The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-15

The EUening Story
Ruby Rejoices. !.
E (By Molly McMaster.)
The studio was aglow in the warm
rich light from an open wood fire.
remote corner Of the room were relics
Of travel-of happy days that were no
more. The curtain was even then de-
scending on one phase Of Ruby Wal
toms existence.
i The girl herself, sitting before the
fire. shielded her eyes with slim artis-
tic fingers from the too searching
light. She drew a deep breath that
trembled and would have wept save
that she must not be red-eyed during
the next hour or two.
He, the man who was coming, had
offered to buy the contents of the
studio and to take over the remainder
Of the lease. Ruby realized with a
sickening sense of physical pain that
the following few hours would be her
last in the world Of Paradise. For such
had her studio become to Ruby Wal
ton.
1t seemed strange that she who loved
beauty in it's every form was to be
cast out and into q world OF ugliness
and dwell among the sordid realities
of a New York boarding house. Ruby
shuddered in spite of the control she.
was exerting. and her great soft eyes
travelled tenderly over her beautiful
studio home.
However, there is no one upon whom
to cast the blame save myself-my ex-
travagant, short-sighted SELF" Ruby
told herself with a wistful smile play
ing about her eyes and lips. III only
had been gifted with a little common
sense and q thought for the future. to-
successful pictures before surrounding
myself with luxury. 1 would not now
be selling my very life. Because I
know shall die looking at the ugly.
nerve-rackipg furnishings Of q board.
| the great lion skin and lay prone be-
fore the fire.
Perhaps Ruby's most wonderful
dreams had been dreamed there on the
great lion skin-yet they had ended
herself Ruby, the artist, had found ex-
preston and contentment in the lux
urious beauty of her studio. She had
deludeds herself, the while she was
spending her small fortune, with the
belief that she could not paint great
pictures unless surrounded by beauty.
She could not accept the given COM
mand to make use Of her talent until
she had seen the wonderful arts OF the
world. Well Ruby had surrounded her.
self with beauty and she had seen the
art of the world, yet not one picture
fhad flashed onto canvas from the
artistic hand that found idleness pleas
ant. She had dreamed away all her
| inspiration there by the wood fire, and
yet she had not found happiness. There
was the constant prick Of conscious
ness that she had-not fulfilled her des-
tiny as an artist nor had she found
love to take the place Of all other in
| terest.
Ruby had meyer been In love. al
though her beauty: was such as to stag
ger the very soul Of the men who loved
her.
II really think am in love with my
treasures" she told herself, and jumped
up hurriedly from her lion skin. Some
one had dropped the knocker on her
door.
The artist who was to rob her of her
dream studio stood outside the door and
Ruby met him with a brave smile.
Bob Merrill whistled softly upon be-
holding the interior Of the girls won
derful studio. He turned swiftly to-
ward her.
TT must be a frightful wrench-to
give up this he said.
TT is.''' Ruby told him quietly.
There is no one to blame save my
SELF
Maybe you can buy it when your
ship comes In again." Merrill suggested
with CHEEKY smile. you know am
not a real artist, butt am the kind
that makes money. II I had been one
a studio OF my owns now that I have
made the COIN"
.In that case. Z would not have had
q purchaser. 20 i must be thankful you
are, not the real thing
! Ruby smiled and Merrill knew that he
/ uyoa UninO a 0fVo haNAvvhAf0Uar she
asked as price for the contents of her
studio.
when they had finished their bargain
Ruby made A%cup OF tea in her samovar.
She succeeded. in stining her emotion
when she knew that even the tea cart
with its Beautiful equipment was no
HonEers her own. And Merrill. seeing
her courage, marveled at her strength.
her beauty and her charm He felt
glad that he was to live among the
| intimate treasures of her selection.
| Certainly 1t would be inspiring.
When Ruby found herself ensconced
in a boarding house she thought that
| another few weeks would see her pass
ing away. 1t did not seem possible to
live and look at the frightful pictures,
the ghastly bric-a-brac and hideoua
j carpets that went toward the furnish
4 ing Of her room. She had not been one
day in the place until she had taken
! down the pictures from the walls and
4 the awful embroidery from chair backs
ana tables The places where the pic
lures had leen were faded and seemed
4 ike ghosts Of . lost art to Ruby. Those
pale wraitfls ON the walls seemed to
dance about accusingly. and to Ruby's
4 vivid Imagination they seemed the
spirits Of pictures she had dreamed Of
and never painted
II will have to make q few sketches. .
4 she decided. IT can't possibly lie here
looking at those blank spaces" She
ilonged passionately for her lovely
Treasures and the luxury Of her studio.