The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-03-30


hurry. Admiration i, of cs.Ur g pleas
ant to Il pretty girl, ami there IS no
reason why she should - cut If her
way to avoid it,
I've learned that MIR Churchill has
a class of art" said She. Why didn't
you tell me-"
1t slipped my mind" answered
Gregory. frowning ut Il drawing.
We'll" said Helen. I've joined it,
Gregory settled down Il little farther
into his chair.
Mr. Churchill is great natural
teacher" the girl continued. but he
discouragcS me-
why" inquired Gregory.
Because he evidently does not think
l have any ability" she replied. He
gives me all the attention could ask,
but it is perfectly obvious that he does
so because his conscience compels
him"
"ChurchilIs conSciencew muttcred
Gregory.
by the way" said Helen, Il asked
some Of the other pupils whether they
had noticed any change in him, and
they hadn't. But none of them knew
him very we'll"
NO" said Gregory. 81 guess they
didn't"
1T certainly seems to me-" persisted
Helen, that Mr. Churchill has some
thing on his mind. He talks to me as if
ha liHp't NJ nj oh
he was looking at somebody standing
behind me DO you suppose he can
have met with any misfortune"
None that he doesn't deserve"
growled Gregory.
Helen rose from her chair with the
air of one who has reached the limit of
patience.
well, it's not very tlattering." said
she. land Id like to know what it
means. However," she added after
momcntary pause, I'm bound to say
that so far as | can see he treats all the
other girls just the same way"
"Churchill always had an Indifferent
manner" responded Gregory It's not
that that makes me think him changed.
There seems to be new purpose in the
fellow, an energy and an ambition that
| never saw before. Upon my word. |
could almost believe that he has been
caught at his own game and that some
girl has made dent in his vulcanized
rubber heart"
THE same notion occurred 70 me-"
said Helen. And presently she went
away without having given any salts
factory reason why she had called.
1t may have been about two weeks
later that Helen happened to be in the
vicinity of Churchilrs studio about an
hour before the time for the assembling
Of the class. 1t seemed better TO wait
in the studio than anywhere else that
she could think of ut the moment.
Doubtless some Of the other pupils
would arrive early and keep her com
pany. Churchill himself would be no
company ut all, as she had already
learned. He would attend strictly 10
his work and forget her existence.
Upon this occasion. however, the art
list was not at work, or, to be more eX-
act he was not at his usual task. He
sat by Il desk upon which were many
letters which he had written When
Helen entered he looked at her for
some seconds intently. as if trying to
bring his mind to her from some re-
mote region.
How do you do?" said he in Il far
away voice And then when she was
seated he resumed his place at the
desk and slowly tore all the letters into
very small pieces. Afterward he put
something which looked like locket or
very small metal picture frame into a
drawer of the desk and turned the key
upon it.
"Ar. Churchill" said she, Il have
been talking with my cousin about
you"
Yes" he responded, with only the
faintest show of interest
HE finds you greatly changed" said
the girl
Immediately very obvious and sur
priSing change revealed itself in the
man. He rose with energy, and his
eyes grew bright.
Il have good reason" he said.
She smiled and pointed to the drawer
in the desk.
Churchill hesitated and then slowly
turned. He opened the drawer and
took from it something which the girl
could not see until he held it toward
her. 1t was, as she had guessed, a
small round frame of plain gold con-
tanning a face cut from a photograph
the face of very pretty girl, yet not
such girl as might be expected to ac-
complish a great and beneficial change
In a man like Churchill.
To be honest about it, she looked vain
and silly. AS mat for genius she
might fulfill the doleful traditions in
regard to this subject, but youth al
ways fights against tradition. Certain
ly Helen rebelled at the thought that
such doll should sway the destinies
Of a man whose most commonplace
idea and lowliest aspiration she must
always be totally unable to appreciate
isn't she lovely?" she exclaimed.
"Blue eyes, of course, like yours. How
oddw
ITS odd that any girl should care a
penny for me-" responded Churchill, re-
-.