Show 0 the decline of art c bv A W PEACH 1913 by the mcclure newspaper syndicate frances acton drew away from the h half alf picture on which she was at work and stared at it with nith sombre and weary eyes into her mind came the quiet friendly but significant words of the instructor whom slie she had given up because he had spoken those words you tou have the artists instinct and soul but I 1 am much afraid you will never gain the skill to give it expression pres slon how the words come back I 1 and there she stood thinking as lie he thought a failure in the field of effort she had sworn she would master the dismal battered studio in which she stood with its cheapness and its bareness ness added to the despair in her ber heart suddenly she heard steps above lier her then the sound of a thumping bumping something bounding down the stairs frightened she threw open the door and discovered the sprawling figure of a man slowly adjusting itself to the that it had fallen down a flight ol 01 0 stairs she fully expected to hear the air displaced by an explosion of more or less vigorous terms instead she looked down into the amused ari med face of the fallen end and heard beard him mutter and great was the fall thereof believe that is in the bible somewhere ile he glanced up at her as he slowly rose pardon me for disturbing yiu I 1 assure you I 1 am not in the habit of descending stairs in that fashion or at that speed III face contracted with pain as he balanced himself and she saw with sudden apprehension that he could not walk and before slie she realized what she yes was doing she took his arm and led him into her studio and to a chair lie ile sank into it with a grateful word in answer to her query whether or not lie be had broken anything he remarked ked nothing so poetic as that I 1 cracked my shin but it wilt will be all right in a while As his face straightened and he was engaged la in wooing the numbed shinbone she had time to inspect the flotsam that had been cast at her door ile he was evidently tall tail and beyond any doubt thin his hair was curly and light and nis eyes were blue nn an odd blue suggesting sunshine and shadow it was not difficult to guess that he like nil fill the rest in the dismal old building was that poor and deluded creature she thought a struggling artist lie looked up and the whimsical friendly light in his hie eyes warmed lier her very spirit 1 I must thank you for offering me shelter and kindness perhaps I 1 may be of service to you I 1 hope not is in like capacity he added hastily she answered answer cd perfunctorily and he limped out and down the stairs she turned back bach to the picture and picked up the crayon craven but her fingers paused and she smiled she had looked into pleasant friendly and understanding eyes and in that great city where she hid bid seen well eyes but seldom she felt that she had found a friend she had but trouble was io to come lie ile stopped that evening some time luckily after she had put away the remains of her rugal regal meal and brought his bis offering a small bunch of dewy violets then because she was waa hungry tor for companionship she invited him into the studio and it was not long before they were deep in the discussion of the art they were seeking to fallow the old enthusiasm came welling back as she talked to him arid and the dark days of the last weeks were forgotten she told him of her ambition i and lie he sa said ld that lie he understood she told him that she would the die before she would give up her dream and he nodded in understanding then lie told her in turn of himself and his ambition but lie did not say to what extent he would go in trying to make liis its dream come true she felt however that they were of kindred spirit thereafter after the friendship ripened rapidly and proof of it came in many ways one day after an allday all day trip among the offices where she had met courtesy and kindly words that always seemed to hold something in reserve she returned rc to find a little lunch all ready she wa wag in despair of heart and mind and the touch of his gentleness was too much she old him of her fruitless efforts and then the tears ot of weariness came ana before she realized what naas happening she aund herself in liis his ains and lits his voice was speaking soothingly 1 she drew away sharply anger at his touch rising instinctively the startled pain in his eyes caught the bitter words before they were all spoken i find and she went on forgive me edmund you havo been a good friend but I 1 am simply simply ll 11 1 I know he be interrupted gently you are worn out tired and hungry I 1 tie ile caught her hand band and she made a j fierce gesture of dissent yes tes but bil t you are and I 1 know it and I 1 and you are too tool ill she broke in I 1 almost laughing through her tears 1 I nm am he said 1 guntly so darned hungry I 1 could murder a sandwich man for suggesting onel he fie stared gloomily at the low burn ing fire in the grate after a moment he be t turned a light ot of determination in b hla eyl eyes q trances france what do you say rye known ol 01 tor tnt a vich rl il tee fc eelis t ir f e had been fri friendie endia for yta a uis I 1 R I 1 know C alne where I 1 can get a chance in tho the durage business lets throw this art tuft up nd get up or d dorn n to something to eat and a decent place to ive what to do you say jhc he look A in his flushed Ilu shed eager face and crinest eyes am I 1 to understand der stand that you are pr posing to mo me ibe smiled ile he rallied his faculties it r frances rances know her voice was cold thank you but im not interested in the garage business or in marriage and when im proposed to I 1 want it done in a lovers way jie ile rose sharp ills his face set 1 I spoke poke seriously in my way if I 1 have bave P contrition came she caught his arm dont say I 1 know really I 1 am too tired you have been good to me but I 1 cant give up my dream I 1 col ilant marry it a garage keeper I 1 ml might I 1 ht someone who dreams as I 1 do you ou see lie ile nodded but his face was grave and she knew that the slash of her first words when his heart was boyishly open had gotie golie deep he looked down into her eyes and s she he saw that in his the he light had gone out yet the big thing in the world Is happiness he said simply and went out closing the door gently behind him she stared at the ashes in the grate grata that once had been evidence of the quality of the old building and the ashes nashes seemed to symbolize more than she wished nihed they did he Is right she murmured to herself as she turned out the lights the bis thing is liap happiness it rained all that night and the next nest day dawned gray damp and forbidding she worked feverishly at the tha picture that represented success or failure and the failure seemed to be looming large in the evening she heard him return iler her heart stopped as he passed her door and went on up the stairs usually he be came in to make her a 9 brief visit she turned away to busy herself with om something ething anything the door opened suddenly and ho he stood before her his old impulsive boyish self well I 1 made fifty dollars today from art artl ill he announced stile thrilled with the words then the turn of the tide had come tot for him perhaps asdall beginning just the opening lind and then 1 I am glad she said quickly an order he shook his head no I 1 got a chance to do some fresco work for a dago ice cream par parlor lorl 1 her castles of art tumbled about her cars decorations for a dago adago ice cream parlor she stared at him with wide eyes something in his face held her something deeply glowing in his eyes she be swayed a bit toward him the full deep voice of the man belled aled the tenderly smiling eyes yes fifty dollars and a good job little girl lets swap dreams ill swap my dream of being a whistler or a sargent for a home ihnow of where skies are blue mountains green and every man and woman friend will you swap your dream for mine and my loye love till fill dreaming Is done she felt suddenly weak the dreariness of the worn gray studio closed about her the moving quiet manly tones sang in her ears and in her heart she nodded she was swept in lits his arms anil and held with a strength that would not be denied that fifty dollars will get us home dearle dearie and now ill propose as a lover should ill I 1 |