Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-21
CHRISTMAS IN .'-.
RAINBOW CANYON
BY ADDISON HOWARD GIBSON,

Copyright 1912, by American Press Asso-
ciation,l
A FTER sketchlng for two months
IA in various parts Of the Rockies,
where he had been trying to
~ forget that he was the most
miserable fellow in the west, Claude
Extrum. artist unarrived,' as he styl-
ed himself, turned his face toward his
lonely mountain cabin among the pines
in Rainbow canyon.
Purposely he had Stunned Denver
declining the invitation of two artist
friends to a big Christmas reception
He did not want to run the possibility
of meeting Aldyce. 1t would be pain
fu to both. since her father had de-
nounced him as a good for nothing
fortune hunting dabbler.'
Art must first be mastered, the cold
critics won, then if Aldyce had not
forgotten, his great dream would be-
come sweet reality. But what II
she should forget him? There was a
capriclousness in the sex that was
quite beyond his understanding
II was noon when he reached the
large cabin among the pines The first
room he visited was the studio, gay
with warm colored Indian blankets ana
the walls covered with sketches by nls
own brush and few copies OF the
masters. On his easel was an unnn'
ished picture, just as he had lett !.
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
lovely girl. Underneath was pencileu
the name "Aldyce.'
with a deep drawn breath he re-
nIaced the cover and went into tne
Kitchen In the large zinc lined pro
vision box he found that Joe Clark the
nrospector who had looked atter 'us
cabin during Claude's absence nau
oheved his instructions by leaving
sack of -four, some beans, sugar. pui'
Of n ham and dried yenison'
Nov I'll have a supper aIler uS
,,,r w" orrotitoo he declared, making a
fire in the little stove. ~. ,,ooo
Presently pot of beans, with p,eSe il,,.',
Of ham to give favor, was DuDDins ,,,,,
Oway alling the room with Its sayory
steam Thea Claude swept the i lioors' ,l,.
wtned the accumulated dust OIL IIs tpe
,,nnIe Jrp furniture and proceeded to make
= o'l lonelv house look comfortable ,.,
10 .Tuu,g myst decorate to be in spirit with VI, I,
..o sooson.r , he said, after scanning
.uo,ls .u and unadorned mantel shei.
By the time the young man resu,n' .,.,a a
,vitb his arms full Of decora 'lOuo uo.s =
oold mi,I wind was racing down the 81, pass ,;
driving steadily increasing i1'
snow and sleet before IT, ,o some
'uV% "Gee, Old Boreas is sending g me s.,s sUs =
christmas weather with all the ,nr L,i'ii, tbe
he ' soIiIoquized, making a run 'O' '
shelter of the cabin. no last Of
speIoT, CIonds had scarcely put the , laS' oUd ID
.no mon mountain holly on the "a,,S am Sre Are
built tn a cheerful big fire .,d IN 5oor .ns burst
Dloce ] in the studio when the o,D ouO' IN the
U5i midst of which stood a s,enuJt L ,Ditb huge
IN lnio'f u furry oyercoat and cap VIII D'''
goggles over his eyes T., and shut
SosSl well. can't you come IN .3lt anu ,mna. 1T
tbe door," demanded the .s1 a',,So 'onporidon
tEg tieptly as he stared at the 'Pp-'
before him. r,.,, rosing as old
O 81 must look ike I'm y" p0slus SoT Then.
Santa. don't IT, laughed tne il DO', acIaude
san."' SAM uV start Of recognition 0'su suit.
TTtrum. wItr as l live and whistle, 70 cav gave
ing ing the the action to the ,,,,,o Toro' D'
ns1t .rS to a prolonged whistle