Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-03-08


ways gotten the things he desired and
rather looked down on him with con-
tempt. Suppose now he should beat
Howard in the thing Howard most de-
sired. who would have ground for ex-
ultance then? Who could afford to be
contemptuous? Can VIC despise those
who win what we most desire? Had
he not better marry her after all, if
he could. Literary fame is sweet but
distant, and love is sweet and near.
He did not know what to do. He
pulled at his cigarette, but in it was
neither solace nor inspiration. He
flung it in the fire and strobe over to
the book case. 4. He picked out a vol
ume of Browning, and opened it at
the poem. Youth and Art where the
poet tells of the two who had achieved
the fame as sculptor and singer they
desired, but at the price of their love
and happiness. He read and reread
the stanza. -
Each life's unfulfilled, you see:
1t hangs still. patchy and scrappy,
They have not sighed deep. laughed
free,
Starved, feasted, despaired = been
happy, 6 +-t
He threw down the book, chose an
other. 1t was Daudet's "Femmes des
Artits-' He read while, drew a sigh
of relief. Daudet was sensible man
no love sick rhymer. He had lived in
Paris. where if any where the artist
can be known and studied. Each of
these artists of whom the book told
had married. Each of them had been
unhappy, hindered in their artistic de-
velopment by their marriage. They
had sold their birthright for mess of
pottage, nay, for the apples of Sodom
which had turned to ashes on their
lips. ~
No. he would be true to himself and
to his art. Even Howard might marry
her.
And yet he must see her again Just
one sight of the bright hair. the dewy
red mouth, the rounded cheek to light
the loveless years of his literary striv-
ing He removed his smoking Jacket,
slammed the door and hurried towards
the Murchison residence He was met
and stopped by Charlie Rawlins. who
said, Hello, old boy, which way are
you going?" sf aT N5f
To the Murchisons,'' he replied.
That's right drawled Charlie;
make the most of your study of the
eternal feminine while you can. How
ard Griggsby is going up there pretty
regularly a
What do you mean?'' asked Percy.
Il mean" said Charlie, Howard is
likely to put an end to these studies.
for fellow isn't likely to want his
wife to figure as literary material for
another man." ra
Percy did not wait for the closing of
L - l. u
ed to him Miss Kate would never come
down. When she did arrive, she ex-
cused her delay on the ground that she
had just returned from a ride with
Mr.. Griggsby and had to change her
costume. To her amazement, the usu-
ally languid and proper Percy. strobe
across the room, took her hand. and
said almost fiercely, Il don't want you
to ride with Howard any more
= What right have you. Mr. Hatldock.
to make such a demand?" the girl
asked. but not as Indignantly as she
felt she ought sani
NO right, no right. yet" said he.
kissing her hand before she could
withdraw it. 1T is only a request
Don't you know. can't you see. dom
want you to drive with. to be with
anybody but me forever
But said the girl. Mr.. Griegsby
has asked me to be his wife"
Percy turned pale Was Howard to
again thwart him2 He caught her
hand again. and said breathlesslv.
And what Was your aEzwer p
~ told MIN would xfvu a unu1