The Press., 1918-11-21
-sss3 The Decline of Art ~~ By d. ". PEACH
 
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure NOWspa~
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| 8C WOrk ana stared at 1t with SOmbFe and weary eyes. Into her mind came the quiet, friendly but significant words of the instructor, whom she had given up because he had spoken those wOrds-"YOu have the artists instinct and soul, but I am much afraid you will never gain the skill to give 1t ex- pressiOn." How the words come back l! And there she stood, thinking as he thOught-a failure in the field of effort she had sworn she would master The dismal, battered studio in which she 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 a humping, bump ing something bounding down the stairs. Frightened, she threw open the door and discovered the sprawling figure of man slowly adjusting itself to the realization that it had fallen down a flight O. stairs.
 She fully expected to hea' the air displaced by an explosion Ot more or less vigorous terms. Instead she 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 I 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 not 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 1t with grateful word. In answer to her query whether or not he had broken anything, he remarked |: "Nothing so poetic as that. I cracked my shin, but 1t 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 fOtsam 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-ap odd blue, suggesting sunshine and shadow, It was not difficult to guess that he, like all the rest in the dismal old huild- ing, was that poor and delWded eFea- ture, she thought-a struggling artist, He looked up, and the whimsical, friendly light in his eyes warmed her very spirit.
 "I must thank you for offering me shelter and kindness. Perhaps l 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 ofceFing-a small bunch of dewy viOlets. Then, because she was hungry for companioAahip, she invited him into the studio, and it was not long before they were deep in the dis eussiOn 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 apa- bltiOq, 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 1t came in many ways. One day. after an all-day trip among the of9ces, where she had met courtesy and kindly words that always seemed to hold something in reserve, she returned to lind a little lunch all ready.
 She was in despair of heart and mind, and the touch of his gentIeness was too much. She tOld him of her fruitless efforts, and then the tears of weariness came, anu before she real ized what was happening she 'ound herself in his al ms 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 good friend, but am simply simply"
 T know" he interrupted gently; "yOu are worn out, tired and hungry" He caught her hand and she made a fierce gesture of dissent. "Yes, but you are, and I know it, and r."
 "And you are, tool" she broke in, almost laughing through her tears.
 "1 am !" he said, bluntly. "So darned hungry I could murder a sandwich man for suggesting oneI"
 He stared gloomily at the lOw-burn- ing fire in the grate. After a moment he turned, light of determination in his eyes.
 Frances, what do y0u sayf PVO known sou for a veek-it seems as if we had been friends for years I know 2 plac" where can get a chance in ! the garage business. Let's throw this l art .tuff up md get up or dOwn to something to eat and a decent place to i've. What do you say?"
 She looked in his flushed, eager | face and earnest eyes. "Am I to un- derstand that you are pr posing to mew she smiled. He rallied his faculties. That's it, Frances. knOW-"
 Her voice was cold. Thank you but I'm not interested in the garage business or in marriage, and when I'm proposed to want it done in a lOver's way"
 &4n T01M alhm~m hNm Anna mmA aR