Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-23
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5 The Summer BOarder


The rolling ranges Of the Blue Ridge
and the Smokes have become the camp
Ing ground of ambitious artists and art
students. Amaryl was accustomed to
see them pass along the road, with
camp stools and other paraphernalia,
to meet youths and maidens in the pur
suit OF art wandering through the for
ssts. valleys and fields, intent on hope
less and frlitless attempts TO capture
the glories Of sunset and sunrise down
vista Of far-dstant peaks.
When their summer Doarder, there
fore, unpacked an easel, paints and
brushes, Amaryl was delighted. you
could make lovely pictures il you would
copy the scenes around here | will
take you to see our wonderful falls and
cascades. and there is nothing lovelier
than Mission Valley when the moon
floods Ii with light. A river runs
through it like a silver thread and the
sawmil and little settlement below the
crags are wonderfully picturesque
II came to your mountains seeking
the loveliest thing in Nature" the art
list answered ambiguously. He was
watching Amaryl through half-closed
eyes while she trausplanted some ferns.
She was too intent on her task to no
tice his steady gaze.
The artist seemed TO be lazy He
was content TO spend hours in his room,
idling, presumably; then he would wan
der Off with Amaryl when she could
spare the time In the sweet. late after
moons. to visit some beautiful spot she
told him of. No one knew of the glo-
rious canvas which he kept locked in
a closet of his room.
He would sketch for a few moments,
then, throwing himself on some moss
covered rock by Amaryls side, would
drift into desultory descriptions OF
scenes of far-distant lands, or would
wander into dreamy speculation on the
problems of life, whose charm was ac-
centuated by the murmur of waterfalls
or the wind playing its Eollan harp III
the pines and hemlocks overhead
Their summer boarder had offered so
large price for the room he occupied,
with its quaint mountaln-made furni-
ture, that Susan Wilbor's sad face
frightened visibly and faint color
came into her pale cheeks. Hes a gen
tleman," was Sam Wilbor's comment
when told Of it after he had come home
weary from his usual work in the field
The days passed swiftly that sum
mer. and never had Amaryl been so
olv
time to take pleasant strolls with Phil-
ip Armstrong when her days work was
done.
What pity you are not more ambi-
tlous." she said. to him chidingly II
am sure you could paint better than all
OF them If you would only try" at
which the artist laughed gayly.
Many long unknown comforts crept
into the cottage, and the artist seemed
TO think II only natural TO buy lavtshly
from all the country wagons as they
came numbering by.
He is pleasant and kind-hearted, /"
was SuSan's comment He is much
more than that Sam Wilbor said,
glancing down at his toil-worn hands.
he mas the fine instincts of q man of
true breeding. He ought to be wealthy !;
he would make good use of his
wealth"
The artist and Sam Wilbor were con
genial. They had long talks together
in the cleaning on the porch, and the
weatherbeaten toiler and former club
man saw the summer draw to a close
most regretfully.
In answer to a letter of Inquiry
which was shrewd, kindly and world
ly, the artist wrote to Mrs. Dartmore
The child is divine, fair in face and
form. and, oh, my friend, what sweet
freshness of heart and spirit! 1t must
be the grandeur of Nature in those vast
rolling ranges, always pointing to lofty
IDEALS and Unreasonable heights, which