The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-12-12
CHR|ST1iAS IN
RAINBOW CANYON
By ADDISON HOWARD GIBSON.
rCopyrlgAt 1912. by American Press Asso
ciatiOnl

IIORy 5AN ASA-s ~
ciatiOnl
A FTER sketching for two months
"a IN various parts OF the Rockies
"a where he had been trying &c
~ forget that he was the mos'
miserable fellow in the west, Claude
Extrum, artist uuarriveG." as he styi
Ell himself, turned his face toward bis
lonely mountain cabin among the pines
IN Rainbow canyon.
P~urposely he had stunned Denver
declining the invitation OF two artist
friends to a big Christmas reception
He did not want 10 run the possibility
OF meeting Aldyce. 1t would be pain
ful 20 both. since her father had de
nounced him. as "A good for nothing
fortune hunting dabbier.'
Art must first be mastered, the cold
critics won, then II Aldyce had not
forgotten, his great dream would be
come sweet reality. But what II
she should forget him? There was a
ca@priciousness in the sex that wa
quite beyond his understanding.
1t was moo when he reached the
large cabin among the pines. The first
room he visited was the studio, gay
with warm colored Indian blankets and
the walls covered with sketches by his
own brush and a few copies Of tht
masters. On his easel was an untin
ished picture. just az he had left il
when he went away in the latter par,
of October. He drew aside the cloth
brushed off the dust and looked long
into the laughing brown eyes of a
lovely girl. Underneath was penciled
the name "A.ldyce,"
With a deep drawn breath he re
placed the cover and went into the
kitchen. In the large zinc lined pro-
vision box he found that Joe Clark, the
~proSpector who had looked after the
cabin during Claude's absence. had
obeyed his instructions by leaving a
sack Of -four. some beans, sugar. part
of a ham and dried venison.
Nov I'll have a supper after my
Appetite he declared. making a
fire in the little stove.
Presently a pot of beans. with a piece
of ham to give flavor. was bubbling
away, filing the room with its savory
steam. Then Claude swept the floors.
wiped the accumulated dust off the
simple furniture and proceeded to make
a lonely house look comfortable.
Il must decorate to be In spirit with
the season." he said. after scanning
walls and unadorned mantei shelf.
By the time the young mar returned
with his arms full of decorations a
cold wind was racing down the pass,
driving a steadily increasing fall of
snow and sleet before II.
Gee! Old Boreas is sending me some
Christmas weather with all the frills,"
he soliloquized. making a run for the
shelter Of the cabin.
Claude had scarcely put the last of
the mountain holly on the walls and
built a cheerful big fire in the fire
place in the studio when the door burst
open. letting in a dash OF snow. in the
midst Of which stood a slender youth
In a furry o%vercoat and cap. with huge
goggles over his eyes
We'll, can't you come in and shur
the door," demanded the artist impa.
tiently as he stared at the apparition
before him.
II must look like I'm posing as old
Santa, don't ~ laughed the boy. Then,
with n start of recognition. Claude
Extrum, as | live and whistler Suit.
ing the action TO the word, he gave
vent to a prolonged whistle.