The Van Buren press., 1898-07-30


ture as he went, and so noticing that
she was in her studio.
As he was ascending the steps Of his
hotel a man coming down stopped.
stared, then forced Laurenee's atten-
ton to himself BY grasping his coat.
John Laurence, By all that's holy!"
he exclaimed.
They shook hands. Then. " 5man-
fashion. they talked awhile where they
stood and then went up the steps to-
gether.
Wheh they had made themselves COM
Portable in Laurenee's room, Laurence
said:
Why is il you don't come east. since
your pictures are such success, Har-
lan2"
Gilbert Harlan kept on putting al his
cigar for little while. then slowly put
II down. saying: Thereby hangs a tale
"a tale Of woe
"Ah, a woman in the ease?s
"You needn't sheer. Wait until you
see her
Who Is she >"
Miss Lansing"
Miss Iansing!"
''0h. not your confributor-not THAI
RECONSTRUCTED. slovenly-fnished. dull
eolored following Of an ugly design"
You know her. them
Rather. I boarded next door one
summer Meanext family alive. They
had a niece living with them. Her
father-brother Of Lansing very
Young married a girl out there. Some
trouble arose-nothing wrong-and
Lansing deserted her and gave his child
10 his brother. When he died-the
girls father. mean-they kept the
child and didn't let her know about
her mother, who had found out their
address and kept writing and writing
she was too poor to come, poor thing.
Finally the girl got one letter, and
begged them to let her so 10 her moth
er. They were furious with her for
asking. l taught her and she illus
trated her cousins stories, but she
never got a cent for il. l fell in love
with her, of course. She liked me. but
didn't care particularly for me, so
stayed on in hope that she would.
Zone day woman out here wrote to
Adelaide that her mother was in the
poorhouse dying of consumption. I
saw my chance and took il. The girl
promised TO marry me if would take
her TO her mother. How the uncle
howled when l asked for her! The
girl was under age and we could do
nothing then; but | went TO the city
after money, and while was gone they
sent her TO an old, rheumatic aunt near
New York, and as | had not confded
my plan of elopement 10 the girl, she
did not write to me and l could not
write to her. She must have won the
aunt to her side, for she soon ran off
to Colorado. She arrived just in time
to save her mother from dying in the
poorhouse. She afterward secured a
position on paper here, where l found
her when l came
And She
Harlan absently tipped the ashes of
his burned out cigar on TO the carpet
with one slim finger, and watched them
as they fell.
NO" he said, sadly; and after long
pause added, with sudden brighten
ing: But, OF course, l can't help
hoping, as long as there is no one else.
But my model will be waiting for me.
| will look in when come back"
Laurence watched him go up the
street, conscious that of all the shafts
that had pierced him year ago, the
one tipped with the word artist had
ranked most.
When Harlan was out of sight he
hastened back to Adelaide Lansing.
He sat down this time, and to her
surprised, inquiring eyes he answered,
Il could not help it,"
"Ielp what?" she asked, hoping By
the GOODNESS of her tone to neutralize
the effect of the flush she felt covering
her face.
Help my coming back. Harlan told
pe. Why did you not trust me-that
day?"
che turned to the window.
"Why didn't you?" he repeated, going
to her.
81 could not bear to see the change in
you she answered, almost inaudibly.
And you will forgive me-my rude
ness this morning."
II What have l to forgive? Will you
ever"
lie gathered her into his arms with
fierce tenderness, as though shutting
her off from all past faults and future
Is that not enough pm. o. Times
Democrat.