The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-02-19
PAGE FIFTEEN

shop. But want to study. 1 can't wait"
y don't teach. / don't know anything"
For some reason she did not say, Il am
He rose, offering her his broad hand
which tapered from a capable palm into a
flexible wrist.
Bracing herself, summOning herself, she
said You see, / painted-that."
He let go Of her hand and rushed back
to stare at that frozen blue glitter, that
innocent and terrible work of art. he
shook his head and turned to her again
with a serious, gentle face.
I'm sorry, l guess Nv hurt you"
You have"
Il can help you, too"
"I1l show you something you've missed.
And it was right here all along. I'll take
you out on the prairie some day and show
you. Maybe I've hurt you. Maybe l was
sent to help you. Maybe you need me- to
show you. Why, you've been painting pic
lures of stage scenery! III show you the
prairie. The praFie's realH'
"Real!" Gerry repeated.
What ROsSfs son showed her, presently,
lacked, he possessed. Gerry was no fool, in
spite of Maisie.
She rode with him as far as the trolley
went, and then they walked toward Fill
more. The boy was hatless. He kept turn
ing his face up toward the sun. He wore a
shabby, short wasted coat and sneakers.
Gerry wore her brown pOngee and car
ried an umbrella. She had to hurry to
keep up with him.
In the distance, topping q small swell in
that iimitless sea of plowed land, Joe
Burch'S house.
belonged to a fellow who was injured
a couple of years ago.
My house, Gerry thought.
They climbed through a fence and STUN
bled across a field, following the line Of
the plOwshare. The earth smelled hot and
sweet. Little flies buzzed up and settled
down again. Great smOldering clouds
heaped themselves into pyramids, towers,
anvils, and glOwed and burned.
On this and many other days Gerry lis
ltened and learned. In this boy, the son OF
an Italian father and an Irish mother,
there was the spirit of an art that was
! American. There was something spiritual,
religious in her perception of it. Her own
dream vanished. And simply, without self
pity, without even full realization of her
purpose, she dedicated herself to it.
I'm going to send you to Paris for a
year, maybe longer she said one morn
ing. Il intended to so myself, but know
better"
Rossi'e son remained silent. staring down
at his hands. He did not protest. 1t was as
if he were considering not his part in all
this, but the large, impersOnaI issue.
IN go" he said. III learn to paint.
2 Then III make them see what they've got
here and now"
Gerry sold the furniture.
The day came when the Chinese laundry
man appeared on the threshold, bowling
and smiling no longer, but impatient to
enter, the owner Of the house. Where
William Reynolds, NJ. D." had been prin-
ted in gold upon black. al Sing, Laun-
ry,". would be written in black upon
!, yellow.
Gerry moved into a boarding house. And
g, ROSsi'S son went to Paris. Gerry saw him
e off. She found herself on the station plat
form. ROssi, gray, rusty, violent as ever
a little, dark, blue eyed mother; friends,
relatives, %neighbOrs. ROssi's son with his
letter Of credit, his passport, his cheap
/ Suitcase, not flustered at all, kissing and
patting everybody. "GOOd-by, mother.
j Don't cry. III be home before you know
D 1t. I've got to gOF'
s Suddenly he swept them aside. Gerry
e was caught and held close. She heard his
$ heart humping. "GOOd-by." He kissed her
before everybody.
He was gone.
Gerry went back to the boarding house
. She said to herself, This is the end. This
is the end Of me-"
She thought, III 60 upstairs and cry.
= III cry all l want to. For hours. For days
$ But before she could climb the steer
u flight Of stairs carpeted in thick. turkey
y red Administer. the landlady gave her Z
letter. This came for you while you were
out"
Gerry stared at the envelope. 'Miss Ger
e aldine Reynolds"
Gerry stared at the envelope. Miss Ger
aldine Reynolds"
II must say, Miss Reynolds, you wer,
= mighty generous to send that boy abroad.
y Gerry climbed the stairs. She sat on tn,
II edge Of the bed. "IIl cry in a minute. Aftel
I've rea dthis." She took off her han, un.
. pinned her hair and let it ripple down OF
d. her shoulders. Then she slit the envelope
opened it and read, written in a big, scraw
ling hand:
i Dear Miss Gerry: After all, it isn't tn,
prairie a man needs. Since I was crippled
I've read this" She took off her hat, un
" 10ything. What / need now is what you'vI
gCS knowledge Of things. The prairie 4
tS- prairie. God made it. But He CAV
- ulea solif l need to understand what is
@Ntea '"''t - me. 1 guess I need you.
Joe Burch."
U -.yt = . letter up again. II won
err - ycs sgLt. 81 won't cry after all.
=. 4, q Z nee -"
81 ,CopyrisbC: 7a-s,. Nldred' Cram)
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