The Washington times., 1934-12-22

Wouldn't let him buy that beau
tiful English vermilion. Said 1t
was an iodide Of mercury-and
impermanent. Ha! Was he, after,
putting anything on canvas worth
preserving?
He climbed the sheer path to
the little shack that crowned the
hill, without enthusiasm, no wings
on his feet, though a pair Of
sparkling dark eyes watched Gag.
erly from the window above.
There seemed to be grim antici-
patton in his slow progress. Now
he counted the concrete steps on
tho short flight beside the dry
lily pool. He did not turn, as
usual, to look back at the breath
taking panorama Of the city
spreading to where the sun was
sinking into the sea. Nor did he
even glance above his head at the
orange-flecked clouds which re-
flected down on him a strange
coppery glow. He, whose soul
was stepped in beauty, walked for
once unheeding through q vo-
luptuouS splendor Of color. His
eyes were turned inward, and
there the tones were grey.
Julie, warned by the snort and
dying gasp Of Mr.. Jingle, pressed
her small nose against the window
and watched until Stuart came
up into sight. The slender grace
of him in the shapelesS old
tweeds. His bare head-he did
not own a hat-hurnished with
the last rays Of the sun. His
deep, deep blue eyes. now bent to
the earth. Why didn't he look
up and wave? He never did, to
be sure. He was so confoundedly
caSual-he took her too much for
granted! With sudden anger, she
stamped her tiny foot in its ab-
surd h1gh'heeled sandal. But she
flew to the door like a small black.
bird in her smooth black satin pa.
jamas.
Hello. darling!" she cried as
she let him in.
He Strode past her into the
room and laid down the packages,
ANY mail?"
"Oh - nothing important, I
guess. What did you bring from
down town."
She started to open the pack.
ages with the eager interest of q
child. The tubes Of paint and Nhe
cheese she tossed aside. And then
she found the comb.
"Oh, Stuart! For me" She
rushed to the mirror and thrust
the comb into the masses of her
blue-black hair and was en-.
chanted. ooh, isn't it ducky?
Look. Stuart"
"Uh-huh. I want to do you as a
little Mexican dancing girl in a
cantina."
"Oh It's only a prop. I
thought - just maybe - it was
a present."
But Stuart failed to notice her
plaintive tone. He was turning
over the advertisements and bills
in the letter tray. At the bottom
was a thick cream envelope - OBJ
viouSly not an advertisement. He
seized it with a low exclamation.
Julie glanced over at him and her
full red lips frightened. She had
recognized the handwriting and
she had seen that it was post.
marked New York. She knew
what that meant: Sharlene Stand.
ring was back in this country.
Inspiration
Stuart read the letter quickly,
little smiles playing across his mo.
bile face. His blue eyes were shin.
Ing with a far-away look when he
raised them at last-to gaze past
the small, black, resentful figure
in the window to the radiance be-
yond.
"IS she-is she coming back
here?" Julie asked in q strained
voice.
Stuart started and tucked the
letter into his shirt pocket. "YeS!
She's coming home!' He almost
chanted it. "Sharlene's coming
home!" He Strode up and down
excitedly. obliviouS Of jules sui.
len little face. Presently he
pushed his easel over into the
window. Bring me that new tube
Of ultramarine, that's a good girl,
Julie. There's still some light -
now I think I can get that ef.
feet"
His voice trailed off as he
picked up his brushes and took
the palette from her hands, his
eyes all the time on the canvas
before him. Julie sneered a little
to herself. OF course, now he'd
think Sharlene Standring was
sending him inspiration - like
absent treatment.
After some minutes, she took
the cheese and went off to the
kitchen.
Stuart worked quickly. intensely,
his whole mind immersed in the
task before him. He had wanted
for days to get the effect of sun
light coming through clouds. Not
shining from q capriciously benefi.
cent heaven in rays like the New
Jerusalem down on his figures. He
had wanted the light to come,
somehow, from his central figure,
to burst forth from the troubled
soul Of the man, the light Of hope
out Of darkness. The mood Of the
sun shining through clouds.
AZ he worked. part Of him was
O0nSoAoaSa ~ %Ion 1Atknr In I@IS sI,jrk