Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-07-30
HER JUDGMENT
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN.
wright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union

AS Duncan read his mothers letter
his face grew white and tense. How
could he Justify himself in her ewes.
how keep from her bitter dlsappoint-
ment and humiliation? He had been
so buoyantly confident of his genius:
drawing, with him. had been ms 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
| mad been so glad to help him to the ac-
oompishment of his goal. And as
months passed into years and Duncan's
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
been obliged to accept. And now she
| wrote that she was coming 70 visit
| him, 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 in 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 house was offered for sale out
| beyond the city limit and also several
| paintings of marked value. Reck-
| essly Duncan decided He would buy
as many of these paintings as his
purse would allow. They were offered,
it was said, at a 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 It's way
| through pure worth to the walls Of
the city art gallery-and across it's
canvas cover was painted distinctly
name-his own.
When the study obtained honorable
| mention" it seemed that his future
| promise might become reality, so Dun
can 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 to him,
his pictures would never find that sale
Or recognition.
The will to do. but not the gift was
his. Dishonesty had availed him
nothing When he lifted his despond-
ent face girl stood before him.
II Knocked" said the girl. "And
then when I saw your studio door
open, walked in"
Duncan gazed listlessly; she was a
pretty girl, he thought
81 came" said the girl, "for an ex-
PLANTATION. You who bought my pic
lures from my dead mothers home
how dared you display them as your
own?"
"Your pictures I" Duncan murmured
dazedly.
"Minei" the girl replied. Her voice
broke TREMENDOUSLY.
"When it was necessary to sell my
home, it was necessary TO sell all it
possessed. The pictures were yours by
right of purchase only To erase my
name from the canvas and substitute
your own-well, there's a name for
that crime, and a punishment"
Before the fire of her indignation
Duncan was dumb. Then came halt
ingly, another step across the wooden
floor. Duncans old mother greeted the
girl with natural friendliness.
"Some one TO see my boys paint
ings?" she asked. Let me show them
to YOU"
Her voice held the eagerness of a
child'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
to have a picture exhibited. But l.
| knew"
| Over the Silvery head of his mother
the mans miserable eyes met those
of The girl, and suddenly the flash Of
hers softened to mistfulnesS.
II am so glad for YOU" she said 20
the mother, that your dream came
true"
1t was as she passed out through the
door that Duncan reached the girls
cidn