The Snowflake herald., 1920-08-20
Her JUDGMENT
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN.

now keep from her bitter disappOint-
ment and humiliation? He had been
80 ouoyantly confident of his genius !;
drawing, with him. had been as second
nature since childhood
so Duncan gave up his position in
the small town bank. and taking his
mothers eagerly proffered store went
away to study. Even he could not
know the plodding sacrifice that
amount of money represented, but she
had been so glad to help him to the ac-
compllshment Of his goal And as
months passed into years and Duncans
conscientious effort foretold ONLY fail.
ure, he had not the heart to share with
the confident mother his discourage
ment. And so. at first hopefully. and
then desperately-Duncan played his
part of pretense. 1t was story of
promise that his letters contained. and
the checks which he inclosed as he
was able were supposed TO come
from the sale of sketches. instead of
from unimportant employment he had
oeen obliged to accept. And now she
wrote that she was coming to visit
hlm coming to the great city TO view
Tor herself, the paintings which were
winning him fame And as Duncan
dropped the letter. he found himself
staring at an advertisement i'm the
newspaper which he had been holding
beneath it, and the one word which
caught his troubled eye was that Of
paintings" The advertisement stated
that a house was offered for sale out
beyond the city limit and also several
paintings of marked value. Reck-
leSsly Duncan decided He would buy
as many of these paintings as his
purse would allow They were offered,
it was said, at sacrifice, because of
need. The transaction was easily
made; unknown paintings appeared
to have little market value And when
Duncan's mother stood in the bare
room which her son designated his
studio. she was silent in admiration
and pride before the pictures. While
Duncan, carried away by hope anew of
an opening in the world of art won
dered if one of these conceptions of
fered for public display might not
be for him that opening wedge TO a
success later honestly earned. And
so his painted purchase found its way
through pure worth to the walls of
the city art gallery-and across its
canvas cover was painted distinctly
a name-his own.
When the study obtained honorable
mention" it seemed that his future
promise might become reality, so Dun
ran again gave up regular employ
ment and bent to fresh endeavOr AS
his need grew, he disposed one by one
Of the smaller sketches which always
found the sale his own had lacked.
And one day as Duncan worked fever
ishly. the old realization came 70 him.
his pictures would never find that sale
or recognition.
The will to do. but not the gift was
MIS- Dishonesty had availed him
nothing. When he lifted his despond-
ent face a girl stood before him.
II Knocked" said the girl And
then when I saw your studio door
open, I walked in
Duncan gazed listlessly; she was
pretty girl, he thought.
II came" said the girl, ''for an ex-
planation. You who bought my pic
lures from my dead mothers home
how dared you display them as your
0wn?"
your pictures!" Duncan murmured
lazedly.
"Mine!" the girl replied. Her voice
broke TREMENDOUSLY.
"Then it was necessary to sell my
tioyno, it was necessary to sell all II
pcsSessed. The pictures were yours by
right of purchase only. TO erase my
naI.e from the canvas, and substitute
vo1r awn-well. there's name for
.tkat crime. and a punishment"
Before the fire Of heA Indignation
fl.lncan was dumb. Then came halt
ing!v. another step across the wooden
floor. Duncan's old mother greeted the
.irI with natural friendlineSs.
"Soine one TO see my boys paint
ings?' she asked. LET me show them
to you"
Her voice held the eagerness OF
cltild's. my sons success is a JOY
that cannot be taken from me. Seems
as if I'd lived, and worked for just
This hour. Even Duncan did not hope
10 have a picture exhibited. But =
knew"
Over the Silvery head Of his mother
rhe mans miserable eyes met those
of the girl, and suddenly the flash OF
hers softened to mistfulness.
'T am so glad for you" she said to
,he mother, 'that your dream came
true"
It was as she passed out, through the
door that Duncan reached the girls
side.
"It's all right" she told him cheer
fully.
uVo,, hovn nrovnn for me- my talent.