The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-21
THE EVENING STORY
The Thing That Was Best.

The Thing That Was Best.
by Virginia Leila Wentzl
ne had not come to the little sea-
side place for idleness. although it was
true-because he was tired and over
worked-he had come for rest and
recuperation. He had brought with him
sion of his landlady he was allowed
to improvise tiny studio in q building
outside the boarding house.
She, too, because she was nervous
and restless, had come for change and
quiet. Like him, also. because she loved
her art, the summer could not be en-
joyed TO the exclusion of that art
Hers was music. She had an exquis-
ite voice and was studying for the
cperatic stage. The IandIady consid-
cred them both an addition to her little
seaside place.
To be really great painter was the
mans highest aim. To be a singer, in
the same sense, was hers And there
was ono other point Of similarity-for
the furtherance Of their respective arts,
love and marriage had been quite laid
by.
On the veranda of the cottage the
called him hard names. because he
& hose rather to be alone in the boat
or strolling on the sands. or cooped up
in his six-foot studio. than to mingle
with them. But. this was before she
came.
The night that she arrived he did
an unusual thing. He took a rocker on
The veranda. And he kept it in the
see her face. Often. after that, he
v atched her furtively as he heard her
practicing. Yet he evinced no interest
II her voice.
His omission and his commission both
were observed by her. And both were
resented If she was beautiful at all,
she thought, she was a musician first
and a beauty af&erward. 1t gave her no
pleasure to be admired for her appear
ance by one who had no appreciation
for the music.
One day one of the ladies who knitted
told her that Mr.. Max Burgess had paid
her a compliment.
"Yes?" asked Judith, with delicate
uplifting Of her eyebrows. But it was
" 18th difficulty that she concealed her
expectation.
The woman clicked her needle several
times He said he would love. to paint
you as you looked when you sang" was
her answer. s-1'
Thanks" returned Judith. flushing
crimson and raising her dainty chin in
the air. Il do not aspire to be an art
ist's model"
The next morning at breakfast Mr..
Burgess inquired If she would care to
ccme to his studio and look at some
canvases. Now. if Max Burgess took
little interest in her art. she. in turn.
took as little in his She knew nothing
Of pictures. Nevertheless. she went.
You say nothing he observed with
a strange, slow smile, after she had
made a survey of his work.
ST don't know good pictures from
bad" answered she. ITO me, person
ally. they are equally unappealing."
mot seriously?" The smile had dis
appeared.
"Oh. seriously. You see"-with a
provokingly exquisite gesture of her
slender hand-''it's much the same as
your nE musie fop mnai sm aRi
for it's visible effect on singers
face!" She was rapidly growing indig-
nant.
He felt the business of her rebuke,
but the artist in him was awake.
''Ah. it is as a singer that I wish to
paint you" he cried. "You know, peo- |
pie forgive artists for personalities. |
The other day when you were singing |
and your eyes CLEAN, veritably tingled |
for my brushes. Would you-perhaps
.sometime@"
Decidedly not" answered she. I |
could not dream of so degrading my |
art. You would like me to sing, to |
let my soul utter itself in my voice
so that you might get the effect on |
There was no mistaking the |
ringing scorn in her voice.
Indeed, I am very sorry II I have |
offended you" said he.
After he had seen her to the house, |
he came back into the studio. One |
after another, slowly and Disconnected
1y he examined his pictures. One after I
another he laid them down with a |
sense of disappointment and underlined |
longing.
II wonder?' he questioned vaguely.
going to the window and looking to-
ward the sea. ST wonder?-"
But the sea rolled on and on, under
the expanse of enigmatica1 sky, and
gave him no answer.
One day, some weeks later, Judith |
was on the solitary little pier when
Max Burgess came for his boat That
she had happened to hear
him speaking to a servant. He was
giving some orders about the packing
of his effects. And now. as she stood
on the hot sands. reckless impulse
came to her.
why are you leaving?" said she.
my work here doesn't get on very
we'll. I'm falling back somehow" His
eyes were on the horizon. Il
would you still care about painting
would I ?" His eyes were no
longer on the horizon 1t must have
TO her cheeks.
We'll" said she, "if you ask me to
row out with you in your boat we
might talk it over"
we're far. far from shore He must Is
have been looking at her hands instead {
of the land or he would have seen that
they were getting into very heavy /,
sea; that each moment the skies were
growing darker. Spray wet Judith's
lark hair and cleaned there just FOR .
an appreciable fraction of second like
milky agates in the bed of a black
stream.
isn't it glorious!" cried she with {
sudden joy. ie
His eyes questioned her keeniy. She
And then he understood.
With an effort he brought the boat ID