The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-07-15

the cafe across the Square. And he
had made marvellous coffee In an old
copper kettle, and had produced bot
tie OF olives, which, he solemnly de-
| clared, had been two years awaiting
the occasion.
Usually he called for her at the In
stitute 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 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 twlnkling up
from boats and pier heads. That
night she had heard his story. He
had told her Of n boyhoOd spent In a
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-hls 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 10 New York and
entered the League. lie had spent
three years there, and then had buried
himself In the Jersey woods, living
like a 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 10 be hung"
"Oh, do hope sor' she had said,
earnestly.
"Pve never doubted It," he had an
swered. simply. ITS big stake, but
Pm 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
friend and a comrade. The friendship
had grown on the part Of each into
an affection; each would have denied
the existence of anything stronger.
One afternoon-thc morrow was the
last day for receiving canyascs at the
Academy-he entered her room and
sank silently into his accustomed chair.
She looked up questioningly from the
silver buckle on which the was work
ing.
FINISHED" he said, gloomly.
Does II go todayp
Tomorrow! 1t ignt quite dry yet.
| suppose i ought to be glad, but
he smiled forlornly-'I only feel rath-
er lonesome" He filled and lighted his
pipe. "Do you care 20 see II agaln"
"Oh, yes" she answered, eagerly.
Upstairs he drew aside the yellowing
cloth and laid bare the canvas on
which he had toiled 70: almost 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 II "August"-a wide,
far-seaching eXpanse of salt marsh rib
boned with blue, breeze rufiled water;
along the horizon dim purple haze.
a suggestion but no more of the city;
against the clear sky treat white thun-
der clouds rolled high upon each other
in majestic grandeur; over all the hot
golden sunlight OF midsummer. Beth
could almost feel the heat and see the
sedges in the foreground bend and
rustic in the sea breeze The picture
always made her hold her breath for
space, and today the eject was
stronger than ever.
ITS glorious" she whispered final
ly.
You like it?" he asked almost
eagerly.
II love il! But"-she slehed-"how
il makes one hate the city, doesn't
itw
His eyes lighted. Eyes; and we're
going away from the city," he said,
with ring in his voice Were
through work for to-day. and we're
going-there! Get your things on"
But l can't" she faltered. and
obeyed.
Outside. he locked the door and
handed her the key. II can't trust
myself" he explained. IL might give
you the slip and come back and work
on IT,"
That was day Of days. Winter
reigned kindly. They crossed the riv-
er. and spent the afternoon in the
woods anC along the edge OF the
marshes, returning long after the city
was aglow. They had dinner nj a
cafe. for when one has finished pic.
ture that is TO bring fame and wealth
economy is n sinful thing. Back in
her studio they talked until late. and
| life was very kind and sweet.
The windows were gray with the
cold dawn when he awoke suddenly
and stared about him. In a moment
he was out OF bed and had thrown open
the hall door. Smoke thick and stl.
fling drifted In. At the bottom % The
staircase well orange light danced and
glowed. Throwing sis clothes on. he
lifted the picture from the easel and
staggered with IL down the FIRST flight.
The smoke made him choke and gasp.
The next fight was miles long At
the bottom he dropped the picture.
and as IL toppled against the baluster