Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-01-29

ohirping of birds.
"By George, Hardy" suddenly
Moore burst out, as he dropped upon
q chair, with his eyes fixed in wonder
on painting in front OF him surely
this is product Of master hand!
I've never seen you working at it?"
ssNo." answered the artist. "l've
done it in the strictest privacy; it's
been o labor of love to me for the last
three years; since, in fact. | COM
menced an artistic career. It's fin
ished now, and I feel as if 1 had lost
something out of my life"
"Anyhow. it shows that you're
painter of genius, old man," said the
critic, with genuine appreciation. 81
haven't seen such work of talent for
many day. You must send it to the
academy; there are still three days
left for submitting pictures to the
Hanging Committee. I make bold to
prophecy that it will be the painting
of the year"
The picture in question was a rath-
er large one hanging in the centre Of
the wall, Immediately behind the art
lists easel. When at work he had but
to raise his eyes to catch sight of the
rara avis, which he had christened
ssThe Dawn of Love-" 1t represented
beautiful girl, of tall and stately fig
ure, seated, lost in thought, in front
of the fire in her room, whittier she
had come from the ballroom, indicated
by her flushed cheeks and the uniform
of the dance in which she was dressed.
Her sparkling eyes betokened the
kindling of flame within her heart to
which it had hitherto been stranger,
and one did not need to look twice at
her face to understand that Cupid had
shot one of his arrows with unerring
aim that night. In her imagination
she was still tripping through the
dance with her partner-the man who
had brought "rhe Dawn of Love" to
her soul.
After much persuasion the painter
agreed to submit "The Dawn of Love"
to Burlington House, and they pro-
ceeded to pack the precious work of
art. A few hours later they person.
ally delivered it at the Mecca of the
knights of the palette and the brush.
May hal again dawned on o waiting
and thankful world, and oil who were
conspicuous in the worlds of beauty,
brains and business crowded the gall
leries of the Royal Academy at the
s'private view." Progress amid such
q throng became nigh impossible, and
ever and anon one came across a
block, round some particular exhibit,
so that for several minutes all move
ment was completely stopped.
''Hanoa, Hardy" exclaimed Alfred
Moore, who just then ran against the
artist, meandering through the show
rooms-"you're the luckiest dog
alive! You and your picture are the
one theme of art talk. I got the
merest peep at your gem awhile back,
but it was SO hotly besieged that was
forced to retreat.
81 never dreamed there existed such
enthusiasm for art" murmured the
painter, now evidently much excited
s'surely it is phenomenal"
"Not more SO than the phenomenal
nature Of the work demands" re-
sponded the other. 'It's most for.
tunate that your personality is un-
known, otherwise you would almost
be mobbed and killed by kindness
one of the penalties of success.
"Jingol it's hot in here" exclaimed
Hardy, wiping his forehead; "we'll
lunch at the Cafe Royal on the
strength of what the gods have sent
me-fame, and perhaps fortune.
And they left the Temple of Art for
the more prosaic surroundings of the
restaurant.
lon5 ol