The Washington times., 1923-06-30
ND all through lunch she
was q charming hostess

more Charming tndH VIC
ever before known her to be.
Somehow she made me think OF
. cat playing with q mouse and
doing It gracefully.
There was no escaping her, un-
less / called off the tea appoint
ment. This / was strangely loath
20 do. And Rosa might have in
sisted on going anyway.
It was. therefore, with feelings
Of citation and chagrin strangely
mingled that I followed Betty
down the hall leading to the studio
where Ruth Gregory lives. And
when Betty Nfted the great bronze
knOclker on the door my heart
seemed to be knocking also.
The door opened slowly. A little
japanese maid stood bowling in
the threshold. And beyond her
was q tall. rangy woman with I'M
tidy hair and a painters smock
over her dress. She was painting
away furiously in the last mo.
lnents Of clear white daylight.
Strangely / had moment Of
panic. For this woman who re-
fused to recognize our existence
was the ugly beauty I'd seen 30
many times before.
Ny ugly Beauty seen In her
own studio and revealed ~ the
great artist, Ruth Gregory, was
an even more strangely arrest
ing figure than she'd been In the
restaurant where she claimed all
the attention Of three men, and
made her pretty little companion
nudity.
Betty. Rosa and I fingered a
moment In the doorway, Miss
Gregory calmly went on painting,
and did not give any sign Of
knowing we'd arrived.
We'll, Satsuma-San, evidently,
I'm to be the hostess. 80 wen
come in" laughed Betty q trifle
uneasiiy. - sssst -
The little figure bowed gravely
and stepped aside. Betty led Us
in and to corner nook Of the
studio. The painter went on
working az intently as II the
great room were $500 instead Of
twenty-five feet wide.
'6he boards the last flicker
Of white light" explained Betty
q trifle awkwardly. Painters
must. you know. Light il 90
precious. Well take OFF our
things and then creep over and
watch her II you like"
I didn't like. Ny mind was q
chaos Of impressions. Again
heard Ruth Gregory planning to
spend the weekend in Springdale
at the foot of the mountains, be-
cause 1t was within two hours Of
the city. lived through the mo.
ment when I'd see Jim and a
vaguely familiar figure in a taxi
that -eareened on one wheel
around a corner and disappeared
as Pat and I drove away from
Nell's on the day Phoebe's baby
was born. Jim's sudden trip to
Springdale ION business" after
he'd been unable to plan a week
end with me dashed at my mem
DRY.
And now l was guest in Ruth
Gregory's studio-inVited to watch
her while she painted away, ut.
terly ignoring me. l couldn't SO
belittle myself as to "creep over"
and watch. My mind was spying
on her. My eyes shouldn't.
Rose had no such qualms or
mental reservations. She tiptoed
over with Betty and watched
b~es thlessly while the rather
niusAy figure in it's checked apron,
painted away in broad sweeps.
Suddenly Miss Gregory lowered
her arm, wiped her brush non
c,la'Antly on her apron, and said
curly:
THAT will do. Missile"
And Betty Pays.
Then she stepped back and sur.
veyed her work. A little figure
climbed down from a position
hitherto hidden from me by the
easel, buttoned tight little jack
ct about her thin and shabby fig
ure and started for the door.
Got five dollars, Betty?" de-
nlanded Miss Gregory suddenly,
showing her awareness of our ex-
isience. Give 1t to Missile. I'll
be with you in a minute"
While Betty paid the BDedel.
Miss Gregory wiped her hands on
BE. SSint spattered apron, ran
them through her already untidy
hair. hitched it up with hairpin
or two and then turned and OBJ
served us with much the same