Willmar tribune., 1901-02-27
fed that her services would not be
wanted after the next week.


stead of taking the car as she usually
was obliged to do on account of the
distance to her room she walked on
rntil she was at the corner Of Madison
and State streets.
She plunged through that boiling
crowd Of humanity and started to walk
up State street the four miles that yet
lay between her and her room. And
as she walked on she was deeply
Of what she would do. The
idea Of writing home for money was
so distasteful that she could not bear
to entertain it. Her lips closed firm
Iy, and she said to herself: II never
will do it while l can live. have
made a failure out Of it so far here,
right now. l know how matters are
going at home with all the expense
there and Hermon's illness last month.
No. no! l started out to be bread
winner. l must earn my own living"
She was suddenly brought to a stop
by a crowd that filed up the sidewalk
in front Of a large window. There
was a picture on exhibition there, and
Faith, after running into one or two
people, seeing what was the object of
attraction. stopped herself and grad
ually was pushed up to the window as
the crowd went and came.
1t was an oil painting with life size
figures, representing the deck of an
ocean steamer. A man was holding
baby in his arms, and the baby was
looking up. into the mans face and
smiling. The title Of the picture in
gilt letters on the frame was simply
"Motherless.''
1t was one of those pictures that ap-
peal to common humanity, and the
crowd on the sidewalk was irresistibly
drawn to it. But the effect on Faith
was electrical AS soon as she had
seen the face of the man on the can
vas she exclaimed aloud, "Why, that's
father!'
Those nearest her looked at her in
SURPRISE She checked herself and was
silent: But there before her was the
likeness of Malcom Kirk as she had
seen him in the sketch her mother had
often shown her. And the story of
the baby whose mother had died in
midocean was familiar to all the chill
dren at home.
She looked at the corner of the can.
vas and saw the artists name. Francis
Raleigh. a card in the window an
nounced the fact that the picture was
cold II hot orti ict, c+
in one Of the new blocks on Randolph
street.
Faith slowly pushed out of tho crowC
and went on her way. But the picture
affected her deeply. The sight Of tht
dear father protecting that motherlrs:
baby made her cry. And it also
strengthened her purpose not to appca
for financial help from home. Sh'
could not have told why that feelil:
accompanied her sight Of the picture
But it did and she determined that sh'
would make every effort to supper
herself without help from home.
The end CT the following week foun<
her without place, and as she CAM
away from the studio that Saturt!;>.
evening she realized as never before ii
her life what it meant to girl withoi
any friends or home to face a grea
that she could go home at any time O
get help from that source if she aske'
for it. But how about the great arm,
of unemployed that had not even tia
resort?' She shivered as she turne'
down toward the great artery of til
city's human traffic and was swep
along with it.
{ She went up by the window wher
the picture was still on exhibition, an
there was the usual crowd in from
of it.
She stopped again and looked hun
grily at it. 1t was like getting
| glimpse into the dear home circle il
the parsonage at Conrad.
1t was perhaps a little strange tha
she had not entertained the idea o
| calling at Raleigh's studio and tellin
| him that she was the daughter of III
subject in the picture. But Faith wa
very shy in some ways, and she simpl
never thought of trying to meet til
artist.
AS she stood there this Saturda
night two men in the crowd were talk
ing about the picture. They stood $
near her that she could not help hear
ing what they said.
| 1T seems too bad to take the pictur
out of the window"
1--WE can leave it there anothe
week."
"When do you start west?"
"The last of next month"
"Better leave it here till then"
II think so too. But what force i
has, Malcolm"
Faith started at the familiar nam
and looked up.
The man who spoke was a middle
aged, gray bearded gentleman, and tn
man whom he called "Malcom" wa
perhaps 25 years old, stalwart, fin
looking fellow. with something in hi
face that made Faith puzzle ove
something foreign there. For an in
slant their eyes met. Then Faitl
blushed and moved back out of tht
crowd and went on. She did not lool
back, but she seemed to feel that thu
two gentlemen were looking after her.
'"They are the persons who have
bought the picture and will take j.
away" she said as she walked along
She was sad at the thought, for sht
had come to cherish the look at the
fathers face which she had enjoyed
every day since she first saw it there.
During the next few weeks Faitf
had an experience that tried her az
she had never been tried.