Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-15
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The Morning Story
RUBY MIsJOICES.
by Molly McNIRstcr.

Inc SluOlO was MEOW IN lne warm
rich light from an open wood fire. On
the walls the floor and in every re-
mote corner of the room were relics
OF travel-of happy days that were no
moro. The curtain was even then de-
scending on one phase of Ruby Wal
TONS existence.
The girl herself. sitting before the
fire. shielded her eyes with slim. ar
ustic fingers from the too seaching
tremh:cd and would have wept save
that she must not be rcd-eyed during
the next hour two.
He. the man who was coming, had
offered to buy the contents OF the
studio and to take over the remainder
..f the tease. Ruby realized with n
sickcnins sense OF physical pain that
the following few hours would be her
last in the world of Paradise. For
such had her studio become 10 Ruby
Walton
1t seemed strange that She, who loved
beauty In its every form, Was to be
cast out and into world OF uglincss
and dwell among the sordid realities OF
New York boarding-house. Ruby
shuddei>cd in spite OF the control she
was eHerting. and her great. soft eyes
travelled tenderlXa over her beautiful
studio home.
However there is no one upon
whom TO cast the blame save myself
my cNtravagant, short-sichted self"
Ruby told herself with wistful smile
playing about her eyes and lips. Elf
only l had been gifted with n little
common sense and a thought for the
future. together With the determine
ton to paint successful pictures be-
fore surrounding myself with luxury,
| would not now be selling my very
life. Because I know I shall die look
ing at the ugly, nerve-racking FUR
nishings of a boarding house" She
flung herself down on the great lion
skin and lay prone before the fire.
Perhaps RubyS most wonderful
dreams had been dreamed there on the
great lion skinAyet they had ended
where they had begun. Unknown TO
hereslf Ruby. the artist. had found
expression and coneentment in the lux
urous beauty OF her studio. She had
deludcd herself. the while she was
spending her small fortune. with tho
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 has seen the wonderful arts OF the
world. Well. Rnby had surrounded
herself with beauty and she had seen
the art OF the world, yet not one pic
ture had flashed onto canvas from tho
artistic hand that found idlcncss
pleasant. She had dreamed away all
her inspiration there by tho wood fire,
and yet she had not found happiness
There was the constant prick OF con-
seriousness that she had not fulfilled
her destiny 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 tho very soul of the men who
loved her.
Il really think l 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
her dream studio stood outside the
ioor. and Ruby met him with Il brave
smile.
Bob Merrill whlstled softly upon be-
aolding the interior OF the girls won
derful studio lie turned swiftly TO-
ward her.
1T mus, be trighttul wrench-,o
give up this he said.
1T 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 suggest
ed with a CHEEKY smile. You know
am not a real artist, but am the
kind that makes money. II had been
one / would have had the taste TO
furnish studio OF my own, now that
have made the coin"
I'm that case l would not have had
. purchaser, 50 l must be thankful
you are not the real thing"
Ruby smiled and Merrill knew that
no was goiX@ 10 give her whatever
she ask ed. rs - -iirice for the contents
Of her studio.
When they had finished their bar
gain Ruby made a cup o; tea in her
samovar she succeeded In stioing
here emotion when she knew that even
the tea cart with its beautiful equip
nent was no longer her own And
Merrill seeing her courage, marveled
at her strength, her beatty and her
charm. He felt glad that he was to
live among the intimate treasures Of
her selection. Certainly it would be
inspiring.
When Ruby found herself cnsconced
in boarding house she thought that
another week would see her passing
away. II did not seem possible 10
live and look at the frighttul pictures,
the CHASTITY bric-a -brac ana hidcous
carpets that went toward the furnish
ing OF her room She had no, been
one day in the place until she had
taken down the pictures from the walls
and the awful embroidery from chair
backs and tables The placcs where
the pictures had been were faded ana
seemed like ghosts OF a LOST art TO
Ruby. Those pale wraths on the walls
seemed TO dance about accusingly, and
TO Ruby's vivid imagination they
seemed the spirits Of pictures she had
dreamed OF and never painted.
II VIII have 10 make a few Sketches -
= she decided. II can't possibly lie here
looking at those blank spaces" She
longed passioHatcly for her lovely
treasures and the luxury OF her studio
In the afternoon Ruby took sketch
ing canvas and paints and went over
TO the Palisades She would make :,
few hurried sketches OF the glorious
scenery and put them on her faded
walls Hours passed ana the sun
turned to dull red. yet Ruby painted
on. Three exquisite SKETCHES Law on
the grass beside her, and il was not
8 until positive gloom had settled over
the Palisades that il occurred to her
that night had come. She picked up
her materials and went slowly home
The/glow that had sprend through nor
body while working remained There
y was feeling akin 10 complete happi-
ness surrounding her