The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-22
NOT YET
Dy
JOE ANDERSON NORRIS
Copyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Co..

~~s~S
JUDITH had come from the west to
81 New York with mammoth artistic
ambitions and crude ideas of morality
common to rude, young and unsophis-
ticated countries. She located in a
small downtown studio and becoming
suddenly afflicted with a homesick
loneliness that struck cold to the mar
row of her soul commenced to frater-
nize with whomsoever happened to be
available. This was Louise Markham,
her nearest neighbor, who occupied a
studio on the second floor above.
Clinging to her eagerly she inadver-
tently made a study of her life.
This girl painted little water color
sketches of somewhat impossible heads
with dreamy eyes too close together
and red hats Sometimes she sold
these little pictures. but oftener it ap-
peared that she did not. She kept
house in a light way in her studio; and
as is the rule in such cases, unless her
friends took her out to lunch or din
ner, she lived on air.
She was not without certain charm
Very courteous, with a hoarsely musi-
cal voice in which there lurked consid-
cradle fascination unless heard too
continuously, fortunately for Judith
she was bent upon being agreeable
upon starting the western girl off in
society way-if the inhabitants of
building of offices and studios can
be called y-advantageously as
possible by introducing her as her
friend.
Going the rounds with her she last
of all introduced her to Gilbert, an
other artist of male persuasion
So far as appearances went he was
rather superior artist His studio
was furnished in fashion bordering
upon elegance, in black oak. the
screens and draperies in green to
match the canvas with which the walls
were covered.
AS matter OF fact, Judging casual
ly Judith was almost led to believe
that he made money. Either that or
he had developed a skill bordering
upon the marvellous in the way of bor-
rowing it.
People were never so entertaining to
her as upon the occasion of talking
about the most interesting possible
thing to themselves; but before she
had been with him ten minutes she
had to acknowledge that Gilbert over
did it. He was so deeply, so aston
ishine1y and profoundly interested in
himself the wonder of it was to her
that he found time to paint
And a greater wonder that he could
have the heart to waste a moment Of
that precious time on other people.
And yet it seemed that he found sew
eral moments 10 waste upon Louise.
Once, twice, thrice even he paused in his
sNbdued monotone relative to his ca
recr artistic, past, present and to come.
embracing semi-occasonal and brief
illusions to various and sundry art
editors for whom he had worked, for
whom he was engaged in working. and
for whom he expected at some future
date to work, to point out the merits
OF his own masterpieces and. show her
how it was done.
When finally they tore themselves
away-he had not half finished his BIZ
ography, but Judith determined it
should wait-and landed safely in the
hall, Louise clasped ecstatic hands to-
gether and raised her eyes ceilingward
Isn't he lovely?" she cried. Love
ly"
Lovely enough" assented Judith,
"but there is one serious objection to
him"
WHAT" sharply.
He is too unselfsh. He is wrapped
up in the outside world to the exclu-
sion Of himself"
"What?" again.
Unhappily Louise did not always I'M
derstand
1T is my lunch time" explained Jul
dith. "Will you come out with me?"
NO. refused Louise, with her po-
litely elastic smile. Il will have my
lunch in my studio"
Judith suppressed a groan at the
thought Of those lunches of hers. A
wafer and glass of water A cracker
and a cup of tea Worse! One day
she had found her lunching on burnt
potatoes
week later she drifted into Judith's
studio, not hilariously as was custom
AIRY with her, but in a depressed way,
as If crushed by something.
Judith looked up from her drawing
and back again.
why aren't you laughing?" she
asked her. Ordinarily she laughed.
Judith was homesick enough Some
times she was homesick enough to die.
Cheerful company in so much as it en-
liyened her was therefore grateful.
But she had to confess that there were
moments spent in the society of Louise
which she would rather have spent
alone.
Louise sat down and swept her hand
across her eyes.
Il feel more like crying" said she.
'Why?"
''He is married."