Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1923-08-22
THE PICTURE
BY JANE GORDON
! - - . . n ~ |. - = . ~ . a. .. u z
&c by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)

DULCIE told her troubles to the
~ cat. There was no one else to
whom she might tell them without
seeming to ask favor. She had fought
bravely in the city and managed to com
plete her art studies against all the
d-ScouraSing prophecies of Hometown
friends But these studies had used
the smafl legacy left her by her mother.
buicie had made fairly good start
on the way to the career that she had
planned. Orders for pictures came, if
not frequently, occasionally. But Oh
this particular morning when snow
beat against the high WindoWs--t,or
Duicie'S corner of the city apartment
building was very near the roof-she
was recovering from that unpleasant
winter malady, the grip. And she
was discouraged over her losses. The
black cat winked his golden eyes sym
patheticaljy in response t9 her conf
dence, rs he nestled in Ducie'S arms.
If" she bewailed Il might only
arouse the professional interest Of one
of the re2l artists in this hgilding, an
order or Two might come NY way. But
how to meet them The President is
not more difficult to approach.
Dulcie War weary Of silent walls,
the sound of her own voice seemed
cOmpanionabl9.
"One may mt present ones stit to Il
successful busy artist without 10 line
Of introduction And anyway, j just
will not go begging. SO, putting aside
our hopes al d dreams, in present need
I'll cook the slice of bacon. ''roor
Peter" she comforted whimsically,
you do not like bacon. DO you sup
pose If | We're to lei you out into the
labyrinth of the high ball YOU might be
able 10 spy fat mouse somewhere?
The Black cat purred and sped down
the apartment hall toward a ventilat-
ing roof window
Far as the east is from the west
seemed the lower luxurious studios of
Philip Duncomb, Illustrator. And
though the noted Philip had not Dui-
cie's problems of ways and means the
matter which brought a furrow TO his
ldiii.NDIlit DINN " as ~ iNSo -
Freedors, the author, must have the
Home" picture for his story, and
Philip could not find the face of the
woman who must fit into his interpre-
tation of the authors fancy.
The picture which he had mentally
built satisfied him in its true home
spirt-the iireside, with the sweet
faced woman waiting before it, cat
costly stretched on the hearth, an old
fashioned picture that caught at the
heart strings-the home that has been
Philip closed the door on his last
impossible mQdel. She had more the
Appearance of d cabaret dancer than q
vile Of he hea,tii. lmpatiently he
flung fe,4e q window to let out the
smoke OF - eigQr. 1E No opsned the
window Peter ~Aa bad come Bt -!
GUS p9ri!ovs ways Of yT9of and colnice,
accepted tie 5ttnifg IS IN Invitation
and sternsd 6irrlnglE Inside. '
The So. ~ eyes Of the drtist widened.
Tlen He smiled. AS | live sap
phi,,r Duncoub, 1.-The very cat for my
nici crimson tied neck ribbon ahd
au.n But Peter, before he might De
nn..snodp1 to pose. made known IA! mls
nr,rc, His pathetic mewing could mean
Eut one thirg-that it vas dinner hoor'
Dulcle, passing through the lower
/ floor hail heard Il Wild meWihg' Wllcn
TO her trained ears could mean Only
her pets cry for help. Nov who' tlt
gll asked herself, could have le
! Peter into that apartment ana sep
| hjn there?' she rang the studio otH'
IMMERSED by the card above AZ pro
claiming the place to he inhabiteo D.
thr famous Philip Duncomb. A wom"
who cared for the artists rooms opehe
the door. Dulcie explained her Ell
rand, "It sounded like my cat sh
apologized," and he has been absent i
day"
"rd be glad enough TO let him OF
and sion the racl,et.' the woman II
turned "Nlt Mr.. puncomh locked II
cat IN TO sketch. lie docs not like n
plans disturbed I expect nm BACK
few minutes Maybe Tou'd IKE
{ step in and wait"
peters cries foc rescue continue
s Dulcie entered the studio the pea
= tiful room was golden from its MAJ
S shaded lights VIII n Philip N1ncomh
d turned. Seated before h,S hreSide t
IS red glow of the los sle&min% agar
S her brown hair revealed the sWe'
/ faced woman of hi mental picture
s. "Home." Expectanu8. he S'o'd. y
III Gle turned her blue eyes toward nm
81 wonder" said Phillip under
inspiration of the moment III
would kindly remain as you are!
With a stride he opened the c'o
of door and released Peter, 1t was d
or Gle. when she understood, no con2
IL the cat to rest on the velvet cush
F. ot her feet. So, sympathiH ng IN
n artists dream, seated in the IuXnri
re warmth Of his fireside, great cont
ed enyeloped her. Her wish mad &C