The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-10-28


assured Tolliyer one day as he sat
perched in the window seat declaim-
ing against the aristocrat. 81 assure
you that his paintings are very much
above the average"
Tolliver snorted contemptuously. "My
dear child" he remarked patronizingly,
you do some very clever china work.
Don't try to get beyond it and set up
as critic. There never was man
came into this place with new furni
ture. He can't be an artist" Then the
conversation dropped. There was no
arguing with Tolliver when he called
one dear child"
A few weeks later she had a birth
day party. Early in the morning the
occupants of the other studios began TO
arrive, each with some little token and
the invariable inquiry as to whether
Bascom had been invited to the even
ing festivities. 1t seemed odd to her
that they should be so interested in his
possible appearance, but she readily
answered that he would No objection
being offered she personally rounded
up Bascom when the time Of the party
arrived, and got him across the hall on
the plea that she needed help in the
preparation of the supper.
Bascom had interposed many objec-
tions when she had invited him, but
she had pleaded with him. and on her
assurance that the attitude Of the 9th
ers had materially changed he decided
to risk it because she wanted it.
She never realized that the abate-
ment of the criticism was because she
was openly his champion, and the rest
had decided to respect her 'delusion,"
as they termed it. She was so happy
getting the spread ready that she
never noticed the clock until all Of the
preparations had been made.
'Why. it's o. she said, wonderingly.
II asked them to come in about S. I'll
take a little run down the hall and re-
mind some of them"
Bascom sank into the easy chair in
front of the camel coal fire. Camel
coal was luxury i'll the Holbein flats,
but he had sent two scuttlefuls that
morning in honor of the event. Alice
There, pinned to the panel, was the
sign, "Gone to the theatre" She re-
traced her steps to the stairway. On
every door was some card giving notice
that the owner had gone out. She de-
scended to the lower floors; apparently
not a soul remained in the building.
Bascom, by the fireplace, was startled
by the tiny figure that darted in and
sank sobbing upon the homemade coy
corner.
1t took small questioning to get at
the trouble. The cause he already
knew. The form the opposition had
taken was all he needed to ask.
81 wouldn't have minded SO much"
she sobbed, "only l did so want them
to meet you and see how nice you
really We're
Did you get it all up for me?" lie
demanded eagerly.
She nodded. THAT isn't the worst
of it," she confessed. II even invented
the birthday. Mine was seven months
away and l couldn't wait. | thought
they would be more apt to come to Il
birthday party. Now / have all their
presents, and they wouldn't come
He drew the fearful little face down
upon his shoulder. Little girl" he
said, gently, don't you think they
would be more apt to come to q we'd
ding?"
81 couldn't invent that" she protest
ed in a mufiied voice
"Its very easy" he persisted. "Just
say yes 1 will look after the rest. l
have wanted to ask you for long
time"
Even Tolliver came to the wedding
and led the chorus of He's a jolly
good fellow" as lie poured several
quarts of rice down the elevator shaft
after the departing pair. James had
discovered that Bascom really had TO
work for living and that the studio
had been furnished by maiden aunt,
who insisted that he be started right
Jasper Collingwood, in San Francisco
Call.
Hoo TfofI