Catoctin clarion., 1894-07-19
4
WQ9u|plltalq
Dgeal!lR9s
BY JOSEPHINE A. BOW EN-.
CHAPTER I.

b'OVc, Will you OoIu o"V uoo'o'
Cold: l suppose so +; Thermometer
40 below, but I m blest if ] feel 1t much.
Your mountain is wonderful to Inc.
Been Lying on it ever since l came
west
Oh, we soon get used to 1t, and then
our only wonder is bow We ever con-
sented to live where the deadly damp
and chill Is like a 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
mountains in sight but of what Use
would they be here? Plenty Of fruit to
be had if you want 1t. Cad, how |
used to work when I was a kid! Wad-
ing through the black soil of Illinois,
dropping corn as soon as l had shed my
dresses then covered and hoed and
p!owed and husked until l got disgust
ed, cut the whole business and lit. out.
Wasn't c"t out tor Il king Of the soil.
eh?
King of nothing! If boy wants a
taste of Inferno le, hlm liye on a farm
and have Dutchman for father.
Granted; but perhaps you inherited
from your good German ancestors the
artistic talent which enabled you TO get
on so we'll after you did cut and run.
Well. may he so. AT any rate I have
no quarrel with the old man now. lie
likes his farm and his fat cattle-1 like
my den here in the mountains, and my
paint and brushes. So here l mean to
stay. Pile on some more pine, Jim. |
tell you you might freeze to death and
never know 1t.
Smooth way to pass over the range
to Paradise. But say. Gus, don't you
eat here? am as hungry as a bear
Eat Open that oven door and take
Whit. That is !he finest roast Of ven.
ison III Montana, and ranch potot oes
which are a poem. Nearly done, old
man. Here, let me set the table: two
, plates, two knives, two glasses, and
there you are-or would you like some
coffee: Have it ready in three minutes
Talk about the refinements Of civiiza
ton suppose you newspaper fellows
have to haye printed program with
your grub, y napkin and a silver fork
and all that sort of trumpery but al
for me give me llberty.or give me death
Supper is ready. Better keep your hat
on.
All right, that dcesn't bother me
any but say, Gus, give me that story
That IS what am here for, and l have
lust got two hours to get back to Hele
na.'
You're going to stay all night or nc
story. l don't hsye visitor often.
can tell you, ard you don't give me the
cold shake. Stay till morning get
good snooze once IN your life-you look
rs If you needed it-and | will see you
over the range in time to catch the 9.3(
train. Is it go:
We'll, | guess SO. ought to be ir
Denver in thirty-six hours but | vii
trump up some lie to satisfy the mana
ger # am to late for the Sunday issue
By the way. Gus, what 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
OH. Happy mani
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 g
dreamer, nixer Of paints and-a tail
ure.
"A failure, are you ? if you could hear
the comments on your picture and the
stir 1t has made in Denver you would
sing another tune / swear. You would
be as proud as peacock-and, by the
way, l was to ask you # she was fol
sale
Who? Oh, my picture! No; not il
| was starving. That picture is part
of my life, jim. My hearts blood
mixed the colors on that canyass, and
when Helmer begged the loan of it fol
month I did not suppose that he was
going to place it on exhibition for LOT
of idiots to gabble oyer.
OF whom l am the chief
Not at all, Jim. know you have a
heart, although you may not telieye it
or would meyer tell you the story oI