Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-25

III he had little red ribbons and buttons IN his
III lapel-three least, all of different colors--
III and saddle horse on which to exercise his
tired body after mornings work at his easel
= and box-of-a-place up in the woods where
he spent few weeks in the early Summer
before he went over to see what going at the
Royal Academy and at the Salon
None of these things belonged Marry at this time
Even his milk was left outside his studio door and his
paper bought at the 1t was when pulling in this
milk one morning that he first made the acquaintance
of sold Sunshine" The cans had got mixed Marry
mint having been laid at the old mans door and the
old mans gill at Marnys, and the rectifyng of the
,n;stake-"Old Sunshine" did the rectifyng-aid the
basis of the acquaintance
Everybody of course in the Studio Building knew
him and his old sister by sight, but only one or two
we'll enough to speak TO him; none OF them to speak
to the poor faded old woman, who would climb the
stairs so many times day. always stopping for her
breath at the landing and always with some little pack
age-a pinch of tea, loaf of bread, or fragment
of chop-whch she hid under her apron if she heard
any ones steps. She younger than her brnther
by few years. but there was no installing their rea-
tionship; their exactly alike-ong, SENT
transparent noses, protruding between two wisttu,
china-buc eyes peering from under eyebrows shaded
by soft gray hair.
The rooms to which the old sister climbed, and
where the brother worked, were at the top OF the
building away up under the corridor skylght the iron
ladder to its trap being boted the wall outside their
very door 1t SUMMER up there, the old brother
said One of the he used for his studio, sleep
ing on cot behind screen; the other was occupied
by his sister What little housekeeping was necessary
went on behind this door Outside, on its upper panel
was tackled card bearing his name
ADOLPHE WOOLFSEN.
The agent who collected his rent always addressed
him correctly. IF it was agreeable to Mr.. Woolfsen,
he would like to collect Sometimes it was agree
able to Mr.. Woolfsen and sometimes it was not When
it was agreeabe-ths the anitor said occurred only
when a letter with foreign pos-mark on it
the old painter would politely beg the agent to excuse
him for a moment and shut the door carefully IN the
agents face Then would follow hurried moving OF
easels and the shifting of long screen across his
picture Then the agent would be received with
courteous bow and handed to chair-a wreck OF
chair with the legs unsteady and the back wobbly,
while the tenant would open old desk, take china
pot from of the cubbyhoes, empty it of the con-
tents and begin count out the money smiling gra-
cously all the time When it not agreeable to pay,
the door closed gently and silently in the agents
face, and amount OF pounding opened 1t AGAIN
not that day, at least.
Old Marry knew what was behind that and
only Marry OWNED the old mans reasons for con,
ceanp his canvas so carefully but this not until
after weeks of friendly greeting, including the old
sister, whom he once helped up the stairs with
basket-an unusual occurrence for her and OF course
for him. 1t measure OF coal and a bundle OF
wood that made it so heavy. But Marry never sus-
pected-if he did, he never BETRAYED himself.
voice. her pale cheeks and sad turned toward him.
any brother will be so pleased No; | can't ask you
ill., for he much absorbed these days, and must not
At first the painters sobrquet of "Old Sunshine
puzzled Marry; he saw him but seldom, but never
when his face had anything sunny about It, 1t was
always and earnest, an eager, hungry look
in his eyes.
Botts who had the next studio to Marry, solved the
"He's crazy over a color scheme; gone daft on
puppies and yellows. | haven't seen it-nobody has
got 5ox6o that he's worked on for Claims to
have discovered palette that will make man use
smoked glasses when his picture IS hung on the line
That's why he's called Old Sunshine ="
The next day he kept his studio door open and his
ear unbuttoned, and when the old mans steps ap-
preached his door on his from his morning
wal<-the only time he ever went out-Marny threw It
wide and stepped in front OF him.
Don't mind coming in, do your Marry laughed.
anything out of it. 1 thought you might help and
before the old fellow could realize where he was,
Marry had him in chair before his canvas, ,
"Im not figure painter, the old man SAID SIMPLY
"That don't make any difference. Tell me what's
the matter with that shadow-its umpy and fiat and
Marny pointed to a fold of velvet lying sofa,
one of Marnys pot-boilers-the wife of rich brewer
who wanted picture at poor price-one which after
brushwork. The old Studio Building was full OF just
such customers, but not Of such painters ur ,,
tits of the old school," said the painter ! could
only crtcse it in way and that might offend you"
go on--what is the matter with 1t
The old rubbed his chin slowly and looked at
Marry under his bushy eyebrows;
II am afraid to speak You have been very kind.
My sister says you always polite and so few peo-
pie are polite nowadays"
"Say what you please; don't worry about me. l
learn something every day"
mo / cannot It would be cruel to tell you what
] think, and Louise would not like it when she knew
had told you, and I must tell her. We tell each
other everything"
rs the color wrong?" persisted Marry 1--WE got
the gray-white of the sky, you and the reflected
light from the red plush of the sofa; but the shadows
between Would you try touch of emerald green
here?"
The old had risen from his seat now and was
backing away toward the door, his hat in his hand, his
bald head and the scany gray hairs about his temples
glistening in the overhead light of the studio
at would do you good my dear Mr. Marry.
Paint is not color Color is essence, a rhythm,
blending of tones exquisite the blending of sounds