The Delta independent., 1915-07-02
"You Are a Dear, wiIfreda"


fright, obi" laughed Lescott Il
thought maybe you'd bring a trunk,
but it's the wise man who travels
light"
He followed Lescott out to the foot
of Twenty-third street. and stepped
with him into the tonneau of the
painters waiting car Lescott lived
with his family uptown. for it hap
pened that, had his canvases pos
sessed no value whatever, he would
still have been in position to drive
his motor and follow his impulses
about the world. If he did not take
the boy to his home. it was because
he understood that life which must
be not only full of early embarrass-
ment, but positively revolutionary,
should be approached by easy stages.
Consequently the car turned down
Fifth avenue, passed under the arch
and drew up before door just of
Washington square, where the land
scape painter had a studio suit. There
were sleeping rooms and such acces-
sories as seemed to the boy unheard-of
luxury, though Lescott regarded the
place as a makeshift annex to his
home establishment.
You'd better take your time in Sc
lecting permanent quarters" was his
careless fashion of explaining 20 Sam
son. It's just as well not to hurry.
You are to stay here with me, as long
as you will" rE
I'm obleeged ter ye," replied the
boy, to whose training in open-dcored
hospitality the invitation seemed only
natural. The evening meal was
brought in from a neighboring hotel.
| and the two men dined before an open
fire, Samson eating in mountain 81
lence, while his host chatted and
asked questions.
Samson" suggested the painter,
when the dinner things had been car
ried out and they were alone, you are
here for two purposes: First. to study
painting; second. to educate and squfp
yourself for coming conditions. Ita
going to take work. more work. and
then some more work
Il hain't skeered of work '
"T believe that. Also. you must
keep out of trouble. You've got to ride
your fighting instinct with a strong
curb"
81 don't low to let nobody run over
me-" The statement was not argu-
| mentative; only an announcement OF
| a principle which was not subject to
modification.
"All right, but until you learn the
ropes let me advise you"
The boy gazed into the fire for a few
NOM enta of silence
T gives ys my hand on thet." he
promised.
At eleven o'clock the painter. having
said goodnight and went uptown to
his own house. Samson lay long
while awake, with many disquieting
reflections.
Meanwhile Lescott, letting himself
into a house overlooking the park,
was hailed by a chorus of voices from
the dining room. He turned and went
in to join a gay group Just back from
the opera. AS he thoughtfully mixed
himself highball, they bombarded
him with questions.
"Why didn't you bring your bar
barian with your" demanded a dark.
| eyed girl, who looked very much as
Lescott himself might have looked had
he been a girl-and very young and
lovely. Now she flashed on him an af.
fectionate smile. and added: I'VE
have been waiting to see him. Must
we go to bed disappointed?"
George stood looking down on them,
and tinkled the ice in his glass.
He wasn't brought on for purposes
of exhibition, Drennie. he smiled. Il
was afraid II he came in here in the
fashion of his arrival-carrying his
saddlebags-you ultracivilized folk
might have laughed"
A roar Of laughter at the picture
vindicated Lescott's assumption.
mo! Now, actually with saddle
bags?" echoed young fellow with
likable face which was for the mo-
ment incredulously amused. That
goes Dick Wilmington one better.
You do make some rare discoveries,
George. We celebrate you"
Thanks, Horton" commented the
painter, dryly. When you New York.
ers have learned what these barbara
ans already know, the control OF your
oversensitized risibles and courtesy
deeper than your shirt-fronts-maybe
I'll let you have a look. Meantime I'm
much too fond OF all Of you to risk
letting you laugh at my barbarian"
Several months were spent laboring
with charcoal and paper over plaster
casts in Lescott's studio. and Lescott
himself played instructor. When the
skylight darkened with the coming of
evening, the boy whose mountain ma