The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-18
THE GOLD CROSS.
"Fello! What's this?"


John Ainsworth stopped to pick up 2
gold cross which was lying on the side
walk outside his office door. Being intent
on his morning duties, he put it in lis
waistcoat pocket without further thought,
for he was a busy man, the editor of
great daily paper.
He had studiously avoided the other resi-
dents of the house, and perhaps it was fol
that reason that he scorned the elevator,
preferring to bound up the marble stairs
to his coy rooms on the third floor. This
habit greatly amused his young brother,
Elliott, who shared his home and any 9TH
er comforts that the gods of John provided.
Elliott was & lazy, happy go lucky artist,
whose profession had not as yet brought
him all income.
When John entered the pretty sitting
room that evening, he found his brother
putting the finishing touches to what he
was pleased to call an ideal head
John walked to the easel and glanced
carelessly at the sketch, rather bored to be
forced to spend time on one of EIliott's
many daubs. But for once his attention
was arrested. Something in the light
brown eyes appealed to him, and as he
studied the face it seemed more and more
to besecch his friendliness at least.
"EIliott, you rascal, you have stolen
thisl By Jove, it's the best you have
done!'
THANK you, Jack, and to tell you the
truth, It's q face I've seen and dreamed
about, but painted entirely from meme~y."
"Whcre did you see her? If you have
really portrayed some living girl, she must
be indeed Il beauty
Elliott seemed web pleased that an an
swer was not expected.
The next morning when John put his
hand in his pocket for his Car fare he ran
against something unusual, and pulling it
out recognized the little golden cross. He
looked at it carefully and saw the inscrip-
ton ''Muricl' upon it.
When he raised his head he blushed to
see the light brown eyes eff Elliott s sketch
watching him demurely, even appealtngly,
it seemed to him. Yes, it must be she, the
same brow, the waving hair the dainty
lips and, best of all, the wonderful eyes!
Now, John Ainsworth had reached the
sober age of IS. and if any one had told
him that a pair of hazel eyes would set his
heart to beating like a steam pump or
cause crimson hue to suffuse his manly
face he would have secuted at the idea.
But that was just what was going on this
very morning, and as the sensation was
so new and SO alarming the only idea that
came to him was flight.
So he made his way to the door of the
car and dropped off, only to regret it, as
he had voluntarily given up the only
chance of finding out who she was or
where she was going.
Following his first impulse, he started
at lively pace to pursue the car, but
stopped short when he heard a familiar
voice calling:
Hold on there, Jack, old man What's
the rush? Is there fire, or arc you after
a SCOOP"
''woll, you here? I managed to get off
at the wrong corner and thought to regain
the car
"Your supper last night must have been
too much fer you, though 1 should have
supposed you would have slept off the eff
fects. Let us walk on down town. I'd
like to take you in to see some water eolors
at Browns
Speaking about water colors, what are
you going to do with that head? You
won't sell it, will your"
"Will I? Won't 1, if can find any
patron of art who appreciates it to thu
tune Of 500 or SO? This art for arts sake
is all very poetical, but the time is COM