Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-04-16
WOODBURY., N. J, THURSDAY, APRIL l6 1908

--IHlue-tulue! I've Deen alone all my
life in myself, and I'm not going to be-
long to anybody except myself. re-
member things as well as you do, but
that doesn't count. We were babies
then, and we didn't know what was
before US. Dick, don't be selfish. /
think see my way to little success
next year. Don't take it away from
me-"
II beg your pardon, darling. 1t is my
fault for speaking idioticalIy. / can't
expect you to throw up all your life
just because I'm back. I'll go to my
own place and wait little"
"But, Dick, l don't want you to- go
out of-my life, now that you've just
come back"
''I'm at your orders. Forgive me-"
Dick devoured the troubled little face
with his eyes. There was triumph in
them, because he could not conceive
how Maisie could refuse sooner or later
to love him, since he loved her.
''It's wrong of me,'' said Maisie, more
slowly than before Its wrong and
selfish, butch, I've been so lonely!
No, you misunderstood. Now I've seen
you again-it's absurd. but l want to
keep you in my life"
Naturally. We belong"
eve don't, but you always under
stood me, and there is so much in my
work that you could help me in. You
know things, and the ways of doing
things. You must"
II do, fancy, or else l don't know
myself. Then suppose you won't care
to lose sight Of me altogether, and you
want me to help you in your work?"
Eyes, but remember, Dick, nothing
will ever come of it. That's why l feel
so selfish. Let things stay as they are.
do want your help"
'You shall have it. But let's con-
slider. | must see your pics first, and
overhaul your sketches and find out
about your tendencies. You should see
what the papers say about my tenden-
cies. Then I'll give you good advice,
and you shall paint accordingly. Isn't
that it, Maisie?"
Again there was unholy triumph in
Dicks eyes.
tits too good of you-much too good
because you are consoling yourself
with what will never happen, and
know that, and yet wish to keep you.
Don't blame me later, please"
.'I'm going into the matter with my
eyes open. Moreover, the queen can
do no wrong. 1t isn't your selfshness
that impresses me. It's your audacity
in proposing to make use of me-"
Pooh! You're only Dick and a
printshop."
Every good That's all am. But,
Malsie. yen believe. don't you, that 7
love you? | don't want you to have
any false notions about brothers and
sisters"
Maisie looked up for moment and
dropped her eyes.
ITS absurd, but-I believe, l wish
could send you away before you get
angry with me. But-but the girl that
lives with me is red haired and an i'm
RACoolOhlots ulQ fill Jul lOllOAS CldSu.
$50 do ours, think. Never mind.
Three months from today we shall be
laughing at this together"
afaisie shook her head mournfully.
Il knew you wouldn't understand, and
it will only hurt you more wnen you
find out. Look at my face, Dick, and
tell me what you see."
They stood up and faced each other
for moment. The fog was gathering,
and it stified the roar of the traffic of
London beyond the railings. Dick
brought all his painfully acquired
knowledge of faces to bear on the eyes,
mouth and chin underneath the black
toque.
'It's the same AIaisie, and it's the
same me" he said. We've both nice
little wills of our own, and one or
other of us has to be broken. Now
about the future. l must come and see
your pictures some day-I suppose
when the red haired girl is on the
premises. .
Sundays are my best times. You
must come on Sundays. There are
such heaps of things l want to talk
about and ask your advice about. Now
l must get back to work"
''Try to find out before next Sunday
what / am" said Dick Don't take
my word for anything I've told you.
Goodby, darling, and bless you'
Maisie stole away like little gray
mouse Dick watched her till she was
out of sight, but he did not hear her
say to herself very soberly: I'm g
wretch-a horrid, selfish wretch. But
it's Dick, and Dick will understand"
No one has yet explained what actu-
ally happens when an irresistible force
meets the immovable post, though
many have thought deeply, even as
Dick thought. He tried to assure HIM
self that Maisie would be led in few
weeks by his mere presence and dis
course to a better way Of thinking.
Then he remembered much too dis
tinctly her face and all that was writ
ten on it.
"If l know anything of heads he
said, there's everything in that face
but love. l shall have to put that in
myself And that chin and mouth
won't be won for nothing. But she's
right. She knows what she wants, and
she's going to get it. What insolence!
Mel OF all the people i'll the wide
world to use me! But then she's Mai
sic. There's no gettiEg over that fact,
and it's good to see her again. This
business must have been simmering at
the back of my head for years. She'll
use me as | used Binat at Port Said.
She's quite right 1t will hurt a little.
I shall have to see her every Sunday,
like a young man courting house
maid. She's sure to come round. And
yet that mouth isn't yielding mouth.
shall be wanting to kiss her all the
time, and l shall have to look at her
pictures-I don't even know what sort
of work she does yet-and l shall have
to talk about art-woman's art! There
fore, particularly and perpetually damn
all varieties of art. 1t did me good
turn once, and now it's in my way.
I'll go home. and do some art"
Half waN to the studio Dick was
smitten with a terrible thought. The
figure of solitary woman in the fog
suggested it.
sShe's all alone In London with red
haired impressionist girl, who probably
has the digestion of an ostrich. Most