The Ely miner., 1918-09-13
The Decline
of Art
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By A. w. PEACH
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
By A. w. PEACH

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Sopyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newsps
per Syndicate)
Frances Acton drew away from tn
half-finished picture on which she wa
at work and stared at it with sombr
and weary eyes Into her mind cam
the quiet, friendly but signfdcan
words of the instructor, whom she ha,
given up because he had spoken thos
words-"You have the artists instinc
and soul, but am much afraid yo1
will never gain the skill to give 1t ex
preston" How the words come back
And there she stood, thinking as h
thought-a failure in the field of effor
she had sworn she would master. Th
dismal, battered studio In which sh
stood, with it's cheapness and its bare
ness, added to the despair in her heart
Suddenly she heard steps above her
then the sound of humping, bump
ing something bounding down th'
stairs. Frightened, she threw opeI
the door and discovered the sprawlin,
ngure of man slowly adjusting itsel
to the realization that it had falleI
down flight of stairs.
She fully expected to hear the all
displaced by an explosion of more o.
less vigorous terms. Instead sh,
looked down into the amused face Of
the fallen and heard him mutter:
"And great was the fall thereof
believe that is in the Bible some
where" He glanced up at her as he
slowly rose. pardon me for disturb
ing you. I assure you am not in the
habit Of descending stairs in that fash
ion, or at that speed"
His face contracted with pain as he
balanced himself, and she saw with
sudden apprehension that he could moi
walk, and before she realized what she
was doing she took his arm and led
him into her studio and to a chair
He sank into it with a grateful word
In answer to her query whether or not
he had broken anything, he remarked
my shin, but it will be all right in a
while"
AS his face Strengthened and he was
engaged in wooing the numbed shin
bone, she had time to inspect the
fiossam that had been cast at her door.
He was evidently tall, and beyond any
doubt thin; his hair was curly and
light, and his eyes were blue-an odd
blue, suggesting sunshine and shadow.
1t was not difficult to guess that he.
like all the rest in the dismal old build
ing, was that poor aid deluded crea-
ture, she thought-a struggling artist.
He looked up, and the whimsical,
friendly light in his eyes warmed her
very spirit
81 must thank you for offering me
shelter and kindness. Perhaps 1 may
be of service to you-I hope not in
like capacity" he added, hastily.
She answered perfunctorily, and he
limped out and down the stairs.
She turned back to the picture and
picked up the crayon, but her fingers
paused and she smiled. She had looked
into pleasant, friendly and understand
ing eyes; and in that great city, where
she had seen such eyes but seldom.
she felt that she had found a friend.
She had. but trouble was to come.
He stopped that evening, some time,
luckily, after she had put away the
remains Of her frugal meal and
brought his offering-a small bunch of
dewy viOlets. Then, because she was
hungry for companionship, she invited
him into the studio, and it was not
long before they were deep in the dis
cussion of the art they were seeking
to follow.
The, old enthusiasm came yelling
back as she talked to him, and the
dark days of the last weeks were for
gotten. She told him Of her ambition,
and he said that he understood. She
told him that she would die before
she would give up her dream, and he
nodded in understanding. Then he
told her in turn of himself and his am
bition, but he did not say to what ex-
tent he would go in trying to make his
dream come true. She felt, however,
that they were of kindred spirit.
Thereafter the friendship ripened
rapidly, and proof of it came in many
ways. One day, after an all-day trip
among the offices, where she had met
courtesy and kindly words that always
seemed to hold something in reserve,
she returned to find little lunch all
ready.
She was in despair of heart and
mind, and the touch of his gentleness
was too much. She told him of her
fruitless efforts, and then the tears of
WEAKNESS came, and before she real
lied what was happening she found
herself in his arms and his voice was
speaking soothingly.
She drew away sharply, anger at his
touch rising instinctively. The startled
pain in his eyes caught the bitter
words before they were all spoken,
and she went on:
"Forgive me, Edmund, you have
been a good friend, but am simply
simply"