River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-12-19

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western city, waiting for a ear. Her
DAYS work was over. and she was dread
fully tired. The holiday rush had be
gun; she had sold that day over $500
worth of goods in her department.
the cloak department. 4 car came
plunging along. iIlumined with green
light. the gong changing loudly. In
obedience to her signal the nOtOrman
stopped the weird. heavily laden con
veyanee, and she stepped aboard. Once
inside, she caught the strap quickly IN
order 10 steady herself as the car
lurched forward.
\ tall, rather MISUNDERSTANDING
man, wearing eyeglasses. rose, and
bcckoned to her to take his seat. As
Marion came toward the vacant place a
look of recognition leaPed into his keen
eyes. lie said in a pleasant, mellow
voice: why. isn't this Miss Hayes?'
well. MIR. IIarvoodl Where did you
come frOm2" she exclaimed, extending
her hand, which he grasped heartily.
Where did you come from?" he re-
torted. Didn't l leave you in New
York, painting with the combined en-
NEa1t
I've a studio here; getting along first
rate. too lessons, portraits, and what
] sell. Sold three pictures yesterday;
made a pretty good haul. These west
eraers have the cash. you know. They
are PhiIistines and all that. but l don't
intend to -tarye in garnet for arts
sake; it isn't my style"
when did you come back from
Paris?"
Two years ago. Been here ever
since. Queer I never ran across you
before. Tell me what YOU are up to-"
Il am a saIeswOman in Wilson &
Carr's cloak department"
'Great Scott, What's that for?'
"Oh. my eyes gave out. strained
them that last winter in New York,
after you left. spent three weeks in a
dark room then, and when | came out
they were 50 weak | could do nothing.
went home for a year; they were hot
one bit better. IL was necessary
should do something, for my father
has hard time To get along; so my
cousin got me this place. This is my
corner. Please stop the ear"
lie pulled the strap. I'm coming to
see Won. When are you at home?'
sunday. anC every evening but Sat
urday evening. No. -. this street"
When they were both students in tine
Art League in New York, some years
ayo. She and Jack HARDWOOD were great
chums. A. Marion vainly tried to sleep
that night She had an attack of memory
and lived those days over again. II had
been terrible thing To put by all the
dreams and aspirations of that time.
Seeing Jack once more brought back
the old pain which the dull routine of
her present occupation had almost eff
faced
The next day was Saturday. with its
extra toll. for they had to stay at the
store until ten o'clock. She slept from
pure exhaustion that night. Sunday
afternoon about four o'clock Jack
called
Couldn't you find anything but this
numbering shop work?' he asked.
thinking Marion looked uncommonly
we'll in that soft brown thing with the
hi.s lace rufiies-
No. / can't even teach; I tried it at
home. The work isn't SO bad when
you're USED to il.
lie shook his head in disapproyal.
Marion went on nerVously:
Really funny things happen some
times. The other day man and wOm-
Hu came to see about buying a shawl.
She couldn't make up her mind which
one she liked best, so she decided TO 90
home am think il over. When they
vent away asked them To come to me
Il the ,ame hack again. and the old
aIar Z: 'Guess we'll know you-you
i,s0is Just like our bridget Then Boz
hpmian woman came in last night To
buv a coat. She brought her husband
along. and when he objected to the
price she just took hold of his nose and
pulled 1t till he gave in"
Jack smiled and changed the subject
). saving: Don't YOU want to show
one what YOU did that last year? You
Ncnt to Darnell after you left the
t-asue. didn't your
Marion brought her canvases and laid
them before him silently. Jack exam
he,i the studies one by one.
same power. same touch; but, by
love, how you've improved. That boy S
head s fine. Darneu was the man for
YOU Remember how we differed about
That academy picture of his? What a
laundering shame about your eyes,
Have you seen the best oculistsT
Pretty good ones They all say the
same thing: il will take time to recover
from the strain. l did ever so much
Extra work. you know-dinner cards
christmas cards. all that kind of stuff
Electricity would do my eyes good. but
tits too expensive" She tried TO speak
lightly. but felt her attempt was not q
slis-cs>s.
LIT Is tough. and no mistake" Jacl
sid emphlticaiIy. They talked a liz
lie longer. then he rose to go. Come
around to the studio and see what
have done.T he said; and she promises
she would do so soon
Christmas was now but three days
distant. They were miserable days e
Marion. for the revival of old ambition:
made the s0rdid life at the store un
bearable. 1t seemed wrong, unjust
that for the want of little money she
must give up forever all il was in hel
to become. She spent the little she had
saved consulting another oculist. who
told her the same thing-electrica
treatment was all that could help her.