The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-01-18
A Dream and
The Waking

And, there in the midst of chat
tering, fashionably clad throng STOOD
Mary, pink checked, smiling and talk
ing intimately about art; Mary in
strange aesthetic array, with the
train of her clinging gown colled ser
pentwise about her feet and rose
tucked behind her dainty ear.
Could she be that demure, shrink
ing country girl Robert had escorted
to rural dances four years ago?
Evidently the painting under con-
sideration was the work of Mary's
hands. 1t was the portrait of an
amazingly tall reed like woman whose
scanty draperies seemed in imminent
danger of slipping off altogether. Ro-
bert looked from Mary TO the picture
and back several times before his be
wildered conscience grasped the signi'
ficant fact of her artistic achievement.
Then, quite suddenly, Mary turned and
saw him.
.'Why, Robert Nearing!" she cried
with unfeigned delight, going forward
with outstretched hands. "Robert,
indeed, I'm very glad to see you, real
ly! These festive friends come in TO
look at my pictures and drink to my
health now and then" she explained
jauntily. To the listening group she
said: "This is an old friend from
home, Robert Nearing, of Mapleton
How are you, Roberto" she went on,
cordially. "Haye you come to stay
in town."
AS a matter of fact Robert had
come to town solely to see Mary, but
he did not tell her SO just then.
"Of course, you'll stay for little
chat about home folks" she insisted,
ST live here with Miss Gilbert, my
rival in art and being good 30
hemians we got on swimmingly to-
gether.'
Robert stayed after the silken
throng had fluttered out. Mary lit the
pink draped lamp on the little STAND
with its half emptied wine glasses,
drew up an easy chair, and seated
herself where the light fell rosily on
her pretty, smiling face. She asked
all manner of questions about the
old friends and her brother, who had
fostered her orphaned childhood with
a parental tenderness.
Robert was man of fine character,
sternly upright, and sweet natured,
but slow of speech and singularly re-
served. He had loved Mary in pa
TENT silence for six years, during
which his secret hopes had helped him
through much toll and disappointment
Now that the realization OF his am
bition had given him the right to
speak, there was another man in his
light-a man against whom he had
not the shadow of a chance.
"Are you. engaged to marry him.
he asked presently, in hard, con
strained voice that quite startled
Mary.
ooh, no, DEAR" she laughed. Were
chums-good fellows. He is a writer
and, like most of the tribe, poor and
charming. He writes stories about
me and poses for my sketches. Neither
of US thinks of marriage. We have
talked the question all over and come
to sensible conclusion"
"And you've given up the idea Of
marrying?" Robert asked.
Mary nodded and bit off the tip Of
the bud she toyed with.
! 81 don't like the idea of you living
this way. Mary" said the young fel
low, involuntarily glancing at the wine
glasses.
''That is because of your absurdly
.one-sided view of things she laugh
ed, good naturally 1T is great fun
-ealIy. 1t spoils one for the hunfdrum
life of the old-fashioned woman"
"That is just why l object to it. I'd
rather see you happily married ant
settled down in what you call hum
drum life than living as you do here
Couldn't you paint as well, even il
you were married"
Dear, no." said Mary, very posi-
lively, with a laugh at the absurdit!
of such a thought. Marriage spoil'
art. But what of yourself, Robert
Why don't you take your own advice
and settle down"
Because" said Robert gravely
There is only one girl in the worlt
to me, and she don't want me-"
The smile died out of Mary's eyes
momentarily.
I'm so sorry, Robert" she salt
simply. Her eyes srayed inadvertent
ly to the picture in his hand, and sh'
wondered vaguely if she was the onl.
woman in the world to Ted Hartley.
eff she should even change he
mind she will find me unchanged.
think she knows that, although
have never told her so. have love-
her good many years, and AWAY
will love her, but-well, it was no
to be. That's ALL
Then Mary understood in fash o
regretful comprehension.
That night Hartley called with tn
nnlofg CHA story which he wante