The Monte Vista journal., 1912-05-04
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Tom Everleigh, Artist
Bv ANroINErrE DE CONEsEY PATTERSON
(Copyright, 1911, by Associated Literary Press.)

The stranger, for so he was some
times still called, although every one
In the little mountain town had known
long ago that he was Thomas Ever
leigh, and that he had come from one
OF the eastern cities, entered the
church and took seat near the door.
He came for no other reason than be-
cause he had been bored. He sat
near the door SO he would be In a
good position to beat another hasty re-
treat should he deem 1t desirable. But
he found the little church cool and
comfortable. and, as the service had
already begun, he would probably
some ways, Tom Everleigh was very
exclusive. Besides, it struck him as
rather humorous that he should be in
church again. He listened, not at
all, to the service, but when the old
rector arose, and gave out the text,
something in the words caught his at
tention.
''The General Epistle Of Jude.
twelfth and thirteenth verses"
The stranger heard nothing of the
sermon, but the words in the text:
Clouds without water, carried along
by winds; autumn trees without fruit
twice dead, plucked up by the root;
wandering stars" The words kept re-
peating themselves in his brain. How
we'll they applied to him.
The sermon was over, and the COL
lection about to be taken, when Ever
leigh's attention was attracted to a
tall, fair girl who came from the front
pew over to the little organ. The
strains of a hymn filed the church and
the sweet natural voice began to sing.
1t was all SO simply done. and 30 soon
over. yet it made the man who had
listened perhaps the most intently Of
all, think of many things that had not
crossed his mind for years. Tom Ever
leigh was an artist at odds with Fate
which. after severe attack of pneu-
monia, had driven him to the west,
and. as he chose to believe, blasted his
career.
When Everleigh reached the house
where he occupied two fine sunny
rooms, he asked his landlady, Mrs.
Brown, If she could tell him the name
of the young girl who sang in church.
Mrs. Brown frightened up at once.
DO you mean the pretty young lady
with golden hair and eyes of heavens
own blue?" and went on to tell him
the singer was Miss Edith Vincent,
the rector's granddaughter, home for
her summer vacation. She had been
teaching for two winters in large
school in st. Paul.
That afternoon, Tom Everleigh took
advantage of an invitation, and called
at the rectory. He had the pleasure
of meeting the rector's granddaughter,
whom he thought the most attractive
girl he had ever seen.
Pm afraid. Miss Vincent, you have
rather poor opinion Of me-" The
words were humble enough, but the
tone courted contradiction.
mot exactly that" she replied, but
l think you have a wrong idea of
many things"
you are trying to let me down
easily, but l am convinced you think
me a selfish sort OF fellow"
Without answering, she stopped to
pluck few wild flowers which
fringed the road.
well. am selfish" he continued.
But then l have always considered
it somewhat of a duty to be that"
"A duty?"
"Yes. in order to make other peo-
pie unselfish!" He laughed.
And when 1t comes to truthful.
ness" the girl added, to punish him
for his fiippancy. II fancy you con.
slider 1t quite too sacred thing to
be used save on rare occasions?"
This time 1t was Everleigh who
stopped to gather a flower. Then he
said, What you really mean is that
somehow have gotten the threads OF
life all beautifully twisted?"
That Is it," she answered.
You have agreed most unfatter.
ingly to my assertion that | am self.
ish. You have, yourself, accused me
of being untruthful. l wonder what
next?"
Perhaps. but it's your turn now to
tell me all my faults?"
The artist was silent moment ms
though In deep thought. Then he
said. you haven't any"
The girls laugh rang out fresh and
clear, And then she gave him a
promise-which he had sought ever
since their first acquaintance-that
she would let him paint her portrait.
.
Your portrait Is finished II is