Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1921-02-24
A Masterpiece
By WINFIELD sADLER
ID. W.. Nestern Ns,yspaper Un.0....

aimed to be an artist, but many things
had stood in his way, principally the
lack of money; but six months be
fore an uncle had died, leaving him
and his sister modest sum, AMI Her
bert had commenced to study art. He
had taken lessons, then started oil on
a sketching trip through the South,
for it was then winter. On his return
he rented a studio, devoted himself to
his art. painting steadily for q week.
No one, not even his sister or The
Girl had been admitted. Now he was
giving a house warming, and behind
an embroidered SIX curtain was the
result of his efforts.
whats the subject Of your pic
ture?" asked the one who thought he
might make good on houses. She
knew that real estate had formerly
been Herbert's business.
I'm keeping it secret" he re-
turned grayely, and Mabel. his sister,
chimed in:
Eyes, really and truly secret.
Why, not even Helen has wormed 1t
out of him. and all the company
present realized that If Helen Smith
could not make him tell, no one could,
for she was The Girl, a fact which
everyone. including Helen herself
knew very well. As yet Herbert
had not had the courage to tell her so,
so he did not know whether he was
The Man or not.
'Tell us. Put an end to the misery"
suggested the young man who had
asked v Herbert could paint, and the
tea and sandwiches being all con-
sumed, Herbert walked slowly across
the floor to the silk curtain. Pausing
an instant, the young man viewed the
crowd. He saw Helen, of course, but
was delighted to notice Hammond.
He was art critic on the Courier, and
Herbert knew he needed the good will
of those who might not appreciate his
artistic efforts. To tell the truth,
though, Hammond was there because
Mabel was. He would have sacrificed
himself much more than this for her
sake.
ladies and gentlemen, and hon.
ored critic" remembering Hammond
just in time.
II am glad to meet you there, /
would say greet you here, mean beat
you where. Really, mean you are
welcome" and he polished off his face
with paint rag, hastily caught up,
thereby decorating his face in man.
ner more startling than becoming.
"Yes, you are welcome, I'm well
come, Hammond is welcome, and we're
all welcome" he managed to get out.
LETS welcome each 0tner,v muir
INJURED Hammond, and then stopped,
touched BY Mabel's appealing eyes.
YES, of course we are all well
come" Herbert floundered. but Mabel
helped him out by suggesting;
4 So" g. (, L ~. ~. picture"
nc he sy.e, the picture. III show
it to yon and you'll see then whether
or not I'm an artist--if I'm not an ora
tor" and Herbert beamed, flourishing
the paint rag.
81 call MY picture "A Quiet Cos
sip,'" Herbert continued, suddenly
drawing the curtain.
nThere was silence; then Helen
gave a sob. 1t was awful.
Women can always be counted upon
to rise to the occasion. The picture
was terrible. but Herbert was not, at
least to Helen. She knew, even If
he had not yet found out that he was
The Man for her, that he was, and
disregarding the rest, she slipped up
to him, and laying her hand on his
arm, said bravely:
II think it is wonderful picture,
Herbert. I'm awfully proud to know
the artist who painted it."
1--WE all are" Hammond broke in,
feeling the pathos of the situation,
and especially MabePs grief.
Herbert was not fooled, however.
Dropping the curtain he said broken
w.:
II see how 1t is. I'm ahead of my
time, People haven't learned yet to
see things as they really are" and
his party broke up hurriedly. How
ever, one fingered, and when they were
alone Herbert asked:
Honestly. do you like this picture,
Helen?"
For an instant she tried to say she
did, but knowing its awfulness, she
broke down, and between her sobs
managed to say:
stNo, can't, but do like you"
{ This helped fright smart" as Her
bert had heard them say while he was
South, and with Helen's soft young
cheek pressed against his own, and
her hand In his, he promised to try
I and forgive them all for not beini
truly artistic, and that very day, witt
Helen's kisses still warm on his lips
he signed contract with paten
medicine house to go on the road. Al
he serawled his name at the bottom, b,
said sadly:
II had hoped to put my name to d..
ferent things than this"
Can you paint other pictures, keep
Ing to these two charactersT
4