Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1912-08-10
Love and Art

1t was but a short time after Lori
mer built his bungalow until his por
ularity was established in our neigh
borhood of orange groves and mag
nolia trees. His studio was a place 70
sight-seers. as well as a pleasant re
sort for friends and neighbors.
Others succumbed to Lorimer's in
fuence because they found him re
sponsive and congenial, but imagined
that he attracted me because he wal
my contrast. 1t was he, himself, whC
discovered that our natures, beneath
the surface, we're positive and not neg
alive, and with that discovery he sweep
away all imagined barriers between us
placing me at once In the heart Of the
company that haunted his bungalow.
He said to me one day as he loopet
a Persian drapery behind his models
chair: "Tisdale, you have the depth
Of artist-instinct, but you haven't the
gift of expression. "You don't even
talk. These others, for instance
waving his hand in the direction oil
the chatterers just gone-"these others
talk about everything they feel, and
dear boy, they have so little to tell"
His tone to me was like velvet
touch, and his eyes held steel-bluo
CLEAN that made me love to look at
him. l knew that he knew my inner
self, and that whatever that self might
be, it was valued by him.
shall never forget the kindly sym
pathy that shone from his eyes when
he realized one special day that |
needed him to understand me. l had
gone to him, troubled aboue my moth
er's orphaned cousin Lucy, who had
come to us to live, having no other
place to go. wanted to befrieAd her,
to make her happy, and l could not
even tell her that she was welcome.
She was a little daisy maid, blossom
ing into womanhood almost in a day,
under our soft skies and in our south
ern California breezes.
AS l entered the studio, Lorlmer's
clean-shaven cheeks, his locks of dark
hair thrown Off his forehead, the
friendly eyes under his heavy brows,
made a fit crown to his tall form
standing before the easel. / can see
the very dab of ochre on his thumb.
He was busy at one OF his wonderful
wood interiors, touching in the sun
| light by hints Of yellow on the lichen-
covered trunks.
yes, Tisdale," Lorimer said, after
| had looked for a long time over his
shoulder without speaking, 81 feel the
Joy Of utterance. Why, man, think
what relief to weep in grief! That
is what 1t is to paint, to sing, to be
poet"
II can do none of these things" I
answered slowly.
NO, but after all, perhaps within
you may be artist or poet. Life has
an intensity. value, that this hasn't"
and Lorimer lightly struck his can
vas.
A woman--it is always a woman
that intrudes upon mems friendships.
She Is a sort of earth, trespassing upon
a kind Of heaven, This time, It was,
Of course, the daisy maid and it is
difficult to know whether she made
earth heaven, or brought heaven to
earth.
Lorimer and l suddenly awoke to
the knowledge OF a mutual love for
my modest cousin. Why could not he
have chosen one of the beautiful wom-
en- that haunted his studio? From the
crowds l met in cars and shops, why
could not have taken another woman
and been satisfied?
Ny very silence was confession after
his avowal OF love for Lucy, and then
he admonlshed gravely "Tlsdale, re.
member we are her courtiers, and the
courtiers stand aside when the queen
passes, choosing whom she will"
Oh! but 1t was hard to give another
man fair play; hard for us both. Lori
mer's face grew thin under the strain,
and a river of fire seemed to flow in
and out Of my heart.
At last, Lucy consented to sit for
her portrait. One day, hidden in sport
behind some studio trumpery, we
watched her enter. Lorimers hand
was on my shoulder. AS fortune had
decreed, my handkerchief lay on the
floor. Her own hand had so EN-,
broidered the square of linen that 1t
seemed too dainty for the pocket Of
my shaggy coat; but when l carried |
the sheer and pretty thing, she seemed |
close Now, Lucy looked hastily to
right and left, then, believing herself |
alone, she caught up the handkerchief |
and pressed 1t to her lips; then she
thrust 1t into her gown, and as she
went away, she covered the place with |
her hand, as though bird had flown
into her bosom.
LorimeF grlpped my shoulder, but
the blood leaped to my face for Joy,
and then ran back in tide OF shame,
because was 80 poor creature,
felt my short and sturdy figure grow
more plebean in contrast to my friend;
saw my unruly shock of sandy hair;
my features-my limbs; my hands and
feet; all that the world calls man.
We were silent, for know not how
long, listening to the clock that Lori.
mer timed his hours by. Finally, 1t
was he that spoke;
Don't fear for me, Tlsdaie; what
you live, can paint. Mine is lesser
gift than yours, yet still Joy. God
be with you! l see before you, wife,
home, children; for me, cold thing
artl"
Nh ..,o.II -. |