Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-08
CHAPTER Ill.

averted, the entrance to the broad, low
ceilinged chamber that had served
Roger Tabor as a studio for almost
fifty years. He was sitting there now,
In a hopeless and disconsolate attitude,
with his back toward the double doors,
which were open, and had been open
since their hinges had begun to give
way, when Ariel was a child. Hear
ing her step, he called her name, but
did not turn, and, receiving no answer,
sighed family as he heard her own
door close upon her.
Then as his eyes wandered about the
many canvases which leaned against
the dlngy walls he sighed again. Usu-
ally they showed their brown backs,
but today he had turned them all to
face outward. Twilight, sunset, moon
light Qhe courthouse In moonllght),
dawn, morning, noon Main street at
noon, high summer first spring, red
autumn. mldwinter. all were there, IL
llmitably detailed, worked to a smooth
ness like a glaze and all lovingly done
with unthinkable labor.
After a time the old man got up,
went to his easel near a window and.
slghlng again. began patiently to work
upon one Of these fallures-a portrait
In oil of a savage old lady, which he
was doing from q photograph. The
expression Of the mouth and the shape
Of the nose had not pleased her de-
scendants and the benedclarles under
the will, and IL was upon the images
OF these features that Roger labored.
He leaned far forward. with his face
close TO the canvas, holding his brushes
after the Spencerlan fashion. working
steadily through the afternoon and
when the light grew DINNER, leaning
closer 10 his canvas 70 see. When II
had become almost dark In the room
he III n student lamp with n green
glass shade and, placing II upon n ta-
BILE beside him, continued 20 paint.
Ariels voice interrupted him at last.
"Its quitting time. grandfather" she
called gently from the doorway behind
him.
He sank back In his chair. conscious
for the FIRST time OF how tired he had
grown. 'I suppose So" he said though
II seemed TO me was Just getting my
hand in" His eyes frightened for
moment. II declare. believe I've
caught II a great deal better Come
and look. Ariel. Doesn't II seem 70
you that I'm getting Il? Those pearly
shadows In the tiesh"-
'I'm sure OF II. Those people ought
TO be very proud 10 have H." She came
TO him quietly. took the palette and
brushes from his hands and began 10
clean them, standing In the shadow be.
hind him. tits too good for them"
"No," he u,urmured in return. "You
can do much better yourself Your
sketches show IT,"
mo. no.! she protested quickly.
"Yes. they do. and wondered II Il
was only because you We're young. But
those did when / was young are al.
most the same as the ones paint now.
| haven't learned much. There hasn't
been any one 10 show me. And you
can't learn from print. never! Yet
I've grown In what | see-grown so
that the world is full OF beauty to me
that never dreamed Of seeing when l
began. But | can't paint IL. can't
get IL on the canvas All, think !
might have known how 70 II | hadn't |
had TO teach myself, II could only |
have seen how some OF the other fel. |
lows did their work. III I'd ever saved |
money 10 get away from Canaan-if |
could have gone away from IL aud |
come back knowing how 20 paint it-it |
l could have got 10 Paris for Just one |
month. Paris for just one month";
perhaps we will. You can't tell |
what may happen" II was always her |
reply TO this cry OF his.
you're young, you're young" He /
smiled indulgently. what We're you
doing all this afternoon, chlldY"
In my room, trying 10 make over
weddlag dress for tonight"
''TonightY
mamie Pike invited me 10 a dance
al their house"
"Nery we'll. I'm glad you're going 20
be gay" he said, not seeing the family
bitter smile that came 10 her face.
81 don't think I'll DE very CAV" she
answered Il don't know why 60
Nobody ever asks me TO dance"
"Why notT' he asked. with an old
mans astoniShment.
IL don't know. Perhaps it's because
| don't dress very Well" Then. as he
made a sorrowful gesture, she cut him
afr before he could speak. "oh, IL isn't
Aitogether because were poor. It's
more l don't know how TO wear what
I've got. the way some girls do. III
never cared much and-well. I'm not
worrying, Roger. Aud / think I've
lone a good deal'with mamma's dress.
It's very grand dress. l wonder /
asver thought OF wearing IL until To-
lay. l may be"-she laughed and
may be the belle OF the
knows."
You'll want me TO walk over with