she had eluded him. To his surpris,
his father seemed to feel as keen disap
pointment as himself. There is no on,
else in Willow Creek who will do" sale
the boy despairingly.
'No one echoed the doctor.
''Such pretty mouth sighed Ralph.
'And such gentle disposition" sale
the doctor.
"She has just the face, so childlike ant
innocent yet so expressive"
'And she is so industrious, so domestic
you never see her gadding about tn,
streets" added the doctor.
"Shes the only girl in the place VIII,
has golden hair" said Ralph, impatiently
ayes, yes; should have been very fons
of Bessie, always liked her from littl
thing said the doctor rehectively. 81
seems only the othe other day she was il
short dresses, and here have been think
ing of her for my Ralph mean for you
picture-your model, Ralph" he adde's
hastily, II think / must have been drop
ping off to sleep. Well, well, dare sa,
You can find somebody else" and the doc
tor left the room.
Ralph had redeemed at his fathers sell
betraying speech. The views of tn