The Grit-advocate., 1904-01-22

colors). and Kitty WAS seeking to fit
upon the canvas the elusive hight IN
the bottom OF Il brass kettle.
"Oh, dear" murmured kitty. ''it is
SO hard to find anything about ones
work that one can approve Of
Matter now. Mademoisellc Kitty:'
Mr.. Archer inquired, laying line OF
pure cobalt on the stretch of river
that was winding its way upon his
own canvas.
"Oh. nothing. except that I'm find
ing out the hollOwness of everything
and again Kitty wrinkled her pretty
forehead, arose. and walked disconso-
lately about the studio.
Which MEANS" Nh Archer went
on. "that you can't paint, and you can't
draw, and you wish you had the coUr-
age to drown you. Do l repeat your
formula corrcctly?' and lie paused. his
head aside. regarding affectionately his
own effort. Monet himself couldn't
do better than that he murmured.
Mr. Archer. you're horrid:' Kitty
said. who's Monet
"Oh. Monet beg his pardon-hc's
one of those French fellows. But don't
let me interrupt your plant. What is
it? Out with it. You won't get thai
kettle done in time for dinner if YOU
don't"
Kitty cast one eNaspcrated glance
t,ber Instructor. then rcsumcd her
chair, and stroked out desperately.
What her trouble was he never knew
a.. l., -
only that the dear child coulAnt paint
she never could. But she was per
sistently silent. her lips tight together,
during the rest Of the lesson.
Even when Archer criticised her
work, and took the brush from her
hand for Il moment. she only allowed
herself scarcely perceptible tremor.
Then the room was very quiet.
Mr. Archer went to where Miss Grey
was doing black and white study
from a Donatello bust and. as she
hadn't remote idea of the difference
between half light and n shadow. he
, despaired of telling her. took the char
coal, and corrected the values Of her
libel of the cast
Miss Grey was teacher OF music
in an uptown seminary. She was TWEEN
ty-eight years old. Her eyes were
black and energetic. and her hair.
drawn tightly back from her forehead.
was rather gray.
A slight severity Of manner suggest
ed that She had known disappointment
and trouble. and oue invountarily
wondered If she hadn't quite history.
There was also II feeling that Miss
Grey would be quite pretty if she
would only allow herself.
She found her music work ar1uouS.
So much perfunctory lrubbins of the
piano wcaried her beyond description.
and she went into art-as she phIase1
it--mOre as Il recreation than for any
other reason.
But She didn't say this to Mr.. Ar
cher. and he tried. in accordance with
his youthful ideals. to convince him
self that his pupils We're working for
the sincere love of art. and that alone.
AS for Kitty. she had been studyin"
IN the studio for nearly Il year, and
had worked hard.
With charcoal she had succeeded
inditfcrently. .Vnd in color her ease was
hopeless. But she had graduated from
college: she was the child of success
full parents: So there being no need
that she should teach. she had set
nIbOut the further improving of her
mind.
At first she had considered music
she played a little-hut finally decided
upon painting as being. perhaps. n
shade more original as n ladylike occu-
patton, and more adapted TO her taste
Fate had directed her stems to Mr.
Archer as an instructor of merit
He had lately returned from Paris.
where he had Won modest degree of
was exclusive. Not every dabb!er
could gain admission TO his classes.
He received Kitty only after she
had assured him that her motive in
wishing to study art was the best and
sincerest: and that she WAS willing to
work. toll even deprive herself Of time
for social cnga aSemcntS in order to he
come at his hands. at So lesson. an
nrtist.
hul AI. .AftutI WIS Dt''OilIil- us
couraged.
"Women can't paint" he said to him
self: 'at least. most of em can't. They
don't go Mt it in the right spirit. 1t
isn't an end with them. They do draw
Ing instead of tatting. I can't stand
this any longer: feel so boastly hypo-
critical" and he tousled his yellow
hair, put his hands in his trousers
pockets. and strobe up and down the
studio.
He was quite young. quite success.
ful. and it was impossible to him that
his ideal of what art mean should suf-
fer at his hands,
Before the next lesson he had con-
&uded to write to Miss Grey.
vile stated the case as delicateIy rs
nOSSjblp but wrote that II wouId ho