The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-21

knew how that happened. He always | said he did not care for her baby kind | of prettiness. It must have been her talent. No one can deny that she had the rest of us beaten all hollow. That little characterless. baby-face thing could paint better than Dan himself"
 'Maude knows how feel about it-and so does he That's what hurts the worst. could not help showing 1t that last day. And she--there was such triumph in her silly little face when she came out of the studio, and We knew she had got the prize. She looked at me. and then she walked straight up to Dan and they forgot I was there. Oh. the humiliation of 1t! And then old Carton had to cap the l climax by telling me that l never would make an artist. I knew 1t well enough All wanted was-if he'd only stopped there instead of telling me that should be married. l "T have seen that you are in love, Miss Susan, and I advise you to mar " the good man and help him make a career
 He wasn't so smart as he thought he was or he'd have seen that Maud wasn't content with getting the paint ing prize-she had to take everything. even-" Forgetting were she was. she sprang to her feet pumping her head against a pile of empty boxes which fell with a deafening chatter.
 Then the door was flung open and some one seized her arm and drew her gently out into the sitting room. Susan gave one glance at her sisters mortified face, and then laughed help iessly. It was fortunate that she could not see her own face, which was stained in an elaborate pattern from the kimono. ..
 q was hunting for my comb--1' she began and stopped. for the man. whose face she had not yet seen' came around in front of her.
 "Did YOU find it?' he asked. - r Susan turned white and then red. and white again before she said a word And when her lips finally opened they uttered the one thing she could nave bitten her tongue out for saying.
 where Is MaudeT'
 "Maude? Oh. she's safely married and on a wedding trip. whatever made YOU run away that day when ola Carton told Maude she had won the prize? We hunted for you to tell you. but you were gone.'
 | "I didn't need to be told. saw" she said. and then grew white again. But why-if you are married-why isn't Maude here. too?'
 Maude" Suddenly the man gave a shout. DO you mean that you think am married to Maude? That's | good one. She is my sister -fn-law now She was engaged to Fred for five years, and they never had money enough to marry on till she got that cash prize. That was why she work ed so hard to get it."
 | Susan began to back toward the stairway She felt 1t was time to escape.
 'No you don't" said the man. and he caught one corner of the kimono and held her.
 I'm not dressed" she murmured
 50 I perceive" he answered. But was that the reason you ran away because you thought Maude--
 "Old Carton told me I'd never make | an artist" she evaded.
 Did he? The brute! But that was no reason for running away from me What else did he say?'
 | He said l had better get married" said Susan. And that was why ran away"
 l As she had hoped he would. the man dropped the kimono in his amaze ment. and she darted up the stairs. leaving him looking after her with fear in his eyes. | "Susan-tell me-
 She leaned over the banisters and | smiled at him. But of course can't | get married until some one asks me. /" | she said, and before he could get to her the door of her room had slammed.