The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-02-19
CHAPTER v-cOntluusd.

The two men had lost an hour
huddled under a canopy beneath the
cannonading OF a sudden storm. They
had silently watched titanic battalions
Of thunder clouds riding the skies in
gusty pufs Of gale and raking the
earth with lightning and hail and
water.
My Godl" exclaimed the mountain
boy abruptly. I'D give anything ef
! could paint that"
Lescott ros smiilngly from his seat
before the easel and surrendered his
palette and sheaf Of brushes.
TRY IT," he invited.
For a moment Samson stood hest.
tant and overcome with d~ifidSnce;
then, with set lips, he took his place
and experimentally fitted his fingers
about the brush, as he had seen Les
colt do. He asked no advice. He
merely gazed for a while, and then,
dipping a brush and experimenting for
his color. went to sweeping in his pri-
mary tones. Samson. even though he
was hopelessly daubing, and knew II,
was sincere, and the painter at his
elbow caught his breath and looked on
with the absorption OF a prophet. who,
listening TO childish prattle, yet recog.
mixes the gift OF prophecy.
"Thet's the way hit looks ter me-
the boy said, simply.
That's the way It u.s." commended
his critic.
For a while more Samson worked
at the nearer hills, then he rose.
I'm DONE" he said. "hain't a-goin
ter fool with them thar trees an
things. | don't know nothing erboui
thet. / can't paint leaves an twigS
an b~irdsnests. What like is noun.
tings an skies an sech-like things.'
Leseott looked at the daub before
him. A less trained eye would have
seen only the dauh, Just as a poor
Judge OF horsefiesh might see only
awkward joints and long legs I'm q
weanllng colt, though II be bred In the
purple.
Samson" he said, earnestly, that's
all there Is to art. It's the power to
feel the poetry Of color. The rest can
be taught. The genius must work. OF
course-work. work, work, and still
work. but the gift Is the power OF
seeing true-and, by God. boy, you
have II. You've got what zzAny men
have struggled a lifetime for, and
failed. I'd like TO have you study with
me. I'd like to be your d~iscoverer
Look here"
The painter sat down. and speedily
went to work. He painted out moth.
ing. He simply toned, and, with pre-.
cissiy the right touch here and there,
softened the crudeness, laid stress on
the contrast, melted the hRrshness.
and. when he rose. he had built, upon
the rough cornerstone Of Samson'E
laying, a picture,
THAT proves It," he said. q had
only to finish. / didn't have much to
undo. Boy, you're wasting yourself
Come WITH me, and let me make you
We all pretend there IL no such thing
IN these dsys, az sheer genius; but
deep down, We know that, unless thort
is, there car be 10 such thing as true
art. There IL geniur and you have
e." Enthusiasm vas 1.all sweeping
him into an unattended outburst.
The boy stood silent Across his
coantenance swept a conflict OF em ,
tons. He looked away, as II taking
counsel with the hills.
tits what I'm a.honin' fer" he Rd
mitted n last. Hits what I'd give
half my life fer. I mout sell
my land, an raise the money.
I reckon hit would take paHsels o.
money, wouldn't hitf' He paused, anc
his eyes fell ON the rife leaning against
the tree. His lips frightened In sudden
remembrance. He went over and
picked up the gun. and. as he did 90
he shook his head.
NO" he stoiidly declared; every
man to his own tools. This here's
mine"
Yet. when they were again Out
sketching. the temptation % play with
brushes once more seized him. and be
took his place before the easel
Neither he nor Lescott noticed a mar
who erept down through the timber
and for a time watched them. The
mans face wore a aurly, contemptuous
grin. and shortly Il withdrew.
But, an hour later, while the boy
was still working industrlously and
me artist was lying on his back. Rith
a pipe between his teeth, and his half
cloaNd eyes gazing up contentedly
through the green OF overhead
branches, their peace waa broken b.
4 guaaw OF derisive laughter They
hp0kad ~. 70 ana AZ thsiF backs a semi