Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-04-28
NOT YET
JOE ANDERSON NORRIS

tlcated countries. Sne Iocdteu III
small downtown studio and becoming
suddenly afflicted with homesick
loneliness that struck cold to the mar
row of her soul commenced to frater-
uize with whomsoever happened TO be
available. This was Louise Markham,
her nearest neighbor, who occupied
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 1t 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 boarsely 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
a society way-if the inhabitants OF
a building of offices and studios can
be called society y-advantageousy 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 a superior artist. His studio
was furnished in a 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
al out 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
ishingly 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
ersl moments to waste upon Louise
Once, twice, thrice even he paused in his
subdued monotone relative to his ca
rcer artistic, past, present and to come.
embracing semi-occasional 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 1t 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.
"hut 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 un-
derstand.
at is my lunch time" explained Ju-
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 a glass of water. A cracker
and a cup of tea. Worsei One day
she had found her lunching on burnt
potatoes.
A week later she drifted into Judith's
studio. not hilariously as was custom
airy with her, but in depressed way.
as ifcrushed by something.
Judith looked up from her drawing
and back again.
why aren't you laughing?" she
asked her. Ordinarily she laughed.
Judith was homesiek enough. Some
times she was homesick enough to die.
Cheerful company in so much as it en-
livened 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
81 feel more like crying" said she.
"Why?"
"He is married.
He? Who?"
Gilbert"
Judith put down her work.
How did you find it out?" interro-
gated she.
81 asked him accidentally, never for
a second thinking he could be, and he
told me he was"
''It's a mighty good thing" rumi-
mated Judith, that you accidentally
asked him"
'Why?" quickly.
Judith turned upon her.
"You wouldn't be going about with
a married man, would yeu?" she de-
manded to know.
Without answering directly, Louise
fell to dreaming aloud
''He is so charming" she murmured.
I'VE are so eongenial."
Unmarried people are always con-
genial put in Judith.
We have so much in common. both
water color artists"
II you were married you would be
jealous of one another"
Il should never be jealous of him.
HE is so far above me.
knd how could he be jealous of me.
so far beneath!"
Marriage seems to change the cur
rent of peoples lives" declared Judith |