The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-11-19
p Xxx.
Tho Renlnnlna.

- 800 %
was packing a little ~knapsack with
the meager belongings that his So
journ in the old studio had brought
together. He went about the task
with reluctance, but with the weary
resignation OF those who receive an
unalterable decree from fate, and
recognize 1t as such.
One by one his little personal things
were tucked away in the ancient trav-
| eler's kit-a book or two, some linen'
brushes, a gay necktie, and a NINA
ture plaster cast Of Leigh's sleeping
bear"
When these had been put in, and
| still a little room remained. he hest
tated a moment, and then, going to
the heap of sketches and small can
vases with which the rack was filed,
deliberated among them for a while;
taking up first this one and then that,
with loving hands, and throwing each
in turn back upon the shelf from
whence It came. Finally a sorrowful
shake OF the head dismissed them all.
"Of what use to take any, said
Pedro aloud. But nevertheless, he
stood brooding over them for quite a
time.
BY the fire lay Mr.. Jones, blinking
sympathetically. With a sigh Pedro
turned al last from these children OF
his mind. and set about arranging the
two rooms-the studio and bedroom
exactly as he had found them.
In the first place there were the pic
tures-his pictures! From the big
easel the Madonna Lady" smiled
wanly upon her young creator-a
beautiful, crude, unfinished thing, its
possibilities reckoning enticingly
from behind the haze Of It's incom-
pleteness. Then there were the 9th
ers. Significantly Pedro glanced from
them in the direction of the fireplace,
and heaved another sigh. No! that
was impossible; infanticide! 1t could
not be done! Yet, who would care for
them. Leigh? Perhaps. Pill
ing them high, and topping them with
the ever-smiling portrait Of Iris, he
stacked them neatly, near the door,
and writing For A. l.. Leigh on a
folded bit Of paper, left this message
atop the heap.
Next, he restored the furniture to Its
original arrangement as nearly as he
could remember It, and bringing forth
Hills canvases from the cubby In
which most OF them had been repos'
ing. set them around, ever as he had
found them, down to putting the un'
finished portrait of the banker upon
the throne from which the Madonna
had lust been taken. When this was
done, the studio took on such an un
familiar atmosphere that a lump arose
in Pedro's throat. 1t seemed such g
concrete representation of how com
|, pletely his claim here had ended
With apparent irreverence he sud
denly went over and knelt beside she
: bear. taking the creatures head be
, tween his hands, while tears started
to his eyes.
Poor fellow! Poor Mr.. Jones!'
) said Pedro huskily, and then, having
| matted Mr.. Jones upon the nose sew
, eral times, arose slightly comforted
/ The bedroom came next in order
, and from press and bureau Hills cloth
= ing, which had been laid away will
so much care, was hauled out ant
3 hung In its accustomed place. eacl
minor detail being attended 10 VIII
care.
\ When all was accomplished, thu
worker came to the doorway where h
Y had paused on that long-past autumn
Q morning of his first awakening there
and stood gazing for the last tim
upon what had been the field of hi
v labors these many months; and as h
looked about, 1t seemed as though hi
heart would break at the thought o
leaving 1t. But go he must.
n Clenching his hands, he called him
{ self a fool, speaking aloud In his pair
For a moment the wild hope came t
n him that he might, after all. stay on