The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-23
A Splendid Studio
All but the View

twenty-taird flight that she had
mounted that day and her back ached
and her brain was dizzy and her heart
was sick.
Verify" she sighed. they charge
more for hole in the ceiling than for
whole house"
For the girl was looking for sky.
light, end any person who has ever
searched New York for a skylght
studio knows that the Pilgrims Prog
ress or the hunt for the Golden Fleece
was a mere summers pastime beside
such task.
The janitress flung open the door OF
the back room and the girls eyes
danced with Joy. Here 1t was at last,
Just what she had been looking for.
A big, bright room, long enough to
swing Mexican hammock across,
with large old-fashioned fireplace on
one side and beautiful skylight in
Its ceiling through which the north
ern light showed clear and white.
20, Joy, O, happiness" exclaimed
the girl. running to the huge old
fashioned windows and finging them
up-and then she stopped short; for
the sight that met her gaze fell like
blow upon the artistic temperament,
to say nothing of the human eye.
Line after line of common, everyday
washing stretched in an unending
vista before her Mortified gaze. and
above and behind the snow of drip.
ping garments doomed the hideous
rear wall of an ugly tenement. The
girl stood still and reflected for mo-
ment.
II knew" she murmured, there
must be something the matter with It
ar that price" Then her eye wan
dered back to the skylight and the
fireplace--and she fell
20, well. they only wash on Mon
days" she decided. as she signed the
lease.
But to her CONSERVATION she discov.
cred week later that people who live
In tenements wash every day-judg
ing by the fresh productions daily.
Each morning the girl arose to face a
line of vermillion blankets, or a row
of baby frocks.
Her soul shrank at the thought OF
Inviting a friend to view this hldeous
background and gradually her inspira
ton became dulled. The pictures in
oyeralls and cotton sheets. Then
great idea came 10 her and she HE'D
herself to shop where they sell
wonderful transparent paper which
you paste on your window giving II
the effect Of stained glass. Gayly she
hurried home with st. Cecilia win
dow in one hand and q Rembrandt in
the sother. The sesalt was glorious.
she worked an that evening. and
the next morning when she opened
her eyes the slin was sitting through
in pink and, yellow rays and instead
OF the horrible tenement wash ST.
Cecilia and the Rembrandt figure
smiled upon her encouragingly, Then
she bought some pale yellow silk and
hung 1t in simple folds across the |
upper panes of her windows Over
this and falling to the floor at either
side she draped soft rich curtains: |
and on top OF the whole she had thick |
green shades adjusted.
NOW" she declared defantly, mot |
even Peeping Tom could see through I
that" And then she invited her en-
tire coterie of friends TO her house |
warming
They came to see and remained to I
envy. Never, they declared. had there I
been such a gem Of studio, such an 1
ideal place in which to dream ard |
work and make merry. How had the |
girl found it? And how could she af-
ford It?
The girl chuckled to herself and
shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. |
IL was great hour of triumph A |
wealthy eonnoisseur was present. also
a rich woman. who might possibly or. /
der a portrait The tea.kettle buDbled !,
merrily and the pink and yellow lights !
filled the place with mystic beauty. |
The girl lifted the old silver teapot |
TO pour the wealthy connoisseur Sec
ond cup. Suddenly the harsh jangle |
OF a fire engine rang ont on the air.
Everybody sat up and listened. Nearer
and nearer came the changing bell
The studio bsbble stopped. 1t seemed
that the engine stopped alsnost under
the girls window There was a ma
ment of excited hubbub. The wealthy
rushed over and flung
open a window aad craned hts neck. /
The girl sank weak and helpless On
divan.
What is it? Where Is it," cried
the excited guests. crowding toward
the open pane.
ITS q snowstorm. not a fire." re-
the wealthy connoisseur,
his head in. ITS been snow
Ing pajamas. ! think"
And the fire. half block away, was
forgotten as the disillusioned guests
gazed blankly upon the unending
rows OF McGrady fiannels and Blum
stein nightgowns.
Next morning rs tire girl awose IL
Eeer.ed as though ST. Cecilia eTinned
1t her malieigusly and the Rembrandt
person actually ieered.