The Sunday morning news., 1891-02-22
CHAPTER I.


Yes, / Will tell Jon the story Throw
= few more logs into the stove, will you?
Cold out DOORS
ssCold? suppose so; thermometer 40
below, but Tn blest if feel it much.
Your mountain air is wonderful to me.
Been living on it ever since came west.
Oh, we soon get used to it, and then
our only wonder is how we ever con-
eented to live where the deadly damp
and chill is like chronic ague. No
more Of it for me. The valley states
have their good features, of course
orchards and corn fields and all that
good to look at when there are no noun
tains in sight; but Of what use would
they be here? Plenty of fruit to be had
if you want it. Cad. how used to
work when / was a kidl Wading
through the black soil of Illinois, drop
ping corn as soon as shed my dresses;
then covered and hoed and plowed and
hus&ed until got disgusted, cut the
whole business and Lit out.
wasn't cut out for king of the soil,
ehYs
King of nothingl If a boy wants a
taste of Inferno let him live on farm
and have Dutchman for father.
Granted; but perhaps you inherited
from your good German ancestors the
srtistic talent which enabled you to get
on so well after you did cut and run"
Well, may be SO. At any rate have
no quarrel with the old man now. He
likes his farm and his fat cattle-I like
my den here in the mountains, and my
paints and brushes. So here mean to
stay Pile in some more pine, Jim /
tell You. you might freeze to death and
never know it.
Smooth way to pass over the range
to Paradise. But say, Gus, don't you
ever eat here? I am as hungry as a
bear"
Eat? Open that oven door and take
Whit. That is the finest roast of ven
ison in Montana, and ranch potatoes
which are poem. Nearly done, old
man. Here. let me set the table: Two
plates. two knives, two glasses, and
there you are--or wouId you like some
coffee? Have il ready in three minutes.
Talk about the refinements of civi1iza-
tions suppose you newspaper fellows
have to have q printed programme with
your grub, napkin and silver fork
and all that sort Of trumpery; but as for
me, give me liberty or give me death.
Supper is ready. Better keep your hat
on
IAN right; that doesn't bother me
any; but say, Gus, give me that yarn.
ry1,ot 10 xx-,,o< ~, l,a,.a f<,,- aw1 I,oxr<
just two hours to get back to Helena"
You're going to stay all night or no
story. don't have visitor often, /
can tell you, and you don't give me the
cold shake. Stay till morning, get
good snooze once in your life you look
as il You needed it--and l win see you
over the range IN time to catch the 80
train Is it a go?
"Well, guess so. / ought to be in
Denver in thirty-six hours, but will
trump up some lie to satisfy the man
ager if am too late for the Sunday
issue. By the way, Gus, what a happy
life yours is. Sleep as long as you please,
dress as you please, eat when you are
hungry and work when the fit comes
on. Happy mang'
That's all right, Jim-for me. You
would loathe yourself in week, if you
should try it. Don't quarrel with your
destiny. You are man Of action-your
place is in the world. am dreamer, a
mixer of paints and--a failure.
"a failure, are you? II you could hear
the comments on yonr picture and the
stir it has made in Denver you would sing
another tune, Iswear You would be as
proud as a peacock-and, by the way,
was to ask you if she is for sale.r
Who? Oh, my picture! No; not if !
was starving. That picture is part of
my life, Jim. My hearts blood mixed
the colors on that canvas, and when Hell
mer begged the loan Of it for month
did not suppose that he was going to
place il on exhibition for lot Of idiots
to gabble over.
.tOf whom / am the chief.'
Not at all, Jim. know you have
heart, although you may not believe it,
or Iwould never tell you the story of my
Mountain Dream"
ssWell, proceed. will admit the heart
If you viii get down to business-nota
book and pencil all ready"
It WAS away back in 70 that built
cabin here, thinking that it would be
good studio for the summer. I had no
notion then that / would occupy it more
than few months. | enjoyed it i'm
mensely for time and set to work with
will, making sketches of the scenery.
1t was new and very fascinating work,
too. The atmospheric effects were SO
different from anything had ever ex-
perienced, the coloring so new, that I
was in sort Of artistic frenzy for once
IN my life, and scarcely knew whether
ate or not.
had been here about six weeks ana
lad made good many studiei, which /
meant to finish mp when / returned to
ihe east. was IN earnest and ambitious
Then, and had my dreams of fame and
my hopes Of the future as other men
have, suppose. I had seen no one with
the exception Of few prospectors on
no hunt for gold and silyer. They