Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-11-01
CHAPTER vi.
THE ARTIST

CHAPTER vi.
THE ARTIST.
Gprague was dilettante in art as
he was in life. If he had not been
rich, he might perhaps have become
a great artist. But, lacking the spur
of poverty, he seemed incapable of
sustained effort. Occasionally he was
seized with frenzy for labor; and,
Tor weeks at time he would shut
himself up in his studio, until he had
ereditably accomplished some bit of
york. But the fever was soon spent,
and a reaction invariably followed,
turing which palette and brush were
aaken up only in desultory fashion.
Thus it was that at the age of eight
and twenty, Sprague had painted a
few pictures which had attracted IA
vorable attention at the annual exhi-
billions of the Academy of Design, and
which the critics had spoken of as
'Spromising;" and thus it was that
the promise was as yet unfulfilled,
and that Sprague, though man of
undoubted talent, was not likely ever
TO rank as a genius in his profession.
Sturgis, with his keen insight into
human nature, fully realized the po-
tential capacities Of the artist, and at
times he could not control his impa-
thence at his friends inert drifting
through life. But, with all their diff
ferences, these two men held each
other in the highest esteem, each ad-
miring in the other those very quail
ties which were lacking in himself.
The artist lived in a fashionable
quarter of the city, in a bachelor
apartment which included :; a: large
and commodious studio fitted up ac-
sording to the latest canons of artis-
tic taste.
On this particular New Years
morning, after waking and observ-
ing, by the filtering Of few bright
sunbeams through the closely drawn
blinds, that it was broad daylight, he
stretched himself with a voluptuous
yawn and prepared to relapse into the
sensuous enjoyment of that semi
somnolent state which succeeds
night of calm and refreshing sleep.
Just as he was settling himself
comfortably, however, he was startled
BY a knock at the bedroom door.
Most men, under the circumstances,
would have betrayed some ,vexation
at being thus unceremoniously dis
turbed. But there was no suspicion
of annoyance in Sprague's CHEEKY
voice, as he exclaimed:
you cannot come in yet, Mrs.
O'Meagher. I am asleep, and I shall
be asleep for another hour at the
least. Surely you cannot have forgot
ten that to-day is holiday. Happy
New Year! You have time to go to
several masses before"
"Get up, old lazybones; and don't
Keep man waiting at your door in
this inhospitable way, when he is in
hurry" interrupted voice whose
tmbre was not that of the house
Keeper, Mrs. O'Meagher.
"Ohl is that you, sturgis?" laughed
the artist. "Aren't you ashamed of
yourself to come routing honest men
out Of bed at this unseemly. hour?
Wait minute, till put on my court
eostume, that may receive you with
the honors and ceremonies due to
your rank and station"
A couple Of minutes later the artist,
pituresquely attired. in loose orr
entail dressing gown and fez, opened
the door to his friend, Ralph Sturgis.
Come in,. old man." he said, cordial
y extending his handto the reporter:
you are welcome at any hour of the
day or night. What is it now? This ID
not your digestion call, presume"
NO." replied Sturgis, II merely.
cropped in to say that should be un--
able to take our projected bicycle trip
this afternoon. shall probably be
busy with the Knickerbocker bank
ease all day. By the way,if you would
Ike TO come to the bank With me-. T
ahan b glad Of your company: I am
IN my way there now" @> =*s,5 : !. ssS~1 !.
should like nothing hetter.~ aaid
0pFagus, hut L have made Il ~.
Dotntueat for this morning WITH -
el-yith . sitter. :" ~. sY=='.'s.f. 4 >7s.,s.
.hat : New ~ Years ~. 20
st.lsis the art,.t =, $780,,
- tksa sdsd, physically. -
eesPt my consratulatjsos, -
/ g. 4ou congratulations?" inquired
aprague, coloring slightly. I'M. ~ +.
9es; my eengratalatiens ard NJ