Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-08-02
THE
ANGEL :. :. :. :.
BY
HALLE HR1IINIB RIVE5.

$500
The painter sat in his square studio
with his head bowed In his hands.
THE four walls Of the room had each
n window. relieved by dlngy curtains,
and the foor was bare. The mans
face was drawn and gaunt, and when
be raised his head his eyes were very
bright.
"These years. he cried to the ST.
hence. -Four Of them, day after day,
week after week, always striving, al
ways laboring to express the thought
which is in my brain, always impotent
because Of poverty, always toiling
through three days that on the fourth
/ may have models and materials for
my great work. l feel the power with
in me, but l am helpless. Others
around me succeed. 1 envy them, and
my envy strangles the lovely thing
which / try to paint, and It's features
grow CHASTITY and hateful to me. If |
could only finish this one pictured But
/ cannot without hours Of work with
costly models and many days of appli-
cation which / must spend In earning
my bread. And the inspiration will
not wait. 1t fades DINNER while l
fight on. II 1t passes, l am lost"
He bowed his head in his hands
again, and his shoulders moved as
though with sobblng.
Just then a figure, white and shining,
Grifted down through the open sky
light and stood beside him. The paint
er raised his head. He knew that the
visitor was an angel, for he had seen
angels In his dreams. lie clasped his
hands and knelt at the angels feet, and
the tears were still on his face.
The angel was looking at the canvas
spread upon the easel. 1t was n jun
BILE Of huge forms, for the painter was
to represent upon 1t n great allegory
OF humanity entitled "The Triumph
OF Life" "yVhy are you not at workr'
the stranger asked. The painter
stretched his arms wide with a de-
spairIng gesture. 1t was hopeless and
helpless. 1t meant want, desire, pow
erty, agony, supplicatiOn, all blent into
one.
The angel regarded him pitlfully for
a moment. 81 have a MASTER" he said,
sin whose gallery are the models OF all
the greatest works of the world.
Nothing is missing. l have come to
give you his invitation to paint in It."
The painter lifted his head eagerly.
There was a question upon his face.
at is q wide gallery" the angel went
on, with four wings. In these wings
have sat all the great artists Of all
times to do their labor. In It they
have received their first Inspirations
from the great art ideal Of which they
were the interpreters. There Michael
Angelo brought his rough stone to set
free it's angelic forms; there came Bee
thoven, It's harmonles OF form and Of
color hymning themselves to him in
splendid music. Thither came Raphael
to gaze upon the glorious hues and In
the peace and beauty of its aisles to
paint the delicate loneliness OF the
Christ child. In It's alcoves sat Keats
and Shelley, gazing till Its various
beauty RAM from their souls into a
full and fragile voice Of song. There
they framed those sweet harmonles
which, uDheard, were sweeter. All
these men have learned In this great
gallery. Today the masters sit In II
working and striving to interpret and
I'm giving their all to the world, tC
show to those to whom admittance Is
forever denied, because they have moi
the souls TO appreciate this art, a little
portion Of the enduring beauty Of the
collection"
IL have never heard Of this gallery
said the painter.
True" said the angel. "YOu have
been too busy with this great painting
He touched the easel as he spoke.
The painter hung his head. 81 an
not it," he said, Ito sit with thes'
great artists. ! would better work lon
ger here"
Not so" said the angel gently. "Yol
have the will to do. The candle 4
burning in your soul"
The painters lips moved silently, bu
the angel understood him. take m
with you to this gallery" he was say
ing.
The angel stepped TO the western win
dow Of the room and dung II open wide
The painter came and stood besld
him. "Can we see II from heref' sal
lie. The angel nodded. This is one G
the four great wings Of my master
gallery" be said. "LOokP'
THE painters gaze followed his. ]
was spring. A little soft wind wa
blowing. The starting grass in the ga
den below was a light placid greer
Just beyond was a peach tree in bloom
with dnrting bees abont H. "Tbere
nothing but pastels IN this wing" sal
the angel. the soft colors and clei
tlnts which belong 10 nm Opaque med
TIM" He reached out bis hand an
drew 10 q climbing rose that had reacl
al 20 The easement. WAS anythin
more exgulslteY' be said. Then. Softl
epd carefully lest II should brush 0