The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1914-12-25
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Beoinninq.


By the light of a single candle Pedro
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 it 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, gay necktie, and NINA
ture plaster cast Of Leigh's sleeping
bear"
When these had been put in, and
still a little room remained, he hesi-
tated a moment, and then, going to
the heap Of sketches and small can
vases with which the rack was filled.
deliberated among them for 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 sorrowful
"Of what use to take any?' said
Pedro aloud. But nevertheless, he
stood brooding over them for quite a
By the fire lay Mr.. Jones, blinking
sympathetically. With a sigh Pedro
turned at 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
wanIy upon her young creator-a
beautiful, crude, unfinished thing. its
possibilities beckoning enticingly
from behind the haze of its 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! It 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 1t, and bringing forth
Hills canvases from the cubby in
which most of them had been repos-
ing, set them around, even as he had
found them. down to putting the un-
finished portrait of the banker upon
the throne from which the Madonna
had just been taken. When this was
done, the studio took on such an un-
familiar atmosphere that lump arose
in Pedro's throat. It seemed such a
concrete representation Of how CON-
pletely his claim here had ended.
With apparent irreverence he sud.
denly went over and knelt beside the
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
patted 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 with
so much care, was hauled out and
hung in its accustomed place, each
minor detail being attended to with
care.
When ali was accomplished, the
worker came to the doorway where he
had paused on that long-past autumn
morning of his first awakening there.
and stood gazing for the last time
upon what had been the field of his
labors these many months; and as he
looked about, it seemed as though his
heart would break at the thought Of
leaving it. But so he must.
CIenching his hands, he called him
self fool. speaking aloud in his pain
For moment the wild hope came to
him that he might, after alI. stay On;