The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-06-11
FATE'S CAPRICE.
By S. RhETT ROMAN.

4
went in and dropped his letter in the
box marked Pacific Coast"
Thrusting his hands in his pockets,
he passed baclsaeut into the street and
paused on the sidewalk IN uncertainty.
Then he began 70 whistle softly
time he had heard the cowboys sing,
and it reminded him Of the prairies.
The little woman will be glad to get
1t, and If big duffer like me cant earn
his dinner somehow, why, he don't de-
serve to have any," he unused.
He went threading his way through
theerowded street with the long. swing
ing step of a man who has done much
hunting and mountain climbing and
turned toward one Of the big news
paper offices. those wonderful hives of
intellectual activity OF which View York
has a right to be proud.
The letter be had just dispatched was
addressed to Mrs. John Van styyer,
2o4 Front Bay street. San Francisco,
Cal.
Tt contained, besides an extensive col
lection of terms of endearment, which
proved that Van Styyer's collegiate ed
ueation had been good. and that be pos
sessed a considerable amount OF en-
thusiasm and warmth of feeling, a
check for every available cent he had
in the weird. sent to violet-eyed young
woman and baby girl. living at the
other extremity of the continent.
In San Francisco there abounds much
Of that yellow and white metal on
which the happiness of the human race
largely depends.
But for that very reason those who
have none Of either are In a sad plight
If living IN that wealthy and beautiful
town.
But separation. Mary Van styver
thought, was very much harder to bear
than the poverty which had overtalsen
their small household. The Yultures Of
misfortune always gather fast and
gather faster" as the poet said, and It
Is strong brain indeed and most de-
termined spirit which can successfully
fight them off.
OF recent years all things had con-
spirea against John Van styver.
First. savings bank failure, then the
protracted litigation over a mine, which
John persisted was rightfully theirs
and could be worked at great profit,
had swallowed up their remaining
small capital and now required more
funds II the fight was 10 be kept up.
So when an offer came from pub
fishing house in New York to Van Sly
yer to Illustrate new and promising
periodical he telegraphed his accept
anee, packed his valise and took the
night train east. glad to cut short the
parting from May and the rosy
checked. brown-eyed little mite sleep
ing so peacefully among the frills and
laces Of her cot.
''0h, I'll only be away six months,
little woman. Just long enough for you
to want to have me back again." John
said when he jumped on the train.
That was one year ago.
OF course 1t would have been absurd
to bring the two away from their.c
tage home to so trying climate as that
of New York. where the child would
have sickened- possibly died - John
shuddered at the Thought removed
from the glorious blue sky and balmy
air of the Pacific coast to be shut up in
small, stuffy rooms in some wretched
boarding house In New York.
Now, man, give him an armchair
and cigar or pipe, and IL he happens
TO be an artist put a pencil in his fin
gers or brush and an easel in front of
him, and he's all right and quite con-
tent with his surroundings.
John Van styver had inherited the
artist temperament and some Of the
genius Of Dutch ancestor, some Of
whose wonderful paintings Of two CEN
turtles ago adorn to-day one of the
glorious picture galleries of The Hague.
Van Styver had not made very pro-
found art study, but there was dash
and spirit about his etchings and pen
pictures, and his campfire scenes on the
prairies and American Indians were so
strong and original and full Of life that
his reputation had reached the big
cities. resulting in the offer which
brought him east.
The vultures were not vet stated.
however, and continued TO crowd, one
after the other.
After six months struggle the mag
azine collapsed, went down in failure.
as did the salaries Of those connected
with it, and Van styver found himself
suddenly among that army Of litter
ateurs and artists struggling for a pre-
carious living, whose success is far more
possible when unburdeted by ties and
obligations.
Determined and naturally buoyant,
he threw himself heart and soul in the
work, got position of sketch artist on
big daily, dashed off an occasional
"Reminiscences Of California days, which
was accepted or declined. according to
the editors needs or humor, obtained
occasional work from art dealers and
had obtained an order to fresco the ball
room and Railways of milliosaire's pa
latial residence, just completed, when
the last iil-omened bird Of prey. per
sistsnt and nagging fate. filled him in
The shape Of protracted and desperate
attack Of typhoid fever.
Up to that time Johns letters home
had been hopeful and CHEEKY, and his
remittances, II not mathematics in reg
ularity, we're sufficient to keep the wolf
from the door Of the sunny little cot
taRe by the deep waters Of the Pacific.
nor could May, loving and tender
hearted, guess that his was a life Of
hard and constant privation and that
bare room and scant food were his
41o-ffor