The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-09-20
The Decline
of Art
00
By A. w. PEACH

&SSSSSSSSSSSSSscSSs
Copyright. 1878 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Frances Acton drew away from the
half-fnished picture ON which she was
At work and stared at it with sombre
md weary eyes. Into her mind came
he quiet friendly hut significant
words Of the instructor, whom she had
given up because he had spoken those
words-'You have the artists instinct
and soul, hut / am much afraid you
viii never gain the skill 10 give 1t cN-
preston" How the words come back
And there She stood thinking as he
fhought--a failure in the field of effort
she had sworn she would master. The
iiNmal battered studio in which she
stood, with its chcapneSs and its bare
ness, added to the despair in her heart.
suddenly She heard steps above her,
rbcu the sound of humping, bump
ms something bounding down the
stairs. Frightened. she threw open
the door and discovered the Spruwihg
figure Of man slowly adiusting'itSelf
- the realization that it had fallen
Town flight Of stairs.
She fully expected to hear the air
displaced by an explosion Of more or
loss vigorous terms Iustead she
looked down into the amused face of
ne fallen and heard him mutter:
And great was the fall thereof
- Ia, In. Dfl1n
where He glanced up at her as he
slowly rose. Pardon me for disturb
nS YOU. | assure you | am not in the
aahit Of descending stairs in that fash
ion. or at that speed.
Ills face contracted with pain as he
balanced himself, and she saw with
sudden apprehension that he could not
walk, and before she realized what she
was doing she took his arm and led
him into her studio and to chair.
Ily sank into It with grateful word.
ia answer to her query whether or not
a' had broken anything, he remarked:
Nothing 81 poetic aS that. ] cracked
'ay shin, but it will be all right in Il
yhilc."
A~ his face Strengthened and he was
engaged In Wooing the numbed shin
BONE. Che had time to inspect the
infSam that had been east at her door.
He was evidently tall. and beyond any
doubt hin; his hair was curly and
g,t. and his eyes were blue-an odd
blue suggesting sunshine and shadow.
II was not difficult to guess that he.
Ike all the rest in the dismal old build
tug, was that poor and deluded crea-
'urc sh" thought struggling artist.
He looked up, and the whimsical,
friendly light in his eyes warmed her
sry spirit
= must thank you for Offering me
shelter and kindness. Perhaps l may
Sc of service To y0u-I hope not in
Ike capacity" he added hastily.
She answered perfunctorly, and he
ItmPed 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
uto pleasant, friendly and understand |
ing eyes; and in that great city, where |
She had seen such eyes but seldom, |
Ste felt that she had found friend.
She ind. 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 small bunch of |
dawy viOletS. Then, because she was |
hungry for cOmpani0nShip. she invited |
hIm into the studio. and it was not |
.ong before they We're deep in the dis |
russion of the art they We're seeking |
10 follow.
The old enthusiasm came yelling |
rlck as she talked to him, and the |
dark days of the last weeks were for
gotten. She told him of her ambition,
iad he said that he understood. She
-oId him that she would die before
rhn would give up her dream, and he
uadded in understanding. Then he
rDld her in turn of himself and his am
bition, but he did not say to what ex-
rent he would go In trying to make his
dream come true. She felt, however,
mat they were Of kindred spirit.
Thereafter the friendship ripened !
~upidIy and proof of it came in many
Ways One day sitter an all-day trip
among the Offices, where she had met
courtesy and kindly words that always
seemed 10 hold something in reserve,
@b, returned to find Il little lunch all
ready.