Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-17
A HOPE WHICH VANISHED.


Max Pemberton was poor, like most
artists, but his restless ambition and
great ability told MIN that the day
would come when he would have all the
wealth and reputation he might desire.
Meanwhile, his name was growing ia
nous.
Since the advent OF his unexpected
pupil Gertrude, the little studio had be-
come the scene of much activity. At a
| given hour she would drive up rapidly
accompanied by her uncle carrying her
drawing materials, and springing out
gay, brilliant ana impetuous, she would
bring with her an enthusiasm which be
came infections.
She would settle herself resolufeiy
and eagerly before her easel, and when
Max Pemberton began a merciless crit
icism of her work, done since her last
lesson, her uncle-whose name was
queerly foreign-would smile grimly
and amusedly, and, lighting a cigar,
| would stroll out out to read his newspa-
per on bench under nearby tree If
the lesson was protracted he was apt to
doze off to monotonous humming of
bees getting their honey from the otlor-
Gus wild flowers around.
The original hour so grudgingly given
by Max, for his lesson, had extended
to unexpected lengths and while paint
ing with painstaking perseverance, Ger
trude listened to Max Pemberton's
pleasant desultory talk on art and
things artistic, to his amusing reminis-
cences of his student days, and later
experiences while sojourning in the old
worlds centers, from which Max had
brought home keen and enlightened
eclecticism, which made him peculiarly
agreeable companion.
Gertrude laughed md boldly criticised
this world fashionable, and maintained
her preference for free, wild life in
the Blue Ridge mountains. And Max
Pemberton found a strange pleasure in
the caust1c appTeciations of the brilliant
pupil fate, and his every-gnawing need
of money, had thrust upon him, when
he had come to the vast solitudes Of
the smoky ranges, for rest and mental
recreation, and to steep imagination in
the misty, beautiful peaks, and forget
the sights and noises of the big CITY
where he lived, made and sold pictures
and received friends among the pictur-
esque confusion of his bare rooms
Invitations always poured in on Max.
and many monogramed note was left
in his letter box. So when the ardor of
work was upon him to make time for
the splendid accomplishments which
We're beginning to make him one Of the
foremost young American artists, many
I were his devices TO escape from fashion
and notoriety.
Max Pemberton had keenly regretted
his rash consent to take as pupil for this
summer a crude mountain girl The as
tOnishing sum Offered for his lessons by
the powerful impressive looking man,
her uncle, must cover some trap he
thought.
How unacceptable is reternal fem
inin,'' Max muttered discontendly, while
waiting the advent of his unwelcome
pupil.
Life holds some delightful surprises, as
well as many pitfalls and cruel dangers.
The very handsome young girl, whose
bright intelligence and artistic percep.
tons astonished Max when he came TO
know her, was of the latter.
With the considerable knowledge she
had already acquired, Max soon taught
Gertrude how to seize the infinite
shades and gorgeous coloring of the ma
jestic scenes around, how to fix on can
vas the paling distances and the rolling
sweep of the ranges, and time sped all
too swiftly until her uncle came to drive
her back home.
E Asking no questions and strictly avoid
+ ing the gossip of the little town when he
went daily for his mail, Max heard only
vaguely the speculative talk as to Ger
7 trude and her uncle. For ten years they
5 had led their secluded lives in this out
5 of-the-way place, and people wondered
who and what they were. That the stern
9 retieent man, her uncle, controlled all
the money he wanted was evident by the
: way in which they lived the strange
: luxuries crowding the rambling bunga-
] low. their mountain home, and the hand.
some horses and equipages they drove
Gertrude, taking lessons from prim
/ Miss Madison in the little town, her
E uncle driving her there daily. Miss Madi-
son, who had once been principal of a
large school in big city, absorbed know
ledge so quickly that that woman de-
: clared her uncanny.
Gertrude studied foreign languages
with her uncle. and they spoke together
in a strange tongue. neither German nor
French. Miss Madison declared noddine
wisely. Gertrude grew up tall and
splendidly developed with wealth OF
reddish brown hair, great hazel eyes, an
exquisite laughing mouth, and a skin sc
dazzling fair that no exposure to wind OF
weather could impair it.
At the close of summer, Max Pember.
ton sat in big armchair in his studio
and watched Gertrude as she drew with
! bold, firm precision the fair landscape
visible through the open doorway. They
. had been chatting, in perfect comrade.
ship. Gertrude of her strange stuuies
and peaceful joys, Max of his ambitions
and rushing turbulent life in the great
city where he lived. They they relapsed
into silence. Max was content to watch
the splendid face bending over the easel
! so unconscious of its beauty
"You are wonderfully accomplished
mountain maid You speak foreign lam
guages, play the violin almost like a
! professional. and If you keep on work.
: ing. you win be a remarkable artist
some day" said Max smilingly from the
: depths of his easy chair.
will |, really? That is the height Of
my ambition, to be an artist" Gertrude
exclaimed with enthusiasm, too absorb
ed in ner effort to reproduce the fading
light and rising mists in the valley 10
glance around at Max.
as that your ambition? You prize
painting and art above all things he
! cause you are still a child. Your wonl-
ans heart is asleep. You know nothing
Of the triumphs and vanities of life.
of it's pompS ana pleasures. Wait until
you have made acquaintance with your
power and the worlds homage You
are not made 30 be an artist Max said.
Ii was the first time he had: reached
.A..- af.vas L.