The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-11-15
The Decline
Of Art
40

q Il ". PEACH

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicats.)
Frances Acton drew away from the
half-fnished picture on which she was
at work and stared at 1t with sombre
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 am much afraid you
will never gain the skill to give 1t ex-
preston" How the words come back
And there she stood. thinking as he
thought failure In the field of effort
she had sworn she would master. The
dismal, battered studio In which she
stood, with its 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 the
stairs. Frightened, she threw open
the door and discovered the sprawling
figure Of man slowly adjusting itself
to the realization that 1t had fallen
down a flight OF stairs.
She fully expected to hear the air
displaced by an explosion Of more or
less vigorous terms. Instead she
looked down into the amused face of
the fallen and heard him mutter:
sand 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. 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 not
walk, and before she realized what she
was doing she took his arm and led
him into her studio and to 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
fiotsam 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.
It was not difficult to guess that he,
like all the rest in the dismal old build
ing, was that poor and 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 I may
be of service to you'll 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 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 1t 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 1t 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 Nm 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, ana before she real
lied what was happening she .ound
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 good friend. but I am simply
simply"
II know" he interrupted gently;