The Dolores star., 1909-09-10

new, long-haired nat one, and smiled
gentle exultation over the "Rubens"
stamped into the wooden handle.
Then his face gloomed again. THE
very thing she last reproached me for
the new brushes when she had no
overshoes. How can man paint with
out brushes? She can stay in when 1t
rains, what easier! The fury she fell
into when l said as much. and plainly.
How she sneered at continued fare Of
milk and eggs. A poor man can't hui
NOR a girls taste. That's food. Sup
posing she is tired Of II. So am I. for
that"
He wiped out his oil cup with a bit
Of old rag and poured in half turpen-
tine and half rich yellow oil. His hand
jerked with a sudden lurch. spilling .
long trail Of oil across his palette. az
something hit the bare floor in the next
room with a wooden sound and spun
round and round and Topped over with
q fiat clap.
What's she fumbling around the
bread board for at halfpast miner"
vandenbleer wondered
A second later the door swung eau.
tiously open, and for an instant half
crazed girl covered. hesitating. like
the subsiding Of a great wave before 1t
swells to lofty surge to break, and
then rose with swift even rush OF flow.
ing feeling-a majesty Of lofty rage.
Vandenbleer's eyes were up when
the door moved. Seeing the girl meas
ure him with slow intent they quivered
in lost amaze and unprotection as she
rose, her knife eagerly seeking him.
Its aim would be instant II her sudden
intent were not arrested, caught Coulu
he do II through her old vanity?
In a sudden forceful burst OF affected
rapture he cried: "Ah. ravishing! Su.
perbly done! Passion of dramatic
fervor! An astounding pose! Hold 1t. In
the name of heaven" And his COM
manding admiration stopped her in the
towering elimination OF impending ac-
ton.
Breathing. "Ah. wonderful" he
swung his palette closer into place,
dipped his long brush into the trail Of
fresh oil. keeping a steady, compelling
eye on the girl as he swished the brush
with swift decision and free swing.
from one color to another. Then he
glanced in rapt creative excitement
from the girl to the canvas and back
to the girl; less conscious Of the colors
his brush was picking up than Of the
| amazing light he desired; then he jot-
ted down q mad note Of highest light.
| Jerking out broad fiat brush, he
| swirled It In nervous vibration through
warm and cold darks till balanced for
long pause of narrOw-eyed. tense de-
liberation, brush In air-the moment of
conception.
keenly he saw the wonderful force
Of the reality before him. His sensitive
receptiveness was permeated with fire
for the swing of the pose, the frenzied
abandon of the forceful open curves.
| the brooding desperation In the face.
A long free swing Of the full brush
the length of the canvas-followed the
action Of the thing with sympathy and
| power.
The madness of the girl was Gained
by the unfeigned admiration of the
| man. Fascinated by the magnetism Of
his penetrating spell-bound gaze she
posed on and on. On and on he painted.
forgetting girl and situation; painted
as he never before had painted. The
high-strung temperament that had
brought only dreams and half convin-
cling artistic things was now lashed
into action and fierce endeavor. and for
| the first time he strained his entire
capacity and produced, all unconscious
that he was really succeeding.
Long and unknowing they worked
| together. cramped muscles and fever
ish weariness accomplishing.
| Suddenly the pose relaxed and
dropped. and the girl sank to the floor.
| energy and madness alike utterly
spent. sapped in the long exhausting
labor.
Vandenbleer put away the knife, now
forgotten: carried her to the couch and
| stretched her out In fiat relaxing ease; /;
let down in greater comfort the hair he
used to love for Its copper glints and
old-gold polished streaks: felt how thin
her wrists were, and chafed their cool.
| ness.
She stirred in response and he
stepped back to his work. He saw II
afresh, with new, surprised eyes-and
knew 1t to be great The brief. com
prehensive saying Of the thing in
terms at once decorative and ingenu.
Gus startled him with its completeness
and purity. The dignity of outraged
misery there appealed to him now as
sudden revealing of a soul he had
long misunderstood. A confusion OF
shame for his own part of neglect and
selfishness crept over him, and, with
the realization Of the source Of his in
spiration. gratitude to Honoria that
had warmth akin to his old love.
With a sudden impulse selfapproba.
tion urged in his rising mood. he bent
over the silent motionless figure and
put his arms about her.
"H0norfa wake nm. Honorfa daay