Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-07-18
The Cowboy Artist.


COriginal.1
Mr.. Beverly Farnham, q wealthy
New Yorker, desiring to inspect the
agricultural and cattle growing regions
of the great far west, took his daugh-
ter Emily for a companion and set
out on his trip. This same Emily was
a beauty, an artistic beauty, if the ex-
preston may be allowed, with Titan
hair and dark eyes-in other words, a
mingling of the blond and brunette.
Mr.. and Miss Farnham were welcome
at the ranch houses, with which the
country was dotted, and spent their
time riding over the country from n
Of them to another. The father looked
upon the region simply as one in which
to raise food for the hungry millions in
the east. The daughter considered it
very picturesque.
One morning the visitors were riding
over the broad acres of q cattle ranch
when they met a cowboy. He was
long and slender, and his face was
handsome, with a dreamy expression.
Instead Of riding past them with a
blank stare the young man raised his
hat and babe them good morning. His
eyes were riveted on Miss Emily, with
whose appearance he seemed very
much struck. When he had passed out
Of hearing, she remarked to her father:
"Isn't it strange, papa, that we have
to come SO far away from home to
learn mannersY'
Manners! What do you meanT
"That young man babe us good morn
ing politely. If we had met a gentle
mar in the country about New York,
he would not have been sc polite"
"H'm! 1 don't see what business he
had to speak to US at ALL"
That evening at the ranch house aft
er supper Mr.. Farnham was notified
that q a wished to see him at the
porch. The New Yorker went out to
find the cowboy he had passed in the
morning sitting in his saddle, rolling a
cigarette on the pommel.
owe called, sir" he said, "to ask
II you will allow me to paint the
young lady who was with you this
morning-your daughter, 1 believe"
"Paint my daughter! Certainly not"
The reply was given SO CURLY that
almost before it was out the cowboy
had put spurs to his horse and darted
away. The dialogue had been short
and to the point.
Mr.. Farnham asked who his visitor
was and was told that he was Ellery
Olmstead, commonly known as the
cowboy artist, since he punched cattle
and painted pictures. No one seemed
to know or care much about his ante
'cedents, but some one had heard that
he had come from the east, where he
had been a student in an art school,
his object In coming being health.
The next day when Mr.. and Miss
Farnham were out for their usual ride
they met a masked man who halted
them, calling upon the father to throw
up his hands. The order was obeyed
but upon the assurance that he was
not armed the gentleman was permit
ted to lower them. Then he took out
his pocketbook, but was ordered to
put it back. Not far distant was a
dilapidated barn that had not been
used for years. To this the masked
man drove father and daughter, then
ordered them to disnount. Within
. was an easel Oh which rested a can
vas, while paints, palette and brushes
lay near. The captor asked Mr.. Farm
ham to dismount and gave him a camp
stool. Then. assisting the young lady
from her horse, he posed her to sui
his fancy. Divining his purpose, she
seemed not only willing, but pleased
with the outcome Of the adventure
Meanwhile he had removed his masl
and revealed himself as the cowboy
artist, and as soon as the posing was
accomplished he began to sketch.
The sitting lasted for more than al
hour, and when it was finished the art
list assisted hic captives to mount.
a. am curious said Emily Farnham
"to see how the picture will turn out.
81 have only caught an inspiration
for a fancy picture" said the young
man. eff you wish it to be yourself
you must give me other sittings."
How Emily won over her father !
not known, but the next day the tw
appeared at the barn and came after
ward for a number Of sittings. TIL
II picture grew into a thing of beauty
and the model was delighted with il
n Then Mr.. Farnham, who had been S
outraged by his compulsory treatmen
rs to discover no beauty in the paint
ing, at last, seeing his daughter looking
at him from the anvas with an in
tensifed beauty, began to covet tn
portrait.
"H'm!'' he said to the artist. "Hoy
much would you sell it for?'
"Road agents are not used to selling
their plumber to those they plumber,
was the reply.
"This case may be an exception,
said the father.
"The picture is not for sale. but /
your daughter will forgive me TO
painting it from compulsory sittings
shall be pleased to present it to you"
The young lady would have gladl.
acceded to the terms, but her fathe