Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-03-20
"But there won't be any nex. time"

But there won't be any next time"
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?s 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 1t in the fire and strobe over to
the book case. He picked out a vol
ume of Browning. and opened IL 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 unfulilled, you see:
1t hangs still, patchy and scrappy,
They have not sighed deep, laughed
free,
Starved. toasted, despaired - been
happy" .
He threw down the book, chose an
other. 1t was Daudet's "Femmes des
Artfts." He read a while, drew a sigh
Of relief. Daudet was a sensible man,
no love sick rhymer. He had lived In
Paris, where II 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 a 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 lair, 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?"
ITO 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"
what do you mean?" asked Percy.
"I mean" said Charlie, Howard Is
likely to put an end to these studies.
ror a fellow isn't likely to want his
wife to figure as literary material for
another man."
Percy did not wait for the closing OF
the sentence, but hurried on. II seem
ed to him Miss Kate would never come
down. When she did arrive, she ex-
cnsed her delay on the ground that she
nod inst returned from a ride with
Mr.. Griggsby and had to change her
costume. 70 her amazement, the usu-
ally languid and proper Percy STROBE
across the room. took her hand. ana
said almost fiercely, Il don't want you
70 ride with Howard any more"
"What right have you, Mr.. Haddock,
n make such a demand?" the girl
asked but not as Indignantly as she
felt she ought. -.
"No right. no right, yet" said ne,
Kissing her hand before she couid
Withdraw 1t. "It is only q request.
non,t YOU know. can't you see, ! don't
warr YOU to drive with, to be with
snybody but me forever"
aBut." said the girl, MT Griggsoy
naa asked me to be his wife
percy turned pale. Was Howard 70
,rsiu tkwart him2 He caugne ner
nsnd again, and said ~breathlessly.
az nd what was your answer
~ told him ! would give It neS'
- % HLHE-.