The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-02-01

Tho next morning unIaHiiiiaf souheo
fell from aboye-a mans voice. deep
and musical, leaping up and down the
scale, cheerful. companionabie tor-
rent of melody that brought respon'
sive smile to her face.
Next day she had learned his name.
Seeking letters from the pile In the
lower hall. she had found colorman's
catalogue addressed to John Tim
son, Esq" She had smiled at the
name: Timson was 80 unusual ana
quaint and-funny! John she liked;
her fathers name had been John. All
the morning, as she worked at her
copper bowls and candlesticks. she
strove to picture personality De-
fitting the name OF John Timson.
A week later she saw him.
After that they bowed, and then
spoke. Meetings became frequent.
Aside from the little weakened
dealer In old worries and curl
osities on the first floor, they we're
the only occupants of the mousse
who made It their home. That served
as q bond of sympathy, and they soon
discovered others They were both
orphans, and both without near rela'
tiyes; they were both struggling TOT
recognItion--he as painter OF lahd'
scapes in oils, she as a worker IN
metals And then there were minor
sympathies born of similar tastes ana
views which came to light in the nrst
year OF their friendship.
II became his custom to drop INTO
her room for moment on MS way
ND and down stairs, and then In the
evenings for long, enjoyable talks
while he sat in her one easy'chair
and smoked and she worked away at
an order or did her mending. once
week he descended ceremoniously'
Immediately clean, but dtnusing
strong odor OF paint, and took lunch
with her. grayely marveling at the
display and pretended alarm at her
recklGssncss.
Once he had returned her hospital
ity-he had sold a small canyas-and
they had dincd sumptuously at one
end of the paintstained table on lob
stcr outlets and French peas and as
paragus. sent in chilled, but appetiz'
ing, from the cafe across the square
And he had made marvellous cohoe
in an old copper kettle, and had pro
duced bottle of olives, which, he sol
EMMY declared. had been two years
awaiting the occasion.
L.,
institute In Brooklyn-she stu at
tended an evening class three times
week-and brought her home.
Once they had walked back across
| the bridge on brisk winter night.
| the white stars above them, the pur-
ple lamps advancing and meeting
them along their path. and the lemon
and red and green lanterns twink
ling up from boats and pier-heads
| That night she had heard his story
| He had told her OF boyhood spent
| I'm q little town in western Missouri,
of his first dim dissatisfaction with
| his lot and his growing hatred for
toll In his fathers sQualid general
store" how ut his fathers death-his
mother he had never known-he had
| gone to st, Louis, where he had
! Cerked by day and studied art by
night, until. with $4,000 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 her
nit, IN a hut of his own building, and
painting from dawn to dusk, fair days
and foul.
And now" he had ended, they're
beginning to know me. I've sold a
few canvases, mostly through Ruy.
ter. Ruyter believes in me. The
thing I'm working on now Is for the
academy. It's going to take a year;
but it's good, it's the best | have In
me-and it's going TO be hung"
"Oh, do so hope sol" she had said,
earnestly.
I've never doubted IT," he had an
swered, simply. ITS a 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.
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 questioningIy
from the silver buckle on which she
was working
FINISHED" he said. gloomiy.
Does 1t go today"
Tomorrow; It isn't quite dry yet.
suppose | ought to be glad. but"
no smiled forlornly-'T only feel rath.
err lonesome" He filled and lighted
his pipe. DO you care to see 1t
again."
"Oh, yes" she answered, eagerly.
Upstairs he drew aside the yellow.
ish cloth, and laid bare the canvas on
which he had toiled for almost year.
1t was large. six feet by four. and
undoubtedly 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.