Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-02-16
A CHANGE OF PURPOSE

7
Bloomsbury lodging house. She u Is
young and pretty, with delicate. thosSSi II
| FIJI locking features She glanced ut .he
clock-it wanted a few minutes 10 ~
| then rose from her seat and, walking Il
the window, pulled back the faded Red
! curtains.
a clear sky--thGrc will be a splendid
| light soon for Phil" she exclaimed.
| She turned and made her way back &c
! The fireplace. An envelope on the nsgn.
! telpiece caught her eye. 1t was IN Old
! one, and had been there for some weeks,
| but she took it down once again. and
| drew a card out-a mere ordinary CHRIST.
| mas card, with the words, "Madge, from
| Dick" written upon it. She gaZed at il
| rcfec;iyeiy; then replaced it with a little
| sigh.
All. Dick" she murmured, IF only
| things had gone a little better with ust
The chimes Of clock striking the llouy
| caught her ear, and she made hurried
preparations for her departure. On hel
| way down she tapped at a door, and
| opened il half an inch.
MANY happy returns Of the day, Phil
dear" she called out. Its lovely maFn-
! ing GoOdbyw
She ran down the stairs lightly. In the
! hal she was met by an elderly-loolang
ms,l in n velyetecn coat. She nodded
brightly TO him, and t. opened the a0or
Tor her
"Ionr brothers birthday he asked
| with a smile.
in honor Of il. and YOU must help us.
Mr.. Lintell. Goodby-l shall be late for
About an hour later, Phil Halstan
emerged from his room. He was tail,
well-built young fellow, with somewhat
heavy. notwithstanding face lie ate Il
leisurely breakfast, then, lighting q cigar
cite. dropped into an armchair by the
fire and let his eyes travel slowly round
the dull room. 4 look Of disgust cgept
Ugh he exclaimed How horribly
mean and sordid it all looks! Shall |
ever get out Of it.'
Presently he rose. and, going to 4 cor
ner by the window, drew forward an
easel He sat himself before it and
gazed at the blank canvas. Then he
felt for his box of brushes and fingered
them meditatively. Finally he laid them
down and looked out of the window.
There was tap at the door and the
He lived on the upper floor ahd had got
to be very friendly with MadEe and her
-r II Won't interrupt 'you..' III ssgun.
with glance at the easel. II only came
TO offer you my best wishesp'
L..
as the old man moved toward the door.
Fact is. l don't think | shall do much
more work now-rather thought of Civ
ing myself holiday. My birthday, you
know he added half iocularly.
Old Lintcll came forward slowly. He
looked at the blank canvas.
It's going to be great thing" eX-
planned Phil. I'm working out the idea
now-it takes time, you know"
The old man nodded and looked out of
the window. He had been thinking n
good deal of Phil lateiy-this boy who
got up late, sat dreaming half the day.
and ioafed the other, who had never
ness by a devoted sister who, as typist
| in a solicitors office, worked hard from
morn to night, believing in him heart and
! soul.
He glanced up sharply at Phil.
! might | see your portfoio?" he said.
| 81 used to know something about Art =
! Phil pulled it ont with alacrity, and
opened it for the old mans inspection.
| Mr. Intel turned them over one by
one. They were crude and badly done.
with no sign of distinctive ability what
| ever
"Wel?' asked Phil eagerly. He shared
his sisters belief in himself. Give me
your candid opinion"
Mr.. Lntcll wiped his glasses and pro-
cceded to Oblige him He told him the
truth-the unpleasant, naked truth-and
| wave Of color swept over young Phifs
cheek. Then he laughed.
It's too ridiculous he cried.
Old Mr.. Intel rose from his chair,
| and made his way to the door.
I'm sorry,'. he said, but l thought
you ought TO know"
Phil laughed again as the door closed
on the Old man--but it was an uncorn-
Portable sort of laugh--the laugh of a
man whose mind had been suddenly con-
Irohted with new aspect of the case.
He strobe up and down the room.
OF course, l shall be famous some
d0y..-shall pay little Madge back a thou
Sandfold-and she doesn't mind working
AZ present. he reelected. And ne said
hadn't particle of ability that | was
wasting my time, that l ought 10 be
earning my living, keeping Madgq, in
stead of letting her,
i 1t" gl2aeed toward the windots. The
sun YVES shining temptmgIy. lie walked
10 me mantclplece and found two half
%rowuS which Madge had left there.
lntmnklngly he slipped these into his
pocket then, taking hat and stick, made
ms way out Of the house
he meant 10 20 for long walk to
ihmN out his great idea. But he found
/ ne could think OF nothing but old Lin
tel $ words. The idiotic sentence kept
running through his head Ike. Phil Hal
stan, mere loafer! The thing was alb
Snrd; Madgc herself would be the first
80 say "a.
He walked for some time. and made an
cHCrt to think Of something else. Pres.
entity he dropped into cheap restaurant
To Rave lunch. He sat down m a table:
! eNcjtedly.
Il don't care who it iS"' ono was de.
/ giar'ns .cmphatically. The chap who
! !ioais while woman works for i'm is a
/ ,ound, ami deserves TO be kicked. WHY.
/ d sooner sweep the roadway
t6n' with z red face. rose and hur
ricdly left the place
1t was half-past = the same afternoon
/ when Madge ran lightly mp the staircase
/ of the house in Bloomsbury. and burst
/ into the sitting room. Her face was
! flushed and her eyes sparkled She saw
| 4, young man standing by the window.
/ HIS back was turned 10 her
! ''i'hil'' Ska NrtaI i,,-.,,,r,.. = l.