The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-09-14
HIS MASTERPIECE

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Bruce. look out. Here comes an
automobile right toward us. Oh, dear.
l don't want to cross here. Can't we
60 around some wayT'
go around Broadway? Well, II that
don't beat anything l ever heard. For
goodness sake, don't be SO afraid OF
everything. You look countrif1ed
enough without acting It,"
The girl started AS IL she had been
struck, then bravely followed him
across the crowded thoroughfare. But
two teardrops crept slowly down her
flushed cheeks. A tremOr shook her
slender form, while her large brown
eyes glanced appealingly at her COM
panion.
Four years before Bruce Robertson
left his home on the farm and had
come to celebrated art school in New
York His teachers had fostcred and
improved his very great talent until
now his work had been recognized by
prominent critics.
At first the young artist went home
often to see Mary Corbin, his country
sweetheart But the intervals be
tween visits grew longer and longer,
until finally he decided he was too
busy to go out at all. At last, tired
Of waiting, Mary came to spend the
day in the city to see If Bruce was
well. But she found a far different
lover from the one who had left her
four years before. Ashamed of her
simple, rustic ways, Bruce avoided his
usual haunts. He acted bored while
in her presence. To the girl it seemed
the day would never end, but, finally,
carry her home. 1t carried away a
girl torn with sobs and with an aching
void in place of heart.
Several months later, a national art
exhibit for undergraduates of art
schools was announced to be held at
Washington. Bruce represented his
school. For months he worked on a
painting that he determined would be
his masterpiece. Win the prize he
must and would. The subject he Sc
lected was 1.-THE Spirit of Freedom"
He obtained a beautiful model and
put forth his best efforts to make a
perfect picture. He finished about a
week before the exhibit and showed
the picture to his teacher. The in
structor declared the picture was per-
feet and assured Bruce the prize was
his. Beaming with satisfaction and
PRIDE Bruce waited for the eventful
day.
The large art gallery was packed to
| the doors as the time drew near for
the judges decision. After prelimi-
nary exercises one of the three elderly
men on the front of the platform arose
and cleared his throat.
Ladies and gentlemen" he began,
II assure you it was no easy task to
tell the best painting from all those
two pictures would win. These are
THE Spirit of Freedom and Dawn.
In The Spirit of Freedom you behold
perfect picture. Not detail is lack
ing. 1t is a triumph of technique.
Dawn is far from perfect. But 1t
has one thing the first picture lacks
it has a soul. And The Spirit of
Freedom without a soul is farce
Therefore l take great pleasure in be-
slowing the grand prize on Harold
Lockwood Of Kansas"
AS the applause died away q freck
led-faced young man arose and bowed
while the judge handed the check civ
,,r;,xA ~ In, l, IL
heart Bruce rose and left the hall.
Day after day found the defeated
artist in his studio, working to pain
a new masterpiece. But he lacked
ideas. And new feeling began t
creep over hinl-a feeling of loneliness
He realized that he had not rea
friend in the world. He hadn't heart
from Mary since her visit to the city
AS he sat idly before his easel ont
day the clang of fire engines aroused
Bruce to action. He dashed down til,
street and found large tenement il
flames. The tiremen had lost hope o
saving it and were giving their atten
ton to the surrounding buildings.
While Bruce was watching the blaz
he turned to a man near by and eX
claimed: do you see that shuttere'
window on the7top story? saw some
thing move there just now. / believ
someone is there. They can't put u
a ladder because of the flames below
I'm going up there"
Before the other recovered from hi
surprise, Bruce ran toward the doc
Of the doomed dwelling. Up the burr
? Ing stairs he sped until he reached tn
top, then he opened a door on hi
right. Lying on bed was the waste
form of girl. Bruce seized her an
: retraced his steps. Through fire an
smoke he went until, ut last, he stal
:, gered out the door and fell into tn
arms of the firemen.
The next day, by inquiriug, Bruc
found that the girl he had saved wa
=. In a hospital. Being naturally inte
ested in her, he determined to pay he
visit. AS he approached the bed o
which the sick girl lay Bruce gaspet
then fell on his knees beside her.
MARY how did you come to b
here?r