West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-02-03

certainly, rny dcar. must go 90
headquarters and attend to sonic bush
ness that demands my attention"
Brown followed the good lady into
the house. and tho painting was poiut
cd out to him. lie stood gazing upon
II In rapt admiration, his eyes glowing
with pleasure IA they drank In every
detail Of light and shade aud bold col
oring.
"liiertistadtY"
"iow did you know" she asked.
"liis namc does not appear on tho pics
turc."
mo one acquainted with .his bold
touch and happy conceptions could
over mistake the work OF that master
hand" Nc replied. "Thcrc Ia un indi-
viduality cllnging TO his pictures
which proclnims their authorship hs
plainly as X his name appeared with
glowing distinctncss ON tho margin OF
tho canvas"
The painting was ono Of those bold
mountain conceptions for which Bicrd-
stadt was famoua A grcnt rocky guloh
rent the breast of tho mountain chain,
the sides OF tho yawning chasm aud the
surrounding face of tho mountain brist-
ling with pines md studded with bowl
dsrs. The morning sun was just peep
Ing over crag to tho eastward, bath.
ing tho rugged faco of nature In mel
low, golden light On tho brink of the
prcoipitous wall on one side of tho cam
yon stood n lordly elk with hcnd erect
and nostrils distended gnsing across
tho great ohnsm TO where, on tho op.
posite brink, stood mountain sheep
In tho samc startled attitude Tho an.
imnls secncd TO hnvo discovered each
other ut 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 the
picture, "A Morning Surprise"
In words of cloqucnco tho young sol
dier traced tho artistic beauties OF tho
rnre worlt OF art, and Mira Colby list
encd In admiration of the intelligence
of the mnn In whom she folt such great
interest, but whose voice she had nevor
before hcnrd. As he went on and on,
dunting upon this point and that, oom-
pairing tho work of Dierdstadt with
that of othcr famous .ortists, every
doubt OF tho truth of the story tola her
by Alicc Sanford faded from Mrs Col
by's mind, and In her eyes the young
man became hero. IL must be ro-
membered TINT Brown wns ignorant Of
tho fnct TINT shc wus In possession Of
his story, and In tho midst of an elo-
qucnt speech his position ss q private
soldier flashed upon him, and In an en-.
bnrrassed manner he said,
81 bog your pardon. madam. In my
pleasure nt being permitted 70 Wow
Gals .bcsptiful worls 81 art quite for
got myself. md fear hnve tired you.
With your permission will retire.
30. no, you must not assure gou
your criticism Of tho picture greatly
interests mo. and yorr prr,scS ~ ~.
beauty crafty inc moro than can toll
you. Plcaac be seated, for love 20
hear you discuss art and artista."
She motioned him 70 chair, and for
an hour thcy sat In Interested oonver-
sol ton. Mrs. Colby was. unknown TO
him. sounding the young soldier TO tho
depths, and with womanly tact she
drew from him bit by bit little touches
of coloring from his early hfc, and by
her case of manner and gracious do
mennor no impressed him thnt he again
lost sight Of his huiabie runl and con.
ycrScd with her ma he would with r.
lady In the parlors Of society In the
cnst. She was q woman Of finished
education. one who had scon much OF
the world, and as she led him on and
on from topic 70 topic. her wonder
grow nt his intelligence aud fine oon-
versational powers
ITO be Continued