The Delta independent., 1915-06-11

|
mum, struggled through orange and
flame. LescCtt heard a voice at his
side.
when does ye low ter commence
paintin'?"
| 1t was Samson. For answer the
artist, with his unhurt hand, impa-
tiently tapped his bandaged wrist.
'Ye still got yore right hand. haint
ye?" demanded the boy. The other
laughed. 1t was typical question. So
long as one had the trigger finger left
one should not admit disqualification.
you see, Samson" he explained.
this isn't precisely like handling a
gun. One must hold the palette; mix
the colors; wipe the brushes and do
half a dozen equally necessary things.
1t requires at least two perfectly good
hands. Many people don't find two
enough"
But hit only takes one ter do the
paintin', don't hit?"
Yes"
"Welr:-the boy spoke diffidently
but with thusiasm-"between the
two of us we've got three hands. /
IcChOA y6 MIL ldIu Iut uOW leI W
them other things fer ye.''
Lescott's surprise showed in his
face and the lad swept eagerly on.
"Mebby hit haint none of my busi-
ness. but, all day yestiddy an the
day befo'. was studyin' bout this
here thing, an l hustled up an got
thet corn weeded an now I'm through.
Eff I kin help ye out l thought meb-
by" He paused and looked appeal.
ingly at the artist.
Lescott whistled and then his face
lighted into contentment.
To-day, Samson" he announced.
"Lescott, South and Company get
busy"
Samson smile. and. although the ex-
preston was one of sheer delight. in.
herent somberness loaned 1t touch
of the wistful
When, an hour later. the two set
out, the mountain boy carried the par
aphernalia and the old man standing
at the door watched them off with a
half-quizzical, ,half-disapproving glance.
AS the boy. with remarkable apti-
tude, learned how to adjust the easel
and arrange the paraphernalia, Lescott
sat drinking in through thirsty eyes
the stretch of landscape he had deter
mined to paint.
Then. while he painted. the boy held
the palette. his eyes riveted on the
canvas. which wss growing from a
blank to a mirror of vistas-and the
boys pupils became deeply hungry.
~ ;v,t ttvo fnno
by others like it. The disabling OF
Lescott's left hand made the constant
companionship of the boy a matter
that needed no explanation or apology.
though not a matter of approval to his
uncle.
Another week had passed without
the temperance of Tamarack Spicer.
One afternoon Lescott and Samson
we're alone on q cliff-protected shelf.
and the painter had just blocked in
with umber and neutral tint the crude
sketch Of his next picture.
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 puffs Of gale and raking the
earth with lightning and hail and
water.
My God" exclaimed the mountain
boy abruptly. I'D give anything ef
could paint that"
Lescott rose smilingly from his seat
before the easel and surrendered his
palette and sheaf OF brushes.
TRY it," he invited.
tant and overcome with difiidonce:
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 Razed for a while. and then.
dipping brush and experimenting for
his color. went to sweeping In his pri.
mary tones. Samson. even though he
was hopelessly daubing. and knew IT,
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
nizes the gift Of prophecy.
"Thet's the way hit looks ter me-"
the boy said. simply
That's the way 1t is." commended
his critic i
For a while more Samson worked
At the nearer hills. then he rose. n
I'm DONE" he said. "hain't a-goin
ter fool with them thar trees an
things. don't know nothing erbout
thet. ! can't paint leaves an twigs
an birdsnests. What ! like Is noun
tings an skies an sech-like thinge.'
Lescott looked at the daub before
him. A less trained eye would have
seen only the daub, just as a poor
judge OF horsefesh might see only