The San Juan County index., 1894-02-23

llN[J for him TO work
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were so cold that
his fingers grew
numb and dropped the brushes. He
made numerous futile attempts to
warm his hands at the CRATE and rush
off TO paint while the warmth lasted.
but these were slow, discouraging
results Being an artist was far from
a joy-producing condition under the
existing circumstances, he reflected.
lie wanted 10 finish the picture he was
doing-a mere something which would
contribute to keep the kettle simmer
ing while he awaited developments in
| other dtrections-but somehow the
task was not easy. His friend Pratt
had been more than kind to house him
gratis so many weeks but Pratt was
only a clerk inhabiting a cheap apart
ment from which he was absent all
day, and it was too bad imposing on
his good nature. Weatherly, as dusk
came on, felt that terrifying sense of
desperation that comes over all ambi-
tious young artists when they have
to confess themselves defeated by
inertia r lack of inspiration or even
unpropi4ous surroundings The "diem
perdide refrain that burdened his
thoughts was one he had heard before
and only too frequently since the be-
ginning of the winter weather. Re
curing Sn this latest occasion it sick
ened hi1l almost beyond endurance.
lie put away his brushes with a saw
age NJ S7ement and threw himself
down i& a rocking chair before Pratt's
pleasant fire. Moodily regarding the
. titful fame he asked himself II 1t were
not fol y to continue the struggle. OF
what l'sc to drag out u hopeless career
OF long ing and failure? The life of
his friAnd Pratt was preferable. He
could Utmost have exchanged his own
. for sIch another.
Pit now? Well, he wished that he
hal never left the tropics to come
: | North for the great exposition. What
: had he gained by coming? A little
: more knowledge Of art-and of misery.
What had he achieved? Tied hand and
3 foot by lack Of money; frozen in body
. and stagnant in mind; his ideas dulled
:; his inspiration dead.
i A door opened and shut; voice,
p. common place and contented, aroused
: him.
= "Ha, old man! Getting warmed up?
Z / tell you this is dandy weather-for
the coal barons. Guess my ears are
,' frozen, after all. Say, what do you
:. think has happened? THEY'LL be call.
g ing extras all night Why, crank
is has shot the governor. In broad day
+ light-getting out of his carriage on q
:. pdblic street.
-t--r~vuvUUrry sUarJUu, IV1Urr- CITOiVeu
:. c'y. "The governor! Ny Godl Is he
81 -dcad?"
e "Died instantly"
q The artist groaned, got up and
>. walked into the next room. came back
: and groaned again. ~ wanted to call
= on him; l wanted to talk to him on q
. subject of immigration restrictions.
= = had some suggestions to offer him;
: know he would have listened-they
3 were about diverting the immigrants
i off to the tropi (MitlS.-tHo,IN ,INt-p4
: i'7raD 1aa'', A.H~-y{l"tt IN hna'
= way. ~ tell you this fire feels good
. Im glad to get home to it. Been
y doing a lot on that picture to-day
I. Clyde?"
!, Weatherly looked at him unsee,
, ingly.
= Anything wrong?" asked the clerk,
;. stretching his long limbs comforta bly,
o. and throwing back his blond, neat
;; head.
= In mirror across the room the
u artist caught sight of his own con.
. trasting dishcvclled black locks and
n hollow eyes in a clear-cut melancholy
e. face.
:. NO" he answered, slowly. Moth
:, % ing wrong. Things move slowly in
: my line-thats all There arc a great
% many hinderances. Had bad sort OF
. light to-day and didn't get on very
fast. I'll make up o-morrow-pll
work on those pen and ink drawings "
Pratt laughed lazily in the fire.
light
That's right. Never saw a fellow
who had more irons in the fire You'll
strike luck one Of these days. Rich,
too"
81 hope 50. Did you have your din
ner or shall go out to buy the
things? think Id like a little out
door run"
mo ] haven't dined l brought q
parcel, but we really need some cof-
fee. Pm afraid you'll find it pretty
bitter outside
ut won't hurt me"
lie hardly minded the air that stung
his forehead and numbed his other
features as he hurried over to the
street where the stores were. The loud
cries Of the newsboys rang jalringly
in his ears.
Assassinatcdl The great and liberal.
minded governor shot down? Was
there none TO interposc? Why had
not some one been there to strike
aside the murderous hand? lie would
have done tho, II only fate had
written that he should be at the pot
Like an elootrlu fantasy the scene
flashed through his brain and was
beheld by his souls eyes, The dis.
tinguished man stepping from his
carriage with perhaps II single attend
ant; the assassin at one side, silent,
OctraytnG NJ pu pose; then suddenly
the qu ct drawing OF the weapon, the
deliberate aim-but even ut that mo-
ncnt the darting movemCn forward
Of another human shape, that filings
itself upon the ASA ,sin, and wrenches
and scuiiicS with hin To- the earth. in
/ ..N q