The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-12-07
Candida's
Reputation
BY JOHN PALMER
49, >>>>S>>>>>S>
"a. isza. ws.tsrn Ns-.p.p.r rslea.l

20. isx2. western Ns~sp.psr unioal
Candida had been engnsed to Harry
M.rrick Of Nerrick. Mclean a sImp.
son for three months before he found
gu, that she xns In love with Arthur
Crnmpton.
And. being IN his late ffties. Mer.
rick. who had always taken life as he
found II. shrugged his shoulders. lie
ought 81 have known better than to
have supposed that II was anything
hut his money that had attracted
girl IN her twcnties.
To the day 81 his death he remein-
bcred the scene In Cdndldc's studio.
Candida In her painting smock. lean.
Ing against the wall. whiteilpped. ds-
font and protesting.
did ! ever tell you loved you.
IIarryY
"No. That's generally taken fcr
granted"
Il care for you Ia certain extent
respect you. and ! should have been
true 10 you. You've made the same
mistake that all men make. You don't
understand that marriage IL a career
20 women.
Arthur and love each other. but
we're both unknown painters. and we
agreed last year that II neither 81 u
saw any prospect of success we'd have
n give each other NJ. That's all. !
thought you might have understood"
\
little hands In his My dear. care
for you enough Co b. willing 20 marry
| you without love" he said. "and trust
love will follow. Hut I'm ready 20
wait Ill wait another year. A years
u goodlsh time o. man at my age
hut III wait. Candida. What de- you
sayf-
4 say" said Candida impulsivcly.
that I nlmost-almost love you
Harry Merrick was satisfied with
his bargain. lie was iifty-seven and
dlsillusioned. lie had lived happily
enough with his FIRST wife. but he had
never loved her lie was one 81 those
men wio believe TINT women must he
cared for. sheltered. guarded. and
that love II ~ the mans making
Candida and Arthur. with another
Year 81 grace before them. set "a work
with a will. II was race against
tim. one yearS-if either could get
established In that period. Merrick's
chances were gone.
Three msnths later Candida secured
an exhibition ~ the show-rooms of n
FIFTH avenue dealer. week, and she
had sold large painting for thou
sand dollars. A wealthy FrenchmAn.
who was studying contemporary Amer.
lcnn arr. had been attracted by her
work.
| A sec-nd sale for fifteen hundred
followed. The purchaser was a chit
cago man He had been advised to
back Candida.
A month passed. and Arthur sold a
small picture for FIVE hundred To an
art connol~seur of Boston.
They were happy The fear ~ Msr-
rick WIS definitely removed. Candida
iunchsd With him sometimes. and he
heard II her success without comment.
| AZ the cxpiry ~ the ninth month
Candida and Arthur were regarded as
coming artists. and Arthur had sold
his historical painting Of the signing
~ the treaty Of vern cruz 20 the Mex.
ican government for FIVE thousand.
swell. my dear. I Congratulate you
both" said Merrick. Il realize that
I'm bound by the terms Of my own
poposal And no one wishes you good
luck more heartily than l."
So-Arthnr and Candida were mar
rled And they were very happy to
gether. painting. Commissions flowed
IN. Nearly all ~ them came from
abroad. however Native American
art appca red To be more highly appre.
ciated overseas than az home
A year after their marriage Merrick
died suddenly. lie left Candida every.
thlng--his property. his house. fine
structure on Madison avenue. where
Candida had never been.
"we must move in" said Candida
There's n fine top floor that would
make a splendid studio for us"
They moved In. Merrick had been
a connolsseur In his way They un
derstood that he had valuable collec-
tlon 81 modern artists Roth Of then
were eager 10 see H."
Poor Harry. Its shame" said
Candida. ito think Of the trick
played on him. only my love for you
could have justified Il. Arthur. I think
he was one ~ the best men In the
world"
Arthur scowled little. lie was
Jealous ~ Merrlck. even dead.
The day came for looking over the
house. The gallery was located on
the third fioor-three rooms full Of
pictures. A. soon as they entered
Candida uttered cry:
"why. there's my first pIcture'- she
exclaimed
Good Lord =" shouted Arthur
there's the one sold the Mexican
government. What does II meanf'
But they knew what II meant. Every
picture IN Harry Merrick's galleries
had been painted by the one or the
other.