The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1919-04-24
By ALDEN CHAPMAN

Her eyes were tender and misty ms
II reflected n light rivaling the pure
intensity uf her own bright eyes. Mem
cry was sentiment and pcrvuding. "In
honor of Alun!' she whispered deyout-
'y. surely hc j. worthy, and it is our
last meeting for long. long time"
The ring was about ull in the world
Of value that Lc>hia possessed. Her
mother had bestowed it upon her
few days before She died and Lesbia
had cherished II sacred mpmcnto.
Aim Rawlcigh looked like an artist.
and was one. The delicate refinement
of his face attracted even those ~
coarSor mold Art had been his pas
sion. and the scope and cncouru cement
Of a small inland city had become too
narrow for his ability. his ambition
aud his genius.
Sadly the day was dying-"bcforc
cycntid" il shall be light" Air and
sky we're In harmony with n subducd
sentiment. IN the west the last rays
81 the sun formed fanlikc splcndor.
while II mellow hyacinthine hue, ex-
qui>itcly diversified. formed curtain
uf luyeiinesS and spread over the
canopy 10 the east IeShia found
Alan on the porch, half-reclinng in Il
hammock. his poetic glance fixed on
the far glowing horizon.
"rhc days end ?" he murmured soft
~. as Lr~hia joined him.
"IIow beautiful - she said in an
awod. yet onrnptured tone. and then,
her hand resting in his own. they sat
mutuly ongroSScd under the spell Of a
silence that was eloquent. Soul spoke
t. soul. hut better thus. for the holy
calm Of the hour seemed 10 lift them
into higher sphere. They watched
the shadows come, the radiant sky col
orS fade and darken. Then one glow
ing star came out, only one.
Il shall think of you whenever I
gaze at that star" spoke Alan, "and
that viii be every eventide. oh. my
precious one. this hour OF happiness
Is the supreme moment Of our exist
cnce."
That star, that one evening. Les
:
ness of all nature nodded their eternal
fihrr> inScparahly into the warp and
voor of Alan Rnwleigh's career. After
he had guu" 10 the city, weekly
Il letter came to IcShia, always CHEEKY
and fun of optimism. lie had found
studio room with Il veteran portrait
palmer, one Giles Larnc, and his
friendship and cn.operation had
brought "A new fny into Aims life. He
he'd Introduced Alan into advanced ar
ii tic circles. had found him some
stock picture work thar afforded him "A
living, and had cucou-a scd him 10
make an effort for recognition from
the art institute.
And oh, Lc>bia," wrote Alan, my
very being is ruwrapt in II picture, She
theme of which is the end of that
hD'u,'rul day when last we saw one
another and our souls seemed to merge
into a new world Of sweetness and
beauty. The Days End'-it shall be
the effort Of my life and the one star
may shine on MS to illumine our paths
" ''''' 'A'' 80 ''''''
II was little after when letter
written In nm unfamiliar hand came 10
Ie>hla. II was signed titles Larhe'
ana II told the anxious ana alarmed
Leshla that her nance had broken
down from worry ANA oNerwork ana
was III serious CONDITION Al once
Ifshla arranged I" 90 10 the cry IN
aunt resided there' she went I" her
HON" and then {" Giles Lhrne' VINO IN
formed her that Alan was In hospl'
tai and, according To the doctors, In
for n long siege OF sickness.
Leshin stood spellbound, as for the
| first time larne took her TO the studio
and showed upon the easel THE Days
End The tears would come rs she
recognized how Alan had imbibed and
expressed the soulful beauty of that
rrentful eN'ntide. And there In the
far west was the star-their star!
That is where Alan broke down."
explained the faithful old veteran.
lie tried all kinds Of paint to get the