Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-05-22
was She p the woman asked.

l.
face. Because | could not see it. ]
made 1t out OF myself; | painted it as
it should be. / yisualized the Fame
sought-the elusive goddess | had loved
1t IS thus that lovers look into thei,
beloved ones eyes. 1t is because OF
this, one man sees an abiding glory in
the features OF even the woman a world
of men call ugly"
'One does not see like that" she said
Il carry the hero of my dreams definite
" in my heart. | know he is there
but ! cannot see him."
1T is because you have not soughs /,
the painter said. IF you cannot see
how shall you know him when he stands
before your
The woman was silent.
There was only one Fame. the ina pe
that was the vision of my dreams.
lived with it for years; | painted it
from my own consciousness. You will
remember that it was my first success.
III. picture-Fame, the Elusive"
''9ou!" she exclaimed.
Yes, it was my picture Fame. alb
straet fame, has materialized with me
Can you wonder that when | saw you
for moment, / was startled by the
vision splendid? 1t was as ii the elu-
sive goddess whom / had followed 50
long had come to me-had really surren-
dered.''
She shivered, for a moment, in the
night air
Il must 60 in" she said. and her eyes
sought his. They met and held each
other.
She put out her hand, cordially.
1t IS very strange" she said; 1T is
all very strange
lie did not see her again, except in
the distant company of a matronly fig
urc who bore some slight resemblance
to his goddess and might have been a
matured sister of Fame.
She introduced him as the boat ran
into the harbor, and after desuttory
conversation they partel, he for his
Walking trip through brittany, she for
PARIS
1t came to the painter shat Fame
the Elusive, was still will-o' -wisp,
a phantom butterfly, evading him how,
ever he searched. When he returned
to the studio, the picture still hung
there, compelling and inspiring. But
the unfinished canvas on the easel re-
manned, weeks after, in the same stage.
He could not paint Desire of work.
the cunning of his craft, the delight in
its accomplishment, seemed to have
left him. He could only sit restlessly
in the studio. smoking, and glowerinp
at his protesting work; walk restlessly
through the streets, or plunge feverish-
~ into social gaiety. 1t seemed as if
the elusive goddess had given him rec
ignition for a moment only to desert
him.
The painter picked up a palette and
worked on the unfinished painting.
Afterward, he painted the work out
and started over again. 1t would not
come right. He put the palette, with
its splashes of raw color, on an adjacent
chest, with a sigh.
Il cannot work" he said. 1T is as
if ! had lost my sight"
The street door of the studio changed
to and sent an echo down the long pass
age. A football sounded swiftly on the
stone.
4 hope no one will come tonight, .
he muttered. Il am tired.
The footsteps came on. and approached
his door A low, firm knock brought the
painter to it. He threw the door open.
"'Why-no!" he said, and again the
old nervous trick-the nervous hand
sweeping across his tired eyes.
'Yes-you can see. l am not a vi
sion. You We're so sure, before"
She accented before with a little
emphasis.
1t was the woman of the picture
Fame. Fame, with bright eyes, excited,
glad, and yet betraying a slight lack of
confidence; Fame, in white evening gar
ments, muffled in black filmy cloak,
against which her white neck cleaned
like ivory; Fame, in whose hair rain
drops chung like diamonds, caught the
freight, set it radiating, and were her
only jewels.
II have slipped out" she said. with
the embarrassed air of one who had
done a daring thing. My sister is din
ing out. / wanted to see youp she
added.
Il wanted to see you" he said, huski-
ly. 9. knew | should see you soon. |
have always wanted to see you. You
are the vision splendid"
Don't" she said, hastily. "iust hear
me. You remember the night boat. and
what you said?"
Every thought and word" Ralph ar
swered.
II said had my hero in my heart,
but could not visualize his face
Eyes"
"And you said I could not see because
l had not sought"
YES" The painters luminous eyes
were smiling.
you meant / had not sought, had not
hoped, and had not despaired. You
meant that the soul cries to its mate,
and in its need makes portrait of its
god intuitively."
Just that" the painter said. at was
because of that / knew you before
saw your face. 1t is through sorrow
and striving, disappointment and hope.
and work in duty to the gods we set up,
that men and women come to see."
She bent her proud head.
II have come to see" she said slowly
and very quietly.-George Edgar in
Black and White.
Reindeer IN Alaska.