The Washington herald., 1915-01-15
DAILY SHORT STORY.
RUBY REJOICES.
By MOLLY M,MAsTER.
(COryright, 1851

NCOFyTlght, lSl5J
The studio was aglow in the warm
rich light from an open wood fire
On the walls, the floor and in ever,
remote corner of the room were relics
of travel-of happy days that were
no more. The curtain was even then
! descending on one phase of Ruby
! WaltOn's existence.
| The girl herself, sitting before the
| fire, shielded her eyes with slim, ar
tistic fingers from the too searching
light She drew a deep breath that
trembled and would have went 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
1 last in the world of Paradise. For
such had her studio become to Ruby
Walton.
1t seemed strange that she who
loved beauty in its every form was to
be cast out and into a world of uKli-
ness and dwell among the sordid real
tiles Of New York bording-house.
Ruby shuddered in spite of the con-
troll 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 herself
my eXtravagant short-sighted self, d"
Ruby told herself with a wistful smile
playing about her eyes and lips IF
only / had been gifted with a little
common sense and a thought for the
future, together with the determina-
ton to paint successful pictures be-
fore surrounding myself with luxury,
| would not now be selling my very
life Because I know 1 shall die
looking at the ugly. nerve-racking
furnishings of a boarding house" She
flung herself down on the great lion
skin and lay prone before the fire
Perhaps Ruby's most wonderful
dreams had been dreamed there on the
great lion skin-yet they had ended
where they had begun. Unknown to
herself Ruby, the artist, had found ex-
preston and Contentment in the lux
urtous beauty of her studio. She had
deluded herself, the while she was
spending her small fortune. with the
belief that she could not paint great pic
lures unless surrounded by beauty She
could not accept the given command
to make use of her talent until she
had seen the wonderful arts of the
world. Well, Ruby had surrounded
herself with beauty and she had seen
the art Of the world. yet not one pic
ture had 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
vet she had not found happiness
There was the constant prick of con-
sciousness that she had not fulfilled
her destiny as an artist nor had she
found love to take the place of all
other interest.
Ruby had never been in love, al
though her beauty was such as to
stagger the very soul of the men who |
loved her.
Il really think am in love with my |
treasures" she told herself, and jump
ed 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
ierful studio. He turned swiftly to-
ward her.
1T must be a frightful wrench-to
give up this" he said.
1T is" Ruby told him quietly.
There is no one TO blame save my
self"
MdNDe you can DuN II Wlen your
ship comes in again." Merrill suggested
with a CHEEKY smile. You know l am
lot a real artist, but I am the kind
that makes money. If had been one I
would have had the taste to furnish a
studio of my own, now that have made
he coin"
In that case I would not have had
/ purchaser, so l must be thankful you
Ire not the real thing"
Ruby smiled and Merrill knew that
lie was going to give her whatever
The asked as a price for the contents
II her studio.
When they had finished their bargain
Ruby made cup of tea in her samovar.
She succeeded in sitting her emotions
when she knew that even the tea cart
With its beautiful equipment was no long
er her own. And Merrill, seeing her cour-
ige. marveled at her strength, her beauty
and her charm He felt glad that he
vas to live among the intimate treasures
'f her selection. Certainly it would be
inspiring.
When Ruby found herself ensconced in
/ boarding-house she thought that an
Jther few weeks would see her passing
away. 1t did not seem possible to live
Ind look at the frlghtful pictures, the
chastity bric-a-brac and hideous carpets
hat went toward the furnishing OF her