Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28

q
a strong faculty for arguing
That may be, but the glories of June have
grpped me- and rendered me absolutely unfit for
work. l must wander idly under the trees, down
the lanes-and, finally, bask by the babbling brook
building castles in Spain - Cunning laughed
merrily at the anxious faces his friends had turned
on him as he proceeded to unfold his programme
for the day.
'Sunstroke! - calculated GUY Melekin shak-
ing his head sadly.
''Wel, the sooner you take yourself off to the
brook anu your castles in Spain, the better for
us-we mean work. The better the day -
you know the rest, my boy, Stenton said, severe
ly. But his wise words were wasted Ralph
Cunning, with cheerful whistle, left the room
with as much speed as he had entered it, banging
the door behind him.
q know what shape his castles in Spain will
take. The rOseate vision will be his canvas as the
picture of the year, and himself being lionized by
the great of the land!' Guy Meekin laughed
and strOlled across the room to a well-cushOned
window seat and, kneeling on it, leaned out of the
open easement.
For moment he, too, drank in the spendor of
this the first day of June. The scented breezes
famed his face, and the shafts of golden sunlight
streaming through the trees fell his hair, turn
ing it to FURNISHED gold.
These three young men had been fellow students
from the beginning of their careers, and during
the summer months shared cottage in one Of the
lOveleSt parts of Devonshire, transmitting their
glorious surroundings to canvases which they hoped
house.
: 1t is a magnificent mornng!'' said Melekin,
turning almost reluctantly from the open window,
and joining his companion more before the
canvas
''Look here, Melekin, are you contemplating fol
lowing Cunning s example? You are showing
strong symptoms of his ailment,'' Stenton re-
marked, with some irritation.
Don't wOrry-I'n be good said Melekin,
giving the other a friendly slap on the back
''Well, what do you think of it?'' he added nod
ding toward the picture the easel, then sitting
up with jerk on the table.
''Qute the best thing you We done so far-of
course, it ism It finished -
''Almost-very little to go on.''
Yes; and just that little will make all the
diference-it will give the necessary depth-sup-
ply what | feel is wanting, and yet can t express
defnltel or point out accurately StentOn lapsed
into silence, but continued to gaze with the keen
ly picture, which represented a girl in the full
beauty of early wOmanhood, the perfect face il
lumined by a smile, which felt instinctively
must be born of pure happiness Her white, gauzy
dress looked ethereal against the wilderness Of
trees, creepers and shrubbery among which she
stood
''Splendid piece of work." said Stenton, warm
ly.
Thanks, old fellow; we lived in the picture.
L shall be sorry when it is Finished Melekin
sighed, then broke into song. He moved about
collecting his palette paints and brushes.
''What time is Honoria due?' asked Chris
Stenton, glancing up from subtle colors he
was blending
Ten, think; she is never punctual-bless her
dear, happy -gO-lucky nature'' MeIekin smiled
fondly at his picture
''What splendid model the girl is-quite the
prettiest and sweetest one I've ever come across
Don't call HOnoria a model, )" broke in Guy