The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-10-13

But how will you see your canvass
"Have a bloomin" cops began
Mr.. Watkins. rising too quickly to the
question, and then realizing this,
bawled to Miss Durgan for another
glass of beer. 'I'm goin' to have a
thing called dark lantern" he said
to Person.
But it's about new moon now" OBJ
jected Person. There won't be any
moon"
''Therell be the house." said Wat
kins, ''at any rate. I'm goin', you see,
to paint the house first and the moon
afterwards"
''Oh!" said Person, too staggered to
continue the conversation.
"They doc say" said old Durgan, the
landlord, who had maintained a re-
spectful silence during the technical
conversation, ''as there's no less than
three p'licemen from 'Azelworth on
dewty every night in the house-'count
of this Lady Aveling and her jewelry.
One IN won fower-and-six last night
off second footman- tossin'."
Towards sunset next day Mr.. Wat
kins, virgin canvas, easel and very
considerable case of other appliances
in hand, strolled up the pleasant path
way through the beech woods to
Hammerpond park and pitched his APP
paratus in strategic position COM
served by Mr.. Raphael SAINT, who was
returning across the park from study
of the chalk pits. His curiosity having
been fred by Persons account of the
new arrival, he turned aside with the
idea of discussing nocturnal art.
Mr.. Watkins was apparently una
ware of his approach. A friendly con-
'versation with Lady Hammerpond's
butler had just terminated, and that
individual, surrounded by the three
pet dogs which 1t was his duty to take
for an airing after dinner had been
served, was receding in the distance.
Mr.. Watkins was mixing color with an
air of great industry. SAINT, approach
ing more nearly, was surprised to see
the color in question was as harsh and
brilliant an emerald green as it is
possible to imagine. Having cultivat-
ed an extreme sensibility to color from
his earliest years, he drew the air in
sharply between his teeth at the very
first glimpse of this brew. Mr.. Wat
kins turned round. He looked an
noyed.
What on earth are you going to do
with that beastly green?" said SAINT.
Mr.. Watkins realized that his zeal to
appear busy in the eyes of the butler
had evidently betrayed him into some
technical error. He looked at SAINT
and hesitated.
Pardon my rudeness," said SAINT;
but, really, that green is altogether
too amazing. 1t came as a shock.
What do you mean to do with it?"
Mr.. Watkins was collecting his re-
sources. Nothing could save the stu
alton but decision. 'If you come here
interrupting my work." he said, ''I'm
a-goin' to paint your face with it."
SAINT retired. for he was humorist
and peaceful man. Going down the
hill he met Person and Wainwright.
EITHER that man is genius or he is
dangerous lunatic," said he. "Just go
up and look at his green" And he
continued his way. his countenance
frightened by pleasant anticipation
of cheerful affray round an easel in
the cleaning, and the shedding of
much green paint.
But to Person and Wainwright Mr..
Watkins was less aggressive, and ex-
planned that the green was intended
to be the first coating of his picture.
1t was, he admitted in response to
remark, an absolutely new method, in
vented by himself. But subsequently
he became more reticent; he explained
he was not going to tell every passer-
by the secret of his own particular
style, and added some scathing re-
marks upon the meanness of people
hanging about" to pick up such
tricks of the masters as they could,
which Immediately relieved him of
their company.
Twilight deepened, first one then
another star appeared. The rocks
amid the tall trees to the left of the
house HAD long since lasped into slum-
berous silence, the house itself lost all
the details of its architecture and be-
came dark gray outline, and then
the windows of the salon shone out
brilliantly, the conservatory was
lighted up, and here and there bed
room window burnt yellow. Had any
one approached the easel in the park
it would have been found deserted.
One brief uncivil word in brilliant
green sullied the purity of its canvas.
Mr.. Watkins was busy in the shrub
berry with his assistant, who had dis
creetly Joined him from the carriage
drive.
He cautiously approached the house
until he stood below the dressing
room window, and began to put To-
yether his folding ladder. He was