Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-02-26
SYMPATHY
By R. A BAKER


(@. 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
Alphonse MacGregor Smith was a
queer mortal.
Although his combination of French,
Scotch and plain American names
was part of his queerness, that was
not what worried the young men and
women of the social set of which he
was a member.
The thing that made them look
askance at Alphonse was his ambition.
He wanted to do something in the
world, and, of course, such an idea
was all nonsense, because Alphonse's
father could write a check in n fig
ure and six ciphers if he wanted to.
Although the idea that he should
work grew on Alphonse, he began
keeping his own counsel in the mat
ter, for whenever he had mentioned a
job the young men Of his acquaintance
had always sneered and the young
ladies had laughed outright and told
him he was a good joker.
One of these girls played a big part
in Alphonse's visions Of the future.
Her name was Clara Lennox and her
family was quite as well fixed finan-
cially as the Smiths. Although he had
never preached the subject to her, it
was pretty well understood that some
day a matrimonial partnership would
ensue from their associations. Their
parents encouraged this idea, for it
was considered a good match.
And yet Clara would not sympathize
with Alphonse's ambition.
eff you want to work." she contend
ed, "why don't you get a position rs
manager in n Of your fathers fac
tories? If you feel that you ought to
crafty your whim, pick out some
thing soft, and If you fall you won't
land so hard
This might have been practical adj
vice, but what Alphonse wanted was
to climb the success ladder with his
own ability and not an influential IA
Their as his support.
Now, Alphonse had a secret. He
nourished a conviction that he could
paint pictures. For years he had prac-
ticed it On the sly, and an old artist
with whom - had a clandestine ac-
q%uaintanceG told him he was a natural
born painter. All he needs was the
proper environment, said this author
ity, and the urge of necessity and he
was bound to make good. In talking
of a job Alphonse never had dared
breach the subject of art for fear it
would land him in an asylum for the
insane.
Finally he could stand it no longer.
He told his parents he needed a
change of atmosphere. His father Of
fered him a trip West, but Alphonse
said it was a different kind of atmos-
phere he desired.
"Give me 5000 and three months
and don't try to find me. I'll write to
you," he said.
To his friends he offered various ex-
cuses, and then took himself to a quar-
ter Of the city where artists and au-
thors held sway. He rented a studio,
bought what equipment he did not
already have and went to work.
During his first month with art he
hired a number Of different profess
sional models and painted several pic
lures which he placed on sale at stores
devoted to the products Of the easel,
but none of them sold. He knew there
was something lacking in his pictures,
but there was no one to tell him what
1t was. At the beginning of his
wrestle with work Alphonse tried to
find his old artist friend, but the latter
was abroad, although he was expected
home soon.
At the end of his first month of un-
successful effort he went once more in
quest of the artist. The little house he
had occupied in the colony showed
signs of life this time, and a rather
d%iminutive, young girl with curly vel
low hair, deep, serious pools Of blue
eyes and an olive complexion answer
ed his knock.
"Mr. Smith," she said, raising her
eyebrows. Eyes, I've heard Of you
from father. But father-father died
a month ago in Italy"
Alphonse expressed his sympathy
and started away. She called:
perhaps I could help you, if it's
something about painting. Father used
to say I was lbs best critic. I'll be
frank and tell you I'm out of funds.
If you need a model"
Alphonse liked the suggestion, but
he was low on funds himself. He
could get from home, but he
had resolved to go it alone. He ex-
planned that he was meeting no sue
cess whatever, and that he was in no
position to offer the girl much remu-
~neration, but she said she was willing
to risk 1t and agreed to go to his
studio the next morning.
On his way back to his workshop,
his mind occupied with thoughts Of his
new acquaintance, he stopped in a
store which had his goods on display.
To his surprise none Of his pictures