The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-07-27
Chapter Il
Neptune Poses

Neptune Poses
IAN turned deep, cool eyes to
- Derek. 'Tve done as you ad-
viSed, Derek-about my painting.
I'm rested now and eager to try
again. don't quite know yet what
1t will be, but surely something
different. Tomorrow morning be-
gin my last attempt"
Good. You II succeed this time. +"
"Derek, why don't you try
again? 1t might be different now.
You are different whether you
realize it or not"
IT'S no use. Jan" His tone was
final. GAS a composer I'm finished
If l ever began. I'd rather not
talk about it.
She let her voice be deliberate
ly scornful. eff you had any faith
In yourself at all. if you had the
least bit of courage"
"Oh. STOP" he ordered Grossly.
'fNext time you'll be saying my
sore ego hasn't healed"
We'll. has it?"
go back to your cooking and
leave me alone" he said rudely,
scowling at her.
The next morning, as soon as
the breakfast dishes were done
and Lance's needs attended to,
Jan took herself and Neptune up
on the roof. The sky was over
cast, but the air was warm for
Nav an1 -
caused little concern to people
who lived year round at the
beach.
Before doing anything at all,
Jan stretched out in her striped
canvas deck chair and concen-
trated on the achievement of COM
plete relaxation. Almost she fell
asleep, caught herself, yawned
and blinked and took few bend
ing exercises. Today she wore a
Smock of yellow linen with exag-
gerated collar and gay flowing
scarf, new yellow ankletS and
cork-Soled sandals.
Maybe it was a bunch, maybe
a conditioning reflex, but she re-
belled at setting up her easel and
daublng with oils or water colors.
No. today she would sketch, draw
anything and everything she saw.
Putting drawing board across
the arms of the deck chair she
tackled a sheet of heavy white
paper on it and laid a half-dozen
soft black pencils within reach.
Her glance took in the possibilities
offered by the rooftop There was
Derek's tent, the big red chimney.
the pots holding blooming purple
petunias, dark red dahiiaS. white
tulips, multi-colored nasturtiums
and right in front of her. pat
ting at then catching and tossing
up crumpled piece of paper.
Neptune. Sensing he had an in
tereSted audience he ffattened out
on his side holding the paper be-
tween his paws and regarded her
with inscrutable amber eyes.
Swiftly. smiling to herself as
she worked. she sketched him
with sure. def strokes of pencil.
'Neppy." she said. "why didn't I
use you as a model before? You
behave well and you cost me
nothing.
Two On A Spree
IN FIFTEEN minutes time the
sketch was completed. Jan
turned her read this way and
that to observe all perspectives
on her work. The smile she wore
disappeared. "Neppy!" she gasped
out. "Neppy, I've put you on pa
per. mean it's really you Alive.
1niSchieUouS. resting from play
This is the only thing I've ever
done that's 1liUel"
Excited. yet controlling her
eagernesS. she took more paper
and took time to pose her model
For hours she worked, complete
ly unaware of time passing. She
drew the complaiSant cat tapping
cream; curled on the parapet with
the breeze rumpling his fur: peek
ing out between flower pots;
standing upright smelling for cat
nip on small table; sleeping in
a basket. and teasing with wide
open mouth for a piece of fish in
her fingers. In all she made ten
sketches, then traced her name in
bold Signature at the bottom of
each.
Quaking inside. almost afraid to
risk second examination. she lift
ed each one for minute scrutiny.
placed tissue over it and put it on
the pile.
''They are good" she whispered
in quivering eXultation. Good
enough to SELL"
Weary, unaware of it, hugging
TO herself this secret, she packed
the sketches in corrugated paper,
bound them with wrapping paper
and addressed them to national
ly famous women'S magazine. De-
termined not TO consult anyone.
not to stop to consider anything.
she carried them TO the post Office
and mailed them.
Not until she was halfway home
did reaction set in and then she
wanted to dash back to the post
Office and retrieve her package.
She assured herself practically.
'The worst that can happen : -
lection. If they don't catch -
editors fancy she'll sc-4 = -
back to me. That's al