The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-02-24

no h''E ''n i'N
numb and dropped TIE brushes. lie
made numerous futile attempts to
warm his hands at the CRATE and rush
off to paint while the warmth lasted.
but these were slow, discouraging
results Being an artist was far from
R reproducing condition under ohio
existing circumstances, he reflected.
He wanted to finish toe picture he was
doing-a mere something which would
contribute to keep the kettle simmer
ing while he awaited developments IN.
other dircCtions-but somehow the
task was not easy. His friend Pratt
had been more than kind to iOuSc him
gratis SO many weeks. but =, at was
only clerk inhabiting cheap apart.
ment from which he was absent all
day, ard it was too bad imposing on
his good nature. Wcathcrly, as dusk
came on, felt that terrifying sense Of
desperation that comes over all ambi-
tious young artists when they have
10 confess themselves defeated by
inertia or lack Of inspiration or even
anpropitious surroundings, The "dicm
perdidc' refrain that burdcncd his
thoughts WAS one he had heard before
and on y too frequently since the be-
ginning of the winter weather. Re
curing on this latest occasion it sick
.ned him almost beyond endurance.
lie put away his hsushes with u say
lge movement and throw himself
down in n rocking chair before Pratt'S
pleasant fire. MoodiIy regarding the
Gtful flame he asked himself if it were
not folly to continue the struggle. OF
what use to drag out hopeless career
Of longing and failure? The life Of
his friend Pratt was preferable O. He
could almost have exch lnged his own
Tor such another.
But now? Well, he wished that he
mad never left the tropics to come
North for the great exposition. What
had he gained by coming? A lialc
more knowledge of art-and of misery.
What had he achieved? Tied hand and
loot by lack of money; frozen in body
and stagnant in mind; his ideas duIled,
his Inspiration dead.
A door opened and shut; voice,
commonplace and contented, aroused
him.
"Ha, old man! Getting warmed up?
tell you this is dandy weather-for
the coal barons Guess my ears arc
Irozen after all Say, what do you
think has happened? THEY'LL be call
ing extras all night, Whv, crank
E@@s shot the governor. In broad day
ight-getting out of his carriage on a
public street.
Weatherly started, with choked
cry. "rhe governor! My Godl Is he
--dcad?"
Died instantly"
The artist groaned, got up and
walked into the next room, came back
ind groaned again, Il wanted to call
IN him; | wanted to talk to him on a
subject of immigration restrictions
| had some suggestions to offer him;
know he would have listened -they
we're about diverting the immigrants
off to the tropics--now it is too latem
TOO bad" said Pratt, in a final
way, II tell you this fire feels good.
I'm glad to get home to it. Been
doing lot on that picture to-day,
Clyde?"
Weatherly looked at him unsce-
ngly.
Amy wrong?" asked the clerk,
stretching his long limbs comfortably
Ind throwing back his blond, neat
nead.
In mirror across the room the
artist caught sight of his own con-
trasting dishevelled black locks and
hollow eyes in c!ear-cut, melancholy
lace.
d mo" he answered, slowly. moth
%Sg wrong. Things move slowly in
sI9E line--thats all. There are great
emany hinderances. Had bad sort of
light to-day and | ddn't'g on very
last. I'll make up o-morrow-Pll
work on those pen and ink drawings"
Pratt laughed lazily in the fire.
light.
That's right, Never saw fellow
who had more irons in the fire. You'll
strike luck one of these days Rich,
loo"
81 hope so. Did you have your din
ner, or shall | go out to buy the
things? think ID like q little out
door run.
"No, | haven't dined. 4 brought
parcel, but we really peed some COT
ice. I'm a baid you'lI end it pretty
bitter outside
at won't hurt Den
He hardly mia&ed the air that stung
his forehead and numbed his other
leo tnyss as he hurried over to the
Hfeet where the stores we're The loud
ries of the newsboys rang jarringly
% his ears.
Assassinated! The great and liberal
minded governor shot down? Was
there none to interposeS Wy had
hot some one been there TO strike
aside the murderous hand? He would
have done 1.-THE, if only fate had
written that he should be at the not