The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03

he sat in her one easy chair and
smoked and she worked away at an
order or did her mending. Once a week
he descended tremendously, immac-
ulately clean, but diffusing a strong
odor Of paint, and took luncn with her,
gravely marveling at the display and
pretending alarm at her recklessness.
Indeed. those luncbeons for two were
invariably followed the next day by
a repast for one of Spartan simplicity.
Once he had returned her hospitality
he had sold small canvas-and they
had dined sumptuously a. one end of
his paint-stained table on lobster cut
let's and French peas and asparagus,
sent in chilled, but appetzing, from
the cafe across the Square. And he
had made marvellous coffee in an old
copper kettle, and had produced a bot
tie of olives, which, he solemnly de-
clared, had been two years awaiting
the occasion.
Usually he called for her at the In
stltute in Brooklyn-she still attend.
ed an evening class three times a
week-and brought her home Once
they had walked back across the
bridge on a brisk winter night, the
white stars above them, the purple
lamps advancing and meeting them
along their path. and the lemon and
red and green lanterns twinkling up
from boats and pier heads. That
night she had heard his story. He
had told her of boyhood spent in q
little town in western Missouri, Of his
first dim dissatisfaction with his lot
and his growing hatred for toll in his
fathers squalld general store; how, at
his fathers death-his mother he had
never known-he had gone to st. Louis,
where he had clerked by day and stud
led art by night until, with $1,000
saved, he had come to New York and
entered the League. He had spent
three years there, and then had buried
himself in the Jersey woods, living
like hermit in hut of his own build
ing, and painting from dawn to dusk,
fair days and foul.
"And now," he had ended, they're
beginning to know me. I've sold
few canvases, mostly through Ruyter.
Ruyter believes in me. The thing I'm
working on now is for the Academy.
It's going to take year; but it's good,
it's the best have in me-and it's go.
ing to be hung"
"Oh, I do hope sor' she had said,
earnestly.
"I've never doubted it," he had an
swered, simply. Its big stake, but
I'm going to win"
And so that first year had passed.
and the second of their friendship was
three months old. Beth had not been
so happy for years; the former haunt
ing sensation of being alone, no long
er troubled her. She had found q
friend and comrade. The friendship
had grown on the part of each into
an affection; each would have denied
the existence of anything stronger.
One afternoon-the morrow was the
last day for receiving canvases at the
| Academy-he entered her room and
| sank silently into his accustomed chair.
| She looked up questoningly from the
silver buckle ON which the was work
| ing.
Finished" he said, gloomily.
| docs it go today"
Tomorrow! it ian't quite dry yet.
l suppose l ought to be glad, but
he smiled forlornly-"I only feel rath-
er lonesome" He filled and lighted his
| min DO . ,l,,g
"Oh, yes" she answered, eagerly.
Upstairs he drew aside the yellowing
cloth, and laid bare the canvas on
which he had tolled for almost a year
1t was large, six by four, and undoubt
edly an ambitious effort for what
might be called first picture, yet the
result was so splendid that the artists
faith in its success seemed justified
He had called it Augusta wide
far-reaching eXpanse of salt marsh rib
boned with blue, breeze ruffied water
along the horizon dim purple haze
"a suggestion but no more of the city
against the clear sky great white thun
der clouds rolled high upon each othel
in majestic grandeur; over all the no
golden sunlight of midsummer. Betl
could almost feel the heat and see tn,
sedges in the foreground bend ant
rustic In the sea breeze. The pictur,
always made her hold her breath fo
space, and to-day the eject wal
stronger than ever.
ITS gloriousw she whispered final
ly.
"You like it," he asked almos
eagerly.
II love 1t! But"-she sighed-"hov
it makes one hate the city, doesn'
it?"
His eyes lighted. "Yes; and we'r
going away from the city," he said
with ring In his voice. "We'r
through work for to-day, and we'r
golng-there! Get your things on"
But ! can't" she faltered. an,
obeyed.
Outside, he locked the door ant
} handed her the key. II can't trus