Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-07-19
Fate's Caprice.
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0OHN VAN STYvER pushed the
oil swinging door Of the postofice,
" went in and dropped his letter In
the box marked Pacific coast"
'The little woman will be glad to get
II, and II a big duffer like me can't earn
his dinner somehow, why he don't de-
serve to have any," he mused.
The letter he had just dispatched was
addressed to Mrs. John Van Styver, 2O4
Front Bay street, San Francisco, Cal.
1t contained, besides an extensive col
lection Of terms Of endearment, which
proved that Van Styver's collegiate ed
ucation had been good, and that he pos
sessed a considerable amount Of enthu-
siasm and warmth of feeling, a check
for every available cent he had in the
world. sent to violet-eyed young wom-
an and a baby girl, living at the other
extremity Of the continent.
OF recent years adj things had con
spired against John Van Styver.
First savings bank failure then the
protracte litigation over a mine, which
John persisted was rightfuIy theirs.
and could be worked At q profit, had
swallowed up their remaining small
capital, and now required more funds
II the fight was to be kept up.
So when an offer came from a pub
fishing house In New York to Van Sty-
yer to illustrate q new and promising
periodical, he telegrafihed hts accept
ance. packed hts TaIise and took TIN
night train east.
That was one year ago.
OF course, 1t would have been absurx
to bring the two away trnm thstr cot
tage home TO 50 trying climate ias that
of New York, where the child wOul1
have sickened, possibly died.
Van Styver had not made q very pro
found art study, but there was q dash
and spirit about his etchings and pen
pictures, and his campfire scenes ON the
prairies and American Indians were Sd
strong and original and fun or LIE that
his reputation had reached the big
cities, resulting in the ofAr M1tch
brought him east.
After a six months struggle the mag
azins collapsed, went down In failare.
as did the SALARIES Of those oonnaoted
with It,
Determined and naturally buoyaut,
he threw himself heart ana soul IN the
work, got q position Of sketch artist on
Q big daily, dashed or an occasional
remtniscence Of California days, OBJ
tanned occasional work from art dealers
and had obtained an order to fresco the
ball room and Railways of q mi2lion-
aire's paiatial residence, just complet-
ed, when persistent and nREginY fate
te3leA him in the shape Of a,pCotra cted
and desperate attack of typhoid fever.
Van Styyer thought he had his foot
m the sttrrups and would mount and
rise to success when obtaining the con-
tract to decorate the ball room panels
and arched gallery Of the white marble
house on Fifth avenue. He had COM
pleted his preliminary work, had re-
eeived his first payment, had eagerly
dispatched 1t home, when stricken
down.
Two months of constant fever In q
hospital, however skillful the nursing,
leaves him a pretty sad wreck of his
former self. Add to, the sshabbfness in
svitable to garments worn unremfttfng.
" summer nnd winter, the broken und
and the Disguise is quite complete be
tween a man In easy circumstances md
a poor devil on whom the werad looks
askance and shows neither mercy noi
favor.
Going to ascertain, Van &tyver found
his place taken on the newspaper ant
the mural decorations of the white mar
Bile house all completed.
A dogged determination sei1ed holi
Of him to recuperate quickly and ge
m inning IN the game, and his anger al
the kicks and cuffs of fate gave him &
reyiyified puSnacity Of infinite value II
him just then.
A windfail in the way Of some Illus
trating to be done hurrfedly gave hin
the check he inserted IN the letter b,
dropped in the postofhce box before 90
Ing to see If there was nothing to b.
had in the way Of extra work at tn,
office of the Herald.
There was nothing that day, and b,
went slowly back to the shabby darl
hall room in a shabby and poor board
Ing house.
A letter nad peen Dreugnr by me poGs
man during his absence, and wa
thrust under the door. Tearing It open
Van Styyer read an agitated entreat.
that he come back as fast as steam
could take him Their rosebud and 10.
lay HILL unto death, and her one or,
was for him.
The manager of one Of the depart
u,elfts Of an enormous trunk line, q roa,
having ranifications all over the On
lay. sat in his office in q dissa tistie'
brown study. Palmer Davidson ha'
great responsibilities resting On him
whieh his big sahry could not cover.
"a the wide desk before which he so
lay q confusion Of sketches, showing II
mose or less elaborate form and hack
neyed style the route Of the main line
from east to west. to be used as adver
Using cards by the road.
Here, Dick, chuck these things i
the FIRE, win you7 They are NOT wsrt
the pasteboard they are drawn a.. No
one Of 'em win do;" sAid Davidsor
tuyning to a young ulerk who wa
checking up some books across th
ro1W.
ut seems id queer that thsfe'S Nc
sipsle artist in this town vhe ca
cstch my idea. why. I explained wha
I wanted fully to at least fifty Of then
and not one seems to have caught th
faintest glimmer of what l want. II
could draw I'd do the thing myself.
And yet, hang it nR." said Davidso'
rising and walking -np and down his o
flee, his hands in his pockets, "the zoa
must have the cards out In a month
time 6sr the spring trsAc. There q
those prairie lands out IN Texas. It
got to be shown n a clever and nov'
way, what ars tAs sectAsos ths Fsa