The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-04-13
A Lesson in Art.

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"Advice-you'd like my advice, you
say. Advice is the opinion Of frient
which one asks when one has made VI
ones mind what course to pursue"
Mr.. Fenton's smile broadened into
a laugh as the pretty girl who stood
before him flushed slightly. turning
her head away with little impatient
movement.
II thought that you were my friend,
said Olive West. reproachfully, with
her face still averted.
"And you were right there, my
DEAR" said Mr.. Fenton. "But you
know perfectly we'll that you have
made up your mind what course to
pursue"
How could l make up my mind
without hearing what you have to say
to me on the subject of my going to
London?" said she. "My future is Sc
rious enough to me, Mr.. Fenton, and
fancied that you might also"
"And so l should, my little friend, il
didn't know you as well as l do.
Come, now, tell me all that troubles
you. Is it art or Dick this timer"
The girl colored very prettily; then
her brows contracted.
81 like Dick" she said, but"
"Ah!"
Eyes, l like him very much, but"
Quite 50. You mean that you shrink
from the commonplace aspects of
future to be spent in this neighbor-
hood. You long for the larger life-the
wider horizon in the higher realms of
art? Isn't that what your but
means?"
Exactly" she cried. 81 feel inclined
to ask what is the good OF being born
into the world If one cannot achieve
something higher than is within ones
reach here?"
Il have now and again asked myself
the same question" said Mr.. Fenton.
If we could suggest any adequate an
swer to that question, we should have
solved one of the greatest problems of
the universe. Have you never heard
of the waste of nature?"
ITO live in Hazelbury is not to live
in the world, it seems to me-" said the
girl II feel that was made to do
something in the world-the world
that is not Hazelbury. Hazelbury is
hopeless"
And yet Hazelbury has a reading
society, hasn't it? II you don't get
through volume of Carlyle in
month you are fined dime; il you
are lured into reading a novel you have
to pay quarter"
THE reading society is a piece of
foolishness."
Then there is the Church Choral
union"
Olive laughed.
"A rookery with sore throat" she
said. "Oh, I'm sick of Hazelbury. I
want something larger-fuller-I want
life. want to live"
And so you won't marry Dick Over
toni" suggested Mr.. Fenton.
I'm afraid not" said Olive, shak-
Ing her head. Marrying Dick would
mean booming myself to a future in
Hazelbury."
Il can't deny that His fathers bank
Is here, and he is in the business. He'll
be partner in three or four years. OF
course, If you don't marry Dick some
one else will"
There was considerable pause be-
fore she said, with little frown:
Il hope they will be happy"
That's very kind of you, but I'd
rather hear you express a wish to
scratch her face. l suppose the girl
will be Lottie Shepherd"
olives lips curled after her eyes had
given quick flash.
Il hope they will be happy" she said
again, but in quite a different tone
from that which marked her previous
expression of the same hope.
"Ah, that sounds healthier: there's a
promise OF scratches in every word.
Still, 1t might be Mary Marchmont."
1 hope not. II cannot marry Dick
myself"
"But you can"
She shook her head In a way that
suggested a certain chastened pride.
She knew that Dick wished for moth
Ing better than to marry her.
Il see 1t is hopeless looking to Won
Tor advice" she said sadly. Even you
90 not understand me, though fam
cied you did. l will not trouble YOU
any longer, Mr.. Fenton."
Sit down again, and don't be a
goose" said he. Il knew that you had
maze up your mind what to do. and
yet you said you came to me for adj
nee. Now 1t so happens that I quite
lgree with you in this particular mat
er. 1t would be ridiculous for a girl
With such aspirations as you possess
o marry the son of banker at q
'iace such as this is; you would both
'e miserable for the rest of your lives"
THAT is what feel. do feel it
cry deeply"
vi course you do. What is the name
L the young woman who was staying
nth you In the summer-the artist
Dung woman"
Angela Power"
vi course, mats her name. You
earned good deal from her, did you
ot?"
"A good deal? Everything! 1
'arned everything from her. She
aught me what life is-what art is"
Quite so. What art is, and what
lick is not And now you have made ,
p your mind to go and live that ideal t
Re IN London; and as you have done s
lie the honor to ask my advice in the t
latter, 1t is most gratifying to me to /
able to tell you that | believe Won y
be quite right" ,
you advise me to go to London" +
Undoubtedly do. Why should Won a
,main In place where it is impossi /
ie tnat any work of art could feceiva r