The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-24
Love and Art

| mer Oullt MS bungalow uuIl LIS POl
ularity was established in our neigt
borhood of orange groves and MAG
nolia trees. His studio was place TO
sight-seers. as we'll as a pleasant re
sort for friends and neighbors.
Others succumbed to Lorimer's in
fluence because they found him re
sponsive and congenial. but imagined
that he attracted me because he wa:
my contrast. 1t was he, himself. who
discovered that our natures. beneath
the surface. were positive and not neg
alive. and with that discovery he swept
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 looped
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 Of
the chatterers just gone-"these others
talk about everything they feel, and.
dear boy. they have so little to tell"
Ills tone to me was like q velvet
touch. and his eyes held a steel.bluc
CLEAN that made me love to look at
him. | knew that he knew my inner
self. and that whatever that self might
be. 1t was valued by him.
! shall never forget the kindly sym.
pathy that shone from his eyes when
he realized one special day that I
needed him to understand me. had
gone to him. troubled about my moth.
ers orphaned cousin Lucy, who had
come to us to live, having no other
place to 60. wanted to befriend her
to make her happy. and | could not
even tell her that she was welcome.
She was little daisy maid. blossom.
ing into womanhood almost in day,
under our soft skies and in our south
ern California hrcczos
As | entered the studio. I.orimcr's
checks, Ills locks Of dark
mar thrown of Ills forehead. the
'rlendly eyes under his heavy broH !.
made q III crown to his tan form
'LlhdlW before tlc easel. | can 700
ne very DAD o. olhre Oh his thumh. |
ne WAS busy 1t one o. his wonderful /
Nood Interiors toGlAiAs in tho sun.
IflH ~ hints q yoilcw on The lchon-
'oFercd trunks.
Yes. Tisdalo." l@limer said. after
had looked for q long time over his
without speaking Il feel the
oy OF uttorance. Why, man. think
WAT n relief to weep in grief, That
what il is to paint, to sing, to be a
'oet."
i can do none of these things" |
answered SLOWLY.
NO, but after all. perhaps within
on may be artist or poet, Life has
u Intensity, q value, that this hasn't"
nd l.orlmer lightly struck his can.
as.
a wonian--lt is always a woman
lat intrudes upon mems friendships
ne is a sort Of earth. trespassing upon
Kind OF heaven. This time, It was.
course. the daisy maid. and It ia
mcllit to know whether she made
'rth heaven, or brought heaven to
nth.
Lorlmer and | suddenly awoko IN
e knowledge of a mutual love for
INQUEST cousin. Why could not he ,
we chosen one of the beautiful unm
that haunted his studio? From tho
o"as ! met in cars and shops. why
uid not ! have taken another woman y
d been satisfedo
My very silence was confession after
avowal OF love for Lucy. and then
admonished gravely, "Tisdae. re. .
ember We are her courtiers. and tho
nrtiers stand aside when the queen .
sses, choosing whom she will" -
IN: but 1t was hard to give another a
IN iair play; hard for us both. Lori.
RS face grew thin under the strain.
river Of fire seemed to flow in d
out Of my heart. :,
It last, Lucy consented to Sit for =,
portrait. One day. hidden in sport =
una some studio trumpery. We q
Lcneo her enter. Lorimers hand
on my shoulder. As fortune had
reeo. my handkerchief lay on the nj
=. Her own hand had so EN-. da
idered the square Of linen that Il IN
med 100 dainty for the pocket OF r.
shaggy coat: but when l carried -
sneer and pretty thing, she seemed ~
e. Now. Lucy looked hastily to
u and left. thea. believing herself
le' sne caught up the handkerchief
pressed 1t to her lips; then she at
vt 1t Into her gown, and as she Te
away. she covered the place with d;.
hand. as though a bird had flown
her bosom. l.
primer gripped my shoulder, but L.
blood leaped to my face for Joy.
tnen ran back In a tide of shame.
use vas SO poor a creature. | I
my snort and sturdy figure crow at
plebean in contrast to nv friend: inp
Y my unruly shock Of sand hair;
eatures-my limbs; my hands and
all that the world calls nan.
. were silent. for l know n9t low q
listening to the clock thai Lori