The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-03
THE GOOD GIRL.

/ The gaSllgnS was reflected in the deep
puddIes of the street A Wretched indi-
/ vidual was making his way with STUN
| bling steps along the sidewalks, at
times knocking his shoulder against the
ready closed. The young fellow, who did
not look as if he was much over 20
years old, was the butt of ridicule and
anger of few belated passers-by. It
was thought that he was drunk In re-
| atty it was hunger and intense fatigue
which caused his form to sway to and
fro and his steps to totter.
From his earliest childhood Leo Ber-
mis- was convinced that he was &. poet
In the school of his native city, where
he was required to learn a few sentences,
for he was of a good family, he was
known as the LATEST pupil. Nevertheless
he would often surprise his teachers with
compositions in prose and poetry that
astounded them.
When he was II years of age he was
refused the baccalaureate because he
could not give the exact dates of the
Peloponnesian war, so necessary in prac-
teal life.
The old priest, however, who was a
philanthropist on a small scale, as
naively as child dismissed him with
his blessing and predicted a brilliant
future for him. The boy had presented
him an photographic volume of his first
poems They were effusions of the
month of April, as sweet and tender as
the blossoms Of an almond tree
As soon as Leo felt freed from the
to Paris. Here he lived as 50 many
others, on ideals, hopes, and poor meals.
Let the learned decide whether cheap
sausage can produce an elegy and
whether headcheeSe can inspire sOnnets.
At least SO much is certain, that young
poets are usually compelled to be con-
tented with such food.
Leo Bernis, in accordance with ira
dition, first took his manuscript to a
professional publisher After a period
of two months he received a brief note
from the literary critic of a concern. 1t
contained a few words of praise OF the
young poet and al the close he was told
that the house was prepared to publish
his copy provided the poet would pay
the costs of publication.
Leo rejoiced greatly that his poems
had been read and that their merit was
acknowledged. His grief that he could
not raise the money to secure a place
for them in the literary market was the
greater He elIed out q precar1OuS ex-
istence by few hours daily Of mind
destroying copying work. Even then he
had to keep to blood sausage and hash,
and he regarded a outlet a week as an
expensive luxury. In short, he led a
very noble and pure life. Now, honor
bright, my dear, wel-fed literary con
temporaries, who of US can not remem-
Der the time when he had barely forty
sous to his name and only dreamed OF
honest, unselfsh art?
Nevertheless, poor Leo was to be pit
led, indeed. His income from copying
work and private instruction grew less
as the months passed away. The climax
Of his salary was reached when a small
hotel in which he had been given lodg-
ing and breakfast in exchange for Two
hours daily instruction failed
For three days he had walked the
streets, for three nights he had not slept
and not a morsel of food had passed his
lfps for nearly AZ hours His last break
fast consisted of a slice of bread and a
sausage. He was the guest of a friend
who had not quite reached his state OF
perjury.
Leo was too proud to beg, but he re-
membered a. friend who owed him a few
sous, and he determined to go to him
and ask him to help him out He had
spent a few hours in a pubic readlng
room to warm himself, and as he stepped
into the street to walk two hours ne
found that he was almost too weak to
move The blood rose to his temples
He was dizzy from nausea. It was Win
supreme effort that he stumbled along.
AS he turned a corner he suddenly
heard a coarse female voice addressing
him
well. my dear blonde chappie. won't
you even look at girl2"
He turned around mechanically ana
looked at the speaker. She was
healthy brunette, past the youthful pc
Rod She was bareheaded, wore a dark
dress and a black cloak. She might
have been taken for a working girl, but
the rouge on her cheeks and the painted
eyebrows betrayed her
The young poet had heretofore only
loved the fairies and Processes of his
poetic dreams, and this person inspired
him with terror. He wanted to rush away,
but his strength failed MN amer s{Iag-
gering a few steps farther he had to lean
INV dear my dear. what is the matter
with you? Did you take a drop too
much?"
stared at him with a brazen face
The youth felt as if he would fall in a
faint. Cold sweat was dripping down over
his forehead
please let me alone" he murmured-
The expression on the face of the girl
suddenly changed. Her big, dark eyes re-
garded the unfortunate young man with
ARE e You sick?''
1t. seemed as if the question overcamee
his own mother or sister had uttered it.
Closing his eyes. he said sighingly:
Il have not eaten a thing since early
yesterday morning L am hungry and
The woman hardly gave him time to
open door. which led into a small apart
furnished room. A table, couple of
cheap chairs, and bed, with q coarse
light came from a candle in an old tin
candlestick.
with both hands. and wept- Grief over
his misery and shame over the situa ton
with emotion. ana two large tears romeo
down her painted cheers She hurried to
q IL
bottle of wine. a loaf of bread, and a
As he began to stammer his thanks
and offer to explain his condition, she
interrupted him, saying.
Don't trouble yourself to entertain me
now. Eat. for Gods sake, before you do
anything else"
As soon as she noticed that he was eat
ing ravenously she had the delicacy to
leave the table and busy herself with the
fire and other things. To herself she con-
tinued to murmur, Poor fellow, poor
devil
Finally she returned to the table. feel
ing that his modesty would stop him
from satisfying his appetite. She placed
another large piece Of meat on the plate
and filed his glass with fresh wine, Just
as a mother would care for her son. Then
she cried suddenly, Flow stupid in me
How can expect to think that you are