The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-03
EVENING STORY
Studio Days.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS

! w est put rev lingering lOuCASS OH
his canvas before the setting sun told
! him that he must wait until another
day before finishing the delicate por-
traits head. riotous little air tell
from time to time from his lips, but
it's measure became gradually subdued
while the soft veil of twilight captered
the artists soul and bade him express
his joy in more quiet manner.
A sunay smile iurked in Vests
eyes; the gold of his hair was rumpled
and his smock shockingly dirty, but
little did he care since the studio rent
was paid for the following month
Also the canvas on his easel would cas-
lily insure another six months living.
And outside his door stood girl
whose eyes held all the wistfulness in
the world ana whose heart was alb
sorbing every note of that magic, hap
by Tilt that fell from Vests lips. Fin
ally she knocked.
West was not prepared for a visitor,
and such one as he found on the
landing was a challenge to the most
sturdy of heart beats
May / come in ?"
absurd waste of words" said West,
and with the little courtly bow that
n was part of the man he watched his
visitor cross the threshold.
The wistfulness vanished swiftly and
a tremendous gladness that took the
form of glistening tears stood in the
girls eyes. She fled to the small win
sun and stood silently for a moment.
Then West saw her brush a hand
across her eyes before she turned
again to him.
you are not to think me mad she
said TREMENDOUSLY. For three long
years 1 have hungered to be in this
studio again and now-now my hearts
humping like a bird gone mad-just
because am here" She laughed
, softly with so much of glad emotion
10
more wonderful place to dwell in.
He started to prepare tea on the
improvised tea cart beside his easel.
but the girl slipped quickly over.
! Il want to make the tea" she in
: sisted. See! I have brought some
cinnamon sticks from the same old
corner bakery that was there three
years ago. I somehow felt would be
allowed to stay for tea-if l came in
Her eyes were so adorable with their
new-found happiness that West said
frankly, II would have dra gged you in
mad L known you were out on that
landing-so make yourself perfectly
at home"
, The girl threw her great moleskin
cape on the dusty arm chair just as
carelessly as in the old days she had
tossed off her threadbare tweed coat.
Her gown was a dream and her small
! toque brilliant hued affair with an
absurd something wabbling uncer-
/
was as chic as any wonderful poster
! She pulled off the toque and with
swift gesture rumpled the conven-
tional. smooth coiffut e into a bewil-
dering head of burnis- cd copper.
: You have utterly no regard for a
poor bachelors heart, have your"
West i quired. There-Was warm boy
ish admiration in his glance. But 1
: will try to remember that you are just
t a little wrath that has blown into
my Bohemia for cup of tea
; The little wrath would very much
Y like a smock-if you have a second
I one" she laughed back at LIN.
ut would take four of you to fill it
up" he said after a successful rum
mage.
l They boa laughed like children at
e the result and for the first time in
three years a happy Tilt of song fell
from Gretchen's lips.
l "Oh. yes-my name is Gretchen Nc
l Wicker" she told him by way of tardy
= Introduction. Il saw yours on the
, door as 1 came up the creeky stairs.
1 used always to think those stairs
would cave in. They are just as frail
y as ever, but loved every creek they
gave out for me-"
She was exploring all the while she
talked and it was pot long before a
| dainty tea was ready and they sank on
opposite sides of the quaint cart West
| ! had fashioned. They were both Bo-
I
| conventiOnality of the moment with
| out any strain.
How long have you been in this
p studio?" Gretchen asked between
munches of cinnamon cake.
I've managed to pay the rent here
= for three years" he told her
= "Oh! You came in Just as I left,
d then. l was here for the two happiest
0 years have ever had" Gretchen said
s and the usefulness clouded her eyes
To Gin FC+ e-sy,
o ing when l came up. OF course,
never EXP ccted to set the world on
e fire thru my art, but somehow I made
z a scant living-scant as to money. but
S overlooking with joy. 1 did not al
e ways have enough money 70 buy Gin
s namon cakes" she laughed, but her
n lips were tremulous.
n And then" urged West.
Then 1 married. After that il
e didn't seem as if life held a thing for
d me. There were no quaint Bohe-
r mians strolling in and out of my stu
dio, no much-needed checks coming
n to me from inspired drawings and
e worst of all. there was no freedom oil
n thought or action. My husband gave
n me a gorgeous limousine for my las
birthday. but it didn't bring even one
r. atom of the joy that my first hard.
earned check gave me. l have every
thing on earth that money can buy
, But why didn't you keep up youl
Il art work-your Bohemian friends
y wouldn't that have helped to make
- you happy?" West was kindly sym
=, pathetic. but there was beginning
y great urge within him to try to keel
this rare girl within his circle. L
seemed sheer and unadulterated mad
: ness to want to keep her, since sht
~ !. was married to a wealthy man and hel
II fancy for Bohemian life and studio
"a days was perhaps but passing desire
s. but She was answering his ques
. ton.
1T was not worth while my work
| ing-at art when 1 didn't have to. 1
| l had possessed genius or even a grea
| degree of talent 1 would have kept a
| it. But 1 only have talent enough t,
| keep the wolf from the door. AS TO
. my Bohemian friends-well. I triet
keeping them in my life, but my hus