The Washington times., 1934-12-22

II still love my Stuart King
best! Always, Sharlene."
Julie tucked the letter back In
it's envelope slowly. He's right"
she thought, amazed. "She doesn't
mean a thing! She just wants
him to listen while she boasts
about her men. Women like that
make me sick! But, of course,
he'd never see through her.
Poor Stuart!"
Stuart had had moments, IN
the past five years. of as much
happiness as q man can hope to
have this side of paradise. Mo-
mentS when it seemed to him
that he was catching and pre-
serving on canvas those mystical
flashes of great beauty which
surged at intervals through his
whole being. Disappointment at
the result inevitably followed, but
the moments of creation were
pure ecstasy.
He did not mind much being
often hungry and shabby and un'
comfortably chilly on rainy days
when there was no quarter for the
gas meter. He really did not mind
much, for he was at least free
from dull commerce and duller
people. Free to do the thing he
loved to do, after 10 long years OF
waiting.
High Plans
There had been high plans for
him, when, in his teens, he had
shown a precocious aptitude in
school for color and form. He
had been in an art school in New
York when his father suddenly
died and left him the full response
bility of his mother and three
young sisters-and a multitude OF
debts. There had never been any
money in that improvident family.
But they had gaily backed Stuart
in his wish to be an artist, though
everyone knew that there was no
money in art. Even after his
fathers death, when Mrs. Penning'
ton saw that she had exactly $50
left in the bank, she said to
Stuart:
"You 60 on back to art school,
honey. We'll get along somehow" ;"
But Stuart had recognized his
| lob, He lived in a part Of the
country where it is inconceivable
for a gentlewoman to labor out
side her home. He went to work
in DaVidson'S Advertising Agency.
There his natural skill in drawing
and a flair for telling stories in
pictures brought him promotions.
He spent a decade at hard labor
with the compensation Of seeing
that the three little sisters were
brought up safely and married
contentedly to hustling young bust.
men men. His mother suffered
over the heart-breaking Illustration
Of his dreams. But Stuart man.
aged to do an amazing amount OF
study and experimenting between
jumps on ads.
One night, soon after the last
wedding, his mother, with her
usual consideration, died quietly
in her sleep.
Stuart promptly made up his
mind that there was no use keep
ing on with a dull job-juSt to
feed himself. After all, there were
other hungers than that OF the
stomach to be satisfied when II
concerned oneself alone.
Old man Davidson had looked
at him severely. $50 you want to
quit and go arty? Humph! Got
anything saved?"
Nothing much" The weddings
and the funeral had been expen
sive. They were conducted, OF
course, in accordance with family
and community traditions.
You'd better stay on the job
few years more, young man. save
your money"
But then I'll be too old. III
have lost the gleam. I'm 2S nov
and near to being snug"
you're o fool-art don't pay!'
It'll pay mel" said Stuart, Sc
renely.
And it had paid, though he'C
never sold a picture yet. two
years in Paris, Cezanne, PicaSso
MatisSe. Color! An orgy of color
Ultimately Stuart destroyed al
those canvaSes. but he got some
thing. His meter was to depic