The Washington times., 1920-11-28

lLs tonight. You! muck-rakins the
young-meaning us! Get some pep.
little one!" And he ran laughing
out OF the studio.
II was long since he had been
so happy.
Isn't he nice!" painted Clarice.
looking searchingly at her friend.
kdela flushed and did not meet
her gaze.
"Is there anything to eat in the
strong-box. by the way?" she added.
Loads OF things" said Adela.
Crackers. cheese. Jam. and even
bits Of cold chicken. But do you
know what you are. Clarice?"
Something pleasant, / hope" she
murmured, moving toward the Ice
box.
you're an old-fashioned, senti-
mental girl. that's what you are"
How lovely Of you to discern
H." and she turned back to kiss
Adela. And we'll she might. for this
night was the high-water mark Of
Adela's existence In New York.
Adela's delight in her new ex-
istence amounted at times to a pos
tive ecstasy. Often. after she came
to live with Clarice in the "Ru-
bens," she would float down the
two flights OF steps leading to the
pavements Of Eighth avenue In
way that made the maturer inhabi-
tants OF the old building sigh with
envy. Whorls OF the original cos
mic energy of creation seemed to
vibrate In her passing. Those
elderly landscape and miniature
painters OF both sexes who peopled
the "Rubens" would have been
amazed to know that this fair and
electric young body contained an
aching heart.
To the dwellers In Mecca II Ia a
commonplace to gaze upon the
sacred mosque and to hear the
muezzin from the sacred tower.
Both are not improbably listed In
the local telephone and business
directories and all the traffic doubt
less leads to the sacred shrine. But
II one has to come to them by cara
van from the Libyan Desert or by
pilgrimage from the Indian Ocean
Mecca Is a precious reward for long
yearning, aspiration and sacrifice.
Adela was the distant pilgrim to
Mecca. It was the guerdon Of hope
and OF toll. and she was filled with
a passionate flame of enthusiasm.
In the radiant haze OF her art am.
bitions, the ideals and models that
floated dimly formed an inspiring
Pantheon. Such masters as Raph-
ael, Michael Angelo and Leonardo
were by no means excluded a.
models to emulate.
II Is doubtful whether those
painters who fill out empty spaces
in the budget by teaching at the.
League realize the veneration with
which such students as Adela sur
rounded them. Their slightest
movement and gesture is Of pro-
found significance. and the tradi-l
tional homage paid to the MASTER
painters in the Paris studios Is no
greater than here. 1t is unfortunate
that no important writers teach the
art OF letters. II they did, they
might know the meaning Of wor-
ship. Youth Is seldom grateful to
the teacher OF knowledge. But the
teacher Of beauty it exalts to al
pinnacle.
Womanlike, Adela had invested
Anthony with her own exuberant
emotion. But as time went on and
there emerged a new Anthony with
something subdued and arrested in
him, something that seemed ire
parably altered. she experienced
the bitterness OF disappointment In
the man she loved. With the in.
tuitive strategy OF her years and
sex she endeavored to conceal her
feelings and fell upon her work
with a fierce passionate ardor that
advanced her rapidly in the school.
Young men among the students
hung about her and constantly neg
lected their work, watching cov7
1