Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-07-05
vVVV~~VVVVVVV'
A GIRLS CHOICE.
BY ATROPos.

meadow In the late afternoon. The
man went along easily, catching at the
grass-tips as he passed. The girl walk
ed with q quick. nervous step and held
her head tensely.
I'm waiting to hear that importan!
niece of news" he said, teasingly,
'How could you keep from telling 1t
last night?"
II thought you were too much inter-
osted in the other young ladies to givs
It enough attention"
He looked amused. swell, there
were some very interesting young ladies
there, you must admit"
"I'm sure that's very fortunate" she
said, lightly. "for you won't be bored
much longer by any more uninteresting
person"
He stopped short and faced her.
"What on earth are you driving at
Madge? You're not going away?"
"You guessed quickly from that de-
scription, didn't you? How very fiat
tering Well, yes; this uninteresting
person is going to relieve you of her
uresome company. Her aunt has Just
returned from Italy, and has sent Tor
her to come to the CITY," The girl
clasped her hands enthusiastically
Gust think, Neal, I'm to study paint
Ing at the Academy. It's what I've
been hungering for all these years! Aud
after that'-her voice sank to a thrill
Ing whisper-"perhaps, If l do we'll.
shall go to Italy!"
The man was gazing fixedly at a
group of willows far across the mead
ow. She noted the shadow on his face
with secret triumph.
'That's very fine. Madge," he said, In
q lowered voice. There's only one thing
I don't understand. Just where do
come in?"
The light died out of her face. j
really don't know, Neal. just where you
do come in"
They began walking and were far
past the distant willows before he burst
out.
"You're actually going to serve me
like this? Push me aside and go or
your way without me?" He set his
mouth, then said bitterly: "You prefer
ambition to love; / suppose that's it."
mo-" she cried, flashing into her real
self; that is not true! It's that you
don't care enough. But l can't beor
anything halfway. want to give my
self to my work. l don't dare to love
you! It would kill me IL you didn't
care enough"
They stopped and faced each other
the man proudly silent, the girl with
uuivering lips, struggling for self-com-
mand. They looked m,tely in each
others eyes, both feeling that 1t meant
farewell. The sky had grown black
and overloaded, and the two young
faces looked saddened and old in the
gray light. A damp wind blew from
the west, and across the meadow the
long raindrops came driving. There
seemed nothing in the world would bat
chill the dreariness and utter desola-
ton.
"Let us go home," the girl said
dreamily; there Is nothing more to
say" They walked back more slowly
than they came, though the rain was
beating hard.
| She sat bending over her drawing
board. charcoal in hand. The ToOm was
long and gloomy and dusty. A few de-
serted chairs stood about. Around the
walls was line of tall. white statues
raised on pedestals-a Victory with up
lifted wings, Bacchus bending to kiss
Ariadne Here majestic on he's
throne From distant window stream
ed broad path of light. In this path
stood a cleaning white figure'he
huge, knotted limbs bound, the relaxed
head fallen over in despair. Before
this figure sat the girl. She reste'l
her round young cheek in her palm, and
looked earnestly up at the tortured
Slave. A man entered the doorway, hut
paused, noting keenly the fine antithesis.
"That is Life and Death" he thought
"Ah, but you do not get it. The draw
Ing is good, but the meaning you have
missed"
Il know" she said, patiently. II.
fascinates me, yet it always escapes M,
though l have tried and tried"
"You don't let him yield. He Is still!
fighting" Her charcoal was caught
away, and she watched nervous mas
cline hand make a few sharp lines
along neck and eyes and mouth. The
change was wonderful. The head sank
over-there was the terrible abandon o!
despair In the set mouth and droopn
lids. Her eyes shone in admiration
She looked up, to see dark, foreign