Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-03-15

OF bloomsbury lOQRlnG mousse. Sne
was young and pretty, with delicate,
thoughtful looking features. She glanc-
ed at the clock-it wanted a few min
utes to 9-then rose from her seat and.
walking to the window. pulled back the
faded red curtains.
"a clear sky-there will be splen-
did light soon for Phil" she exclaimed.
She turned and made her way back
to the fireplace. An envelope on the
mantelpiece caught her eye. 1t was an
old one, and had been there for some
weeks, but she took it down once
again, and drew a card out-a mere
ordinary Christmas card, with the
words, "Madge, from Dick" written
upon it. She gazed at it refiectively
then replaced it with a little sigh.
"Ah, Dick" she murmured, ''if only
things had gone a little better with
usw
The chimes of clock striking the
hour caught her ear, and she made hur-
ried preparations for her departure. On
her way down she tapped at a door.
and opened it half an inch.
Many happy returns of the day,
Phil, dearr' she called out. ITS a
lovely morning. Good-by!'
She ran down the stairs lightly. In
the hall she was met. by an elderly
looking man in velveteen coat. She
nodded brightly to him, and he opened
the door for her.
your brothers birthday" he ask
ed with a smile.
Eyes. We must do something to
night in honor of it, and you must
help us. Mr. LintelI! Good-by-I shall
be late for my 'busv'
About an hour later, Phil Halstan
emerged from his room. He was tall,
well-built young fellow, with a some
what heavy, indolent-looking face. He
ate leisurely breakfast. then, lighting
a cigarette, dropped into an armchair
by the fire and let his eyes travel slow
ly round the dull room. A look Of dis
gust crept to his face.
'Ughr' he exclaimed. "How horribly
mean and sordid it all looks! Shall l
ever get out of it?'
Presently he rose, and, going to a
corner by the window drew forward
an easel. He sat himself before it and
gaZed at the blank canvas. Then he
felt for his box Of brushes and fingered
them meditatively. Finally he laid
them down and looked out of the win
dow.
There was tap at the door, and the
next moment old Mr.. Lintell entered
He lived on the upper floor and had got
to be very friendly with Madge and
her brother.
Il won't interrupt you," he began
with glance at the easel. Il only
came to offer you my best wishesr'
Thanks! Please don't CO." cried
Phil, as the old man moved toward the
door. Fact is, l don't think 1 shall
dc much more work now-rathe1
thought of giving myself a holiday
Ny birthday, you knowv' he added hall
jocularly.
Old Lintell came forward slowly. He
looked at the blank canvas.
ITS going to be a great thingr ex.
planned Phil. "Tm working out the
idea now-it takes time, you know"
The old man nodded, and looked out
Of the window. He had been thinking
a good deal of Phil lately-this boy
who got UP late, sat dreaming half the
day, and loafed the other. who had
never earned penny in his life, kept
in idleness by devoted sister who, as
typist in a solicitors Office, worked
hard from morn to night, believing in
him. heart and soul.
He glanced up sharply at Phil.
might see your portfolio?' he
said. II used to know something
about art"
Phil pulled 1t out with alacrity, and
opened it for the old mans inspection
Mr.. Lintell turned them over one by
one. They were crude and badly done,
with no sign of distinctive ability what
ever.
''Well?' asked Phil eagerly. He
shared his sisters belief in himself.
"Give me your candid opinion"
Mr.. Lintell wiped his glasses and
proceeded to oblige him. He told him
the truth-the unpleasant, naked truth
and wave Of color swept over young
Phil's cheek. Then he laughed.
ITS too ridiculous" he cried.
Old Mr.. Lintell rose from his chair
and made his way to the door.
''Tm sorry" he said, "but 1 thought
you ought to know"
Phil laughed again as the door closed
on the old man-but II was an uncom-
Portable sort of laugh-the laugh of a
man whose mind had been suddenly
confronted with a new aspect of the
case. He strode up and down the room,
'Of course, / shall be famous some
day-shall pay little Madge back a
thousandfold-and she doesn't mind
working at presentw he reflected. "And
he said I hadn't a particle of ability,
that / was wasting my time. that l
ought to be earning my living, keeping
Madge, instead Of letting her-r'
He glanced toward the window. The
sun was shining temptingly. He walk.
ed to the mantelpiece and found two
half-crowns which Madge had left
there. Unthinkingly he slipped these
into his pocket, then, taking hat and
stick, made his way out Of the house
He meant to 60 for long walk, te
think out his great idea. But he found
he could think of nothing but old Lin
tells words. The idiotic sentence KEPT
running, through his head. He, Phi
Halstan, mere loafer! The thing was
absurd; Madge herself would be tht
first to say 30.
He walked for some time, and made
an effort to think of something else
Presently he dropped into cheap res