The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-25
THE EVENING STORY
Renting a studio.
(By Donald Allen. }


Mr. Frank Burnett, artist. had de-
cided to sublet his studio for year
and take a vacation. A modest little
sign on the door let the fact be known
to all who passed that way.
MISS Dorothy Payne and Miss Min
ME Hylands were cousins and artists.
They were not famous artists, but both
had painted picture. and their fathers,
mothers, brothers and sisters, not to
mention an uncle or two, had encour-
aged them to press on.
In order. to press, these two young
ladies. who lived within a block Of each
other. decided to rent a studio. They
had garrets at home which offered
them plenty OF light and room, but to
turn out $1,000 landscape the environ
ment must be gilt-edged. The very
name Of studio inspires The fact that
the walls are draped in the material of
which carpenters overalls are made
gives the artist new ideas every few
minutes. The girls had long felt that
they must have studio or remain
length the day came when they set out
to hunt one.
Artist Burnett was smoking and loaf
ing and packing away when there came
a gentle knock on his studio door. He
cried out come in" and Miss
Dorothy Payne and Miss Minnie Hy-
lands entered.
The modest little sign had caught
their notice after a two days hunt
Never in their lives before had they
started out to rent studio and they
entered this one with trepidation. The
artist had on his old clothes, and his
hair was touseled and his mustache
lop-sided, but he made his callers feel
at home after three or four minutes. He
stated the amount of rent per month,
and called their attention to the vari-
GUS conveniences.
Miss Dorothy, who was doing most Of
the talking, looked wise and observed:
suppose you are the artists pupil
and have been left in charge of af-
fairs?"
Yes'm, I am his pupil, and any ar
rangement we make he will stand by"
Have you progressed very far in
81 don't think I have. I get more
criticism than praise. I am some
times almost discouraged"
$50 are we,' frankly announced
Miss Minnie, but we know that per-
severance will accomplish wonders
added Miss Dorothy. 1T suppose you
mix the colors for the artist ?"
ooh, yes"
'"And clean his brushes?"
Eyes,"
"And do you have to sweep and
dust and-and mop the foor?"
well, I have done it,
"And of course, you've run err
rands?"
Every often"
There was pause, during which
Miss Minnie wondered If the artist al
ways spoke kindly to the young man,
and Miss Dorothy was trying to ar
range a little speech. When it was
at last arranged she said:
II have been thinking. If we take
the studio we shall have to have a boy
or some one to do as you have been
doing"
ct see'
'And since We must hire some one,
and since you have been here some
"Dorothy," chided Miss Minnie.
''Oh, it is all right smiled the gen.
tleman concerned. 81 think 1 would
do. better here than boy have the
experience, and then I might give you
a hint now and then as to colors. l
have great eye for colors If I only
knew how to combine them
you a bit IT, We shall hall NJ not Be e. a BIT
jealous of you if you try to bring out
picture: Indeed, we might lend you
gold frame for it. What wages
would you want per week and board
yourse1f?"
at am willing to leave that to you.
After one month you can better Judge
of the value of my services"
Both young ladies said they thought
that was fair proposition, and ar
engagements were made for taking pos
session of the studio two days later.
The artist loved joke. but after he
had had a few minutes to think over
things he came to the conclusion that
he had carried this one too far. He
could spare the month, but. he was GER
tain to be given away Then there
would be tears of anger from the girl
artists, and probably calls from fathers
and brothers. He would leave the key
and run away; he would appeal to some
of his friends to take his place; he
would discover that the studio leaked
and must have new roof. In the end
he did nothing.
said of him that he was lacking in
sentiment and had never been able to
paint cupid which did not resemble a
hoodlum more than god Of love. Ii
these things were true it was simply
because he had not met Miss Dorothy
Payne. He had been attracted at onc,.
He had purposely detained the pair
that he might continue to cast furtfve
glances at her. If he had been a boy
Of eighteen or twenty he would have
first sight. AS it was, he promised
himself that he would stay on fo-
wages and give Cupid show.
Dorothy what If our man should
fall in love with you?" asked MisssMin-
ME as the pair walked homeward.
Are you crazy?" exclaimed Dorothy
as her nose went into the air.
The girls moved in. to find that the
studio had been swept clean and put
in some sort of order. They found the
man very useful. He did not offer adj
vice. but when asked for it he seemed
to know a great deal about canvases,
Paints and brushes: also about draw
ing and shading. He was always cheer
fully ready to run errands. and during
the second week he was even sent to
a millinery store and for chocolate
creams.
Three weeks had passed when this
earthly globe was tilted up on its
SIDE Miss Minnie had remained home
one afternoon to receive callers,
when Miss Dorothy, who had worked
at the studio alone, came rushing In
to the house.
'Oh, Minnie. can we ever. ever
everi" she exclaimed.
"Eever what?" was demanded.