The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-05-05
DONE I'M CHALK
By EVELYN LEE

Golden. glorious summers days. they
haunted the faryid imagination Of Ava
Thurstnn and she wondered If ever
again the flowers would seem so love
", the birds sing as sweetly, the skies
look SO bright. Would thelr promise
Of renewal ever come true2 Oh.
surely 50 for had not Norris Brown
ing said 1t, and was he not the soul of
honor. and did he not love her?
He had revealed TO her his souls in
nermost secrets the last day they had
wandered in the woods. Ha loved her,
but he would not ask her to bind her
self to any promise. He WIS simply
poor, struggling artist. he frankly told
her. His chance meeting with her. the
rare natural beauties of her environ
ment had given him the inspiration of
great picture. He was going. back to
his city garnet studio TO ton for her
and for fame
Springtime had merged Ento SUM
mer, and now the landscape was sere.
but for over two months Ava had re-
ceived no word from the man she
loved. Formerly every letter had
breathed hope and faith in the success
Of his great life effort. Then there had
come utter silence. The girl grew anx-
ious, distracted. fear filled. Was she
never to see him again? Had failure.
new object of affection influenced
him TO forget herr
"Why do you not hear from Mr..
Browning any moreT her brother.
Walter, a lad Of sixteen, solAcitously
inquired. "You know, Ava, he was
surely to come to see us again.
But Ava only shook her head sadly
and went away with tears in her eyes.
Walter had fastened his faith irrevoca-
bly, upon Browning, who had dfscerned
prospective artistic genius in the lad.
He had taken pains to direct and in
struet Walter and the day he left had
made him a present Of u set of cray
ons. 1t had been pleasant reminder
to Ava to watch her ambitious brother
with pencil and pad evenings making
some quite pretentious sketches OF
familiar home surroundings. Two pic
lures that he made, one Of Browning
from memory, and one Of Ava posing
for him, indicated what the former
had said OF him. that he possessed
natural gift for portraiture.
But Walter had been ambitious and
had cherished his aspirations secretly,
even from Ava. At the rear OF the
house was an old unused barn.
This space had become the studio OF
the young artist, for here he could I'M
dertake large efforts with his crayons
He had finished one or two can
vases and it was his delight to view
them. One rainy morning Walter crept
up into the barn attic. He was sur
prlsed to find there lying upon heap
of old horse blankets stranger. His
pillow was bundle done up In piece
of oilcloth, his attire half suggestive
Of the tramp. At all events he APP
pealed to Walter as picturesque sub
iect for portrayal. He was fast asleep
and Walter set at work at vacant
space on the side wall to reproduce
him in chalk.
Walter completed the portrait en-
tirely to his satisfaction and left the
loft. He forgot all about the intruding
stranger until later In the afternoon
| when he saw his father talking with q
man who had driven up in an automo-
bile with two others. All Of them he
| recognized as town officers.
"The man got away with over fifty
thousand dollars In cash and securi
ties from the bank" the sheriff was
saving as Walter came up. "He was
seen later by farmer carrying
| package done up in oilcloth. We have
| details Of his dress" and the speaker
described the subject Of Walters
morning portrait. Keep keen look
out" proceeded the official. "A re
ward of FIVE thousand dollars is Of
fered and we will divide it with any
one giving us clue to the identity Of
| the man."
"Suppose-suppose," burst out Wal
ter eagerly, "yos could see picture Of
the man, would that mean anything tC
your"
"Would It be anything to us?" re
peated the sheriff excitedly. "Why
that would be all we need"
"And IL can show you such pic
ture, do get half the rewardi"
"If 1t leads to the arrest OF the man
yes"
"Come with me-" directed Walter
and as he revealed his last artistic ef
fort he explained the circumstance
OF its construction.
"The rest Is easy" proclaimed TN
sheriff jubilantly, and sped away witt
his men TO oyertake the fugitive with
In twenty-four hours.
1t was a proud moment for Waite
Thurston when his father was given
check for half OF the reward.
Father" he said, twill you let m
have some of the money to 20 10 tn
city and study art? Iwant TO see MI
Browning, too. II Is the only work
like to do" and there was no gainsay
ing the ambitious little fellow.
Ava babe him fiuttering good-by
"wrlte me everything" she whIspere
~ him and only so far expressa