The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-03-19
pAvIp uENDERsoN's small studio.

nAvID HENDERsON'S small studio
ID h.tit on the slope Of the mountain,
with its outlook on the distant lake
and q background of a great impenc-
trable forest growth. became the scene
Of tremendous activity when Silvia be-
gan 10 take weekly lessons in drawing
and painting, while listening TO
navid's desultory talk on art and
things artistic. bright, reminiscent
pleamings OF former student days,
while wandering abroad among old
world cenlers of ancient and modern
civilization,
At a given hour Silvia would dash
mp to the door gay, brilliant and en-
thusiastic, while Gorky followed, smil-
ing and pleased at her delight and
carrying her drawing materials.
And when she was installed before
her easel and David Henderson had
begun his critical and severe fault-tind-
ing as to the work done since her last
lesson, Gorky, with Il chuckle OF de-
light at the bold defense Silvia always
made, would go back to his multita-
rious occupations, reappeartng with
unerring punctunlity when the stipu"
lated hours had expired.
For the original hour. ErUdgingly
given by Henderson, had been largely
extended to that unexpected pupil
which fate and accident thrust upon
him in the heart OF the Blue Ridge,
where he had come for rest and recre-
alton and to steep soul and imagina-
ton in The magnificent scenes and
sights Of those misty and beautiful
ranges and TO get rid Of the dust and
chimney stacks, electric cars and the
monotonous pleasures OF a big city,
where he lived. and sold pictures, re-
ceiyed a heterogeneous collection Of
friends, both OF bohemia and the bean
monde, among the picturesque GonIi-
sion of his big suite OF Dol
Invitations always poured In on
David, and many m0nOgramed notes
in feminine handwriting were left in
his letter box, and TO secur time for
the splendid work which made him ia
nous as one Of the foremost American
artists OF to-day David Hendorson's
clever and immovabIe japanese sery-
ant had TO mount guard at his door
and lie to all conner that he had gone
cut OF town.
So, somewhat worn in appearance
and c~yuically al odds with social ext.
]eenctes. David Henderson had slipped
away on q southbound train TO the
Businesses OF the great solitary noun
tains around Blowing Rock,
1t was only when the summer came,
smoking in contemplative silence and
sitting on his porch breathing the
ozone of the frs and pines, towering
above his rambling picturesque cot
tagc in the divine sOlitudes and fading
twilight Of June, that David Hender-
sons artistic enthusiasm began to re-
yiye, with the great undying passion
of the artist and an indifference equally
as great for his fellow-meu, which spe-
cially included w~omankind.
David Henderson keenly regretted
his promise made under a sudden i'm
pulse to give lessons to a presumably
crude country girl, for the queer rea-
son that her mother, II faithfully por-
traycd by a miniature, had been beauti-
ful.
"L'etornel fominin, How unescapa-
BILE" David murmured impatieutly
while waiting for the advent Of his I'M
welcome pupil.
But life holds some delightful sur
prlses as well as many pitfalls and
cruel dangers. and the handsome young
girl, whose keen intelligence and quick
artistic sentiment he soon discovered
were as remarkable as her beauty was
n of them.