The herald., 1920-12-16
The
Unfinished Picture
By OTILLIA F. PFEIFFER


Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
With resignation and patience Mar
win Truesdale took up the burdens OF
life after his wife had died. Her sick
ness, which had lasted for over year,
had called for his constant presence
and he had removed his studio to the
house. There was little Violet, two
years old, TO care for, and practically
his life was given up to the demands
OF the sickrOOm and nursery.
He was a true artist at soul, and
his troubles came upon him just as
he was beginning to win recognition.
Before twelve months had gone by,
Truesdale had practically lost his pOr-
trait clients. Somehow, soul and mind
seemed going through a change that
dulled all ambition. One Of his sever
est diSappointments was the dlScov-
cry that he had made mistake in
marrying in haste. His wife was not
a helpmeet. All she seemed 10 care
for was frivOlity and dress. She used
up his income; even the coming OF
little Violet did not arouse Il right
appreciation of maternal duties. She
developed into a fretful, capriciOus In
valid, with no thought beyond her own
distress, and demanding luXurles her
husband could poorly afford. When
she died Truesdale had barely enough
after selling nearly everything he had
left Of home and studio Punishment,
70 demands ~
He rented two furnished rooms in a
poor quarter. The little one was a
lovely child and chung TO him, but she
too, however, was frail Of frame, and
Truesdale was oppressed with a deep
dread that she might have inherited
the seeds of the disease which had
carried her mother to an early grave.
Finally a large mail-Order house
specializing In enlarging photographs
offered Truesdale a position in hand
Coloring them. II was uncongenial,
/ but he was given a room all TO him
/ self for his delicate work, and, what
meant q great deal more, an OppOrtun-
ity TO have little Violet with him all
/ day long. There was a little empty
apartment adjoining his work room.
He bought some toys with which the
little one could amuSe herself, child's
rocking chair and a couch, each noon
provided a nourishing lunch and was
glad and content as long as she was
not left to Indifferent care at the
boarding house.
The room looked out upon a court
walled in on all sides and Violet did
not thrive. One day when her father
had left her to carry some finished
photographs to the mailing room, he
returned to greet a pleasing surprise.
Little Violet was seated on the couch
upon the lap Of q lovely faced girl Of
about nineteen, who was listening with
a smile of interest TO her artless pratt
tie. The visitor arose, flushing with
some embarrassment
II love children so that the voice
Of this little angel lured me to an
intrusion" she said. 81 am Miss
Norine Warren. Ny aunt has charge
of the help about the building and /
live with her on the top floor"
"And she has a garden, oh, papal"
interrupted Violet. And flowers grow
ing way up under the sky. Can't l
90 up there at noOntime, for she says
l canT
"Come, both Of you, please" invited
Miss Warren, land get a breath OF
real air. The chief janitor has made
my aunt quite roof garden-why not
pass your noon hour there? You will
find 1t pleasant and good for the little
one"
And that noon the gracious, kindly
Miss Warren led those two to the
rooms where she and her aunt lived,
and thence by a narrow stairway to
the roof. Wire screened in the great
er portion of 1t. Here and there small
trees were set In tubs and flowers and
vines In boxes. There were several
chairs, settees, tables and hammock
and an awning to shield from the aft
ernoon sun. 1t came about that Miss
Warren delighted in having little Vio-
let for a guest most Of the day. 1t
came about also that Truesdale should
pass several hours a week in their
company.
my father, too, was an artist" she
recited. "He was at work on his last
picture when he died. 1t was his
torical subject. / was his model. 1t
is still unfinished, but will show 1t to
you"
She led Truesdale to the room her
father had used as a studio. left just
as It was when Robert Warren last
occupied 1t. Upon an easel was the
canvas she had told about. The theme
appealed to every artistic instinct In
Truesdale's impressionable nature. The
delineation of Norine's beautiful face
thrilled him. Back amid familiar sur
roundings his old aspirations aroused.
eff / dared to suggest it." he said.
show my soul would delight In striv-
Ing to complete a canvas that the
world should not lose," and Norine
was glad, even urged him to essay the
task.
Out Of II all came a strangely for.
tunate issue. The completed canvas
dead Robert Warren given the credi,
of its production, attracted the atten
ton Of the public when placed on ex
IalR