Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-11

Would you mind looking at II? You
will excuse US few moments, cap.
tain?"
Certainly, my dear must 60 to
headquarters and attend to some bust
ness that demands my attention"
Brown followed tho good lady Into
the house, and the painting was point
cd out to him. He stood gazing upon
II In rspt admiration, his eyes glowing
with pleasure as they drank In every
detail Of light and shade and bold COL.
oring
"f,icrdstadt?"
"How did you know2" shs asked.
"Hls name does not appear on the plc-
ture"
mo one acquainted with his bold
touch and happy conceptions could
ever mistake the work Of that master
hand" he replied. There Il an indi-
viduality clinglng to his pictures
which proclaims their authorship as
plainly as II his name appeared with
glowing distinctnsss on tho margin OF
the canvas"
The painting was one Of those bold
mountain conceptions for which Bierd-
stadt was famous Asrsat rocky gulch
rent the breast Of the mountain chain,
tho sides Of the yawning ohasm and tho
surrounding face Of the mountain brist
ling with pines and studded with bowl
ders, The morning sun YVES Just peep
Ing over crag to the eastward, bath
Ing the rugged face Of nature In mel
low, golden light On the brink Of the
preoipltous wall on ono side Of the can
yon stood a lordly ok with head erect
and nostrils distsnded gazing across
the great chasm to where, on tho op-
posite brink, stood a mountain sheep
In the same startled attitude. The on
imals seemed to have discovered each
other at the same moment, and their
pose, the rising sun and tho soft blush
Of color which surrounded all confirmed
the Appropriateness OF the title OF tho
picture, "a Morning Surprise"
In words Of eloqnonce the young SOL
dior traced tho artistic beautlas OF ths
rare work of art, and Mira Colby lLsN
crcd In admiration OF tho intelligence
Of tho man in whom she folt such great
interest, but whose voico she had nevar
before heard. As he won't on md on,
dilating upon this point and that, COM
pairing the work Of Biordstadt with
that Of other famous artlDts, every
doubt OF the truth Of tho story toli bev
by Alice Sanford faded from Mrs. Ool-
by's mind, and In her eyes the youny
man became hero. 1t must b re-
ncmbared that Brown WAS ignorant OF
tho fact that she was in possession Of
lis story, and Ia tho midst OF Ia eao-
quent speech hls position as q privets
soldier flashed upon him, and Ia al en-
harrasaed manner no said:
n bog your pardon, madam. ln my
pleasure ut being permitted to Wow
this hasrtiful work Of art quits fvr-
got myself, aad | fear | have tired you
With your permission | will rotlre.'
80, no, you must not. ass'ira yox
your criticism Of tho picturo greatly
intarosta rla, and your prAMa Of its
beauty crafty mo more than oan tell
you. Please DO seated, for love 70
hear you discuss art and artists. :"
She motioned him to chair, and for
an hour they sat in Interested CONVEX
satlon. Mra. Colby was, unlsaowu 10
him, sounding tho young soldier TO the
depths, and with womanly tact ohs
drew from him bit by bit little touches
OF coloring from his carly life, and by
her ease Of manner and gracious de-
meanor SO impressed him that no again
lost sight Of his humble ranli and con-
versca with her as he would with
lady in the parlors Of society In tho
eaet. sho was u woman Of finished
education, ono who had sean much OF
tho world, and Us she led him on and
On from topic to topic, her wonJor
gaw at his Intelligence and Ano con-
,WHti0ral powers,
ITO RI CONTINUED