Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-02-07
WAY OF THE WORLD.
Dust and Ashes in the Success
That Comes Too Late.

feDelllOuS dS uc WOihou ONST ZIG Col
vas 1t was the portrait OF a woman
the first commission he had received
IN six months. Two years previous he
had decided to discontinue portraiture
and paint only those wonderful dream
pictures his imagination gave birth to
Tirelessly he piled the brush until
twenty canvases were completed, and
under the patronage Of famous col
lector they were exhibited to the pub.
lie and were pronounced weird and
fantastic, while the critics wrote: "Da.
vid Preston's canvases show mas.
tery knowledge Of color and perspec.
tive, but his figures are too colossal
and indistinct; they suggest too little.
The artist probably forgot that the
public lacks his clearly defined con.
ception of his subjects, when painting
them. However, Mr.. Preston has Gre
ated an entirely original handling Of
the impressionalistic school and for
this he deserves to be highly com.
mended." Each dcy the lovers of art
had crowded the gallery and admired
his canvases, but none were sold. The
collector lowered about his Sorrow
and Pronunciation" and called the
attention of wealthy patrons to their
merits, without securing single offer.
One man remained a long time view
ing the paintings and David's hopes
leapt skyward; but he, like the others,
passed a few complimentary remarks
and passed out.
David did not care SO much about
himself. but his wife and child were
beginning to suffer through lack Of
proper care and comforts. Miriam had
discharged their only maid six months
before aud then the doctor had or
dered them to milder climate, If
they wished to save the life of little
Betty. All his hopes were conferred
in the exhibition, and it had been a
rank failure.
He returned to portrait painting, i'm.
mediately receiving an order from a
leading society matron. AS long as
daylight lasted he worked increasingly
to finish the picture. Yesterday in
answer to his letter she came to pass
judgment on his skill, and not recog-
nizing the beauty of the portrait had
criticised the pose Of her hands and
the draping of her gown. Exacting
promise from him to change them, she
departed, saying to deliver the paint.
ing when it was completed and she
would send check.
He and Miriam had counted SO much
on receiving the money that day. They
had spent It thousand times over
and now there was nothing left to
provide the necessary supplies for
over the weekend.
He was painting jewel-studded
bracelet on the arm of his patron, and
his eyes narrowed as he thought Of
the fabulous price she had paid for it.
The door opened to admit frail,
lovely woman. Her glance swept the
broad, raftered room, bare save for
the easel, table and general disorder
of canvases. Through the north win
dow the light rested on the artist alb
sorbed in his work.
David, dear!" She spoke twice
before he turned.
"Yes, Miriam. How is she?"
Resting, since one o'clock. She
held my hand so tightly l could not
move for fear of disturbing her, until
now. dear. She appears stronger to
me, and as soon as the light goes.
come and express your opinion"
She closed the door and he turned
to his work, only to be interrupted by
knock. Come in!" he called, and
Mr.. Randall, the collector, entered.
How goes. it, my boy?" he asked,
as he grasped David's hand. did the
dragon like her portrait?"
Not so we'll as l had hoped. She
demanded a few changes before &C
cepting it."
Just for the sake Of having her
commands obeyed, nothing more, my
boy. She would ask an architect to
rebuild house because she wanted
different bricks used than the kind he
chose. This, however, is the last err
ratio woman you need to humor. J.
Burke Harmon has purchased two of
the canvases he admired, at $4,000,
each. Tomorrow he will be here to
make you an offer for the remainder
of the collection. He went to Europe
after your exhibition, and only re-
turned yesterday. In all his globe
trotting, he said, nothing impressed
him so much as your pictures. Here's
the check"
David took it and then told James
Randall what it meant to them. How
the little life could only be saved by
land of sunshine.
Z You never said anything about
this, David. l would gladly have as
sisted you had l known. Well, for
tunes wheel turns in your favor now,
and l sincerely hope this is but the
beginning of fame and fortune. Good
by and good luck. H. 49,,
David rushed into the next room to
tell Miriam their struggles were over.
She had fallen asleep in her chair by
the bed. Poor girl! Fatigue was
written in every line of her face. ~
. He would get trained nurse i'm
mediately to relieve her care. Then
ne turned to look at the sleeping child.
one glance told him that she would
never awaken.-Jean Douglas. in New
York Press. ~
Millions Killed In Battle.