The Washington times., 1937-12-25
CHAPTER XIV
Dinner for Twenty-Five

Dinner for twenty-five
Lynn hurried over to the studio
to get Rene's breakfast the next
morning and found him painting
away for dear life.
'It's good. Sit down there! No,
I don't want to eat! I just want
to paint"
Lynn had never seen him like
this. A fever burned in his eyes
as he worked. He did not seem to
see her at all or realize she was
there. She stood against a back.
ground o. some blue stuff, as Rene
tried again to catch the magic of
Florida moonlight. Finally, at II
o'clock, Lynn protested.
I'm starving. I'm eating,
whether you are or not!" She
stepped off the models stand and
put an apron over her white dress.
Rene threw down his brushes in
disgust.
"You have no artistic tempera,
ment!"
1--WE always told you that. Be,
sides, I'm hungry"
She scrambled some eggs, and
Rene ate most of them when they
were done. He kept talking about
the picture.
"Get back there. Never mind
those dishes"
Lynn did as she was ordered,
and they were at it again. It must
have been after when Marty
came and found Rene still hard
at it.
go away" grumbled Rene.
'Now, that's a welcome for you
I just wanted to see how the pic.
ture was coming"
Rene stood resolutely in front
Of the canvass, Marty, looking
at Lynn's tired face, felt sorry
for the girl. The studio was
sitting. Marty pushed Rene aside
and looked at the canvas. HI
gasped in surprise There Stooc
a slender, shimmering figure ir
deepest moonlight. Marty rec
ognized the quality instantly. II
was lovely thing. Wild had been
right.
The guy could paint-real pic
lures, not sugar and water stuff
well are you satisfied, now
you've stuck your nose in here?"
"Rene!" Lynn reproved him for
his rudeness.
"Think nothing of it. I'm used
to being insulted by artists u
Marty walked around the canvas
Good" Then he thrust his
hands into his pockets. what
now? What about the lady Of the
furs?"
"She can go hang!"
Marty threw up his hand
Whatever you say"
Rene threw himself upon q
couch exhausted. The shadows
were lengthening in the big, bare
room. Shortly, Rene was asleep,
Marty, signaling to Lynn, tip.
toed out, and she went with him
Lets get out Of here, Lynn.
He needs rest. He's been work
ing too hard anyway. Wild sent
me over to entice him out Of town
next weekend" Outside, Marty
told Lynn that Wild was waiting
for him over at the Brevort.
Il can't CO." Lynn said. She
wanted desperately to run away
to her shabby room. She felt re.
bellious and unhappy. She had
promised Rene. Nothing could
change that. But she did not
want to go away from this town
Why, she did not explain to her.
self, except that she felt injured
and angry at the world.
In the next few days, Lynn had
little time for anything except
work. Rene was painting like a
madman now the spirit moved
him. He finished the fur picture,
began planning an ice one.
He had finished the portrait of
Lynn and it was carefully hidden
away. He refused to allow any.
body to see it, even Wild, who ap.
preciated his work so much.
Lynn's vacation was over and
she went back to Nine. Reanoud's S
again for the fall showing as she
had promised.
Just before Labor Day, Rene
went off for a few days vacation
up to Marty's cabin in Connect
cut and Wild insisted that Lynn
should keep her promise and come
up to South Hampton. She hesi
tated, now that the time hac
come.
Does your mother know I'm
the girl you brought home that
night I left Florida?"
"Of course she doesn't. tolc
her about 1t at the time. but that's
ALL"
"Are you sure?"
Certain! Wild smiled at Lynn
and said: There is not one othel
excuse you can give! You've go
to come"
So Lynn agreed. She had no
much longer here in New York
now that she had given her prom
ise to Marty and Rene. She wa
determined to grab what happi
ness she could.
Wild was to bring Lynn dow
after work on Friday. He wa
waiting for her at $50, and he't