The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-24

graph in a daze. lie was insensible to
the raw February air. needless Of sloppy
pavements; the gray day had suddenly
turned gold Tie could not realize it all
al once; $4,000 a year-for him and Edith,
His heart swelled with love of Edith; she
had sacrificed so much to become the
wife OF a man who had tried 10 make an
artist OF himself. and OF whom fate, or
economic determinism, or something, had
made cartocnist. What a surprise for
her! He must hurry home.
In this swelling of his heart he felt
love not only Of Edith. but Of the whole
world. The people he met seemed dear
10 him: ne felt friendly with every one.
and beamed on perfect strangers with
broad. cheerful smiles. He stopped to
buy some flowers for Edith--daffOdilS, or
tulips, which promised spring. and he
took the daffodns because the girl said;
Il think yellow is such a spirituelle
color. don't your and inclined her head
IN a most artistic manner.
But daffodns. after ALL which would
have been much the day before. seemed
insufficient I'm the light Of new prosperity,
and Kittrell bought a large aZalea, beau
tiful IN its graceful spread Of pink
blooms
Where shall / send it, asked the girl.
whose cheeks were as pink as azaleas
themselves.
Il think I'll call a cab and take It TO
her myself" said Kittrell.
And she sighed over the romance Of
this rich young gentleman and the girl Of
the Gzalea. who. no doubt, was as beau
tiful as the young woman who was play
ing 'Lottie. the Poor Saleslady" the Ly-
Ccum that very week
Kittrell and the azalea bowled along
Ciaybourne avenue; he leaned back on
the cushions and adopted the expression
OF cnnui appropriate TO that thorough
fare. Would Edith now prefer Clay
bourne avenue? With ten thousand a
year they could. perhaps-and yet. at
first Il would be best not to put on airs,
but go right on as they were. I'm the fiat
Then the thought came 10 him that now,
as the cartoonist on the Telegraph, his
name would become as well known in
Claybourne avenue as IL had been I'm the
homes OF the poor and humble during his
years on the Post. And HIS thoughts flew
20 those homes where tired men at even
ing looked for his cartoons and children
laughed at his funny pictures. II gave
him a pang. he had felt a subtle bond be-
tween himself and all those thousands
who read the Post. II was hard 10 leave
them
The Post might be yellow. but as the
girl had said yellow was a spiritueile
color. and the Post brought something
into their lives-lives that were scorned
by the Telegraph and by these people on
the avenue. Could he make new friends
here. where the cartoons he drew and
the Post that printed them had been con-
temned, n not despsed? His mind flew
back 10 the dingy Office OF the Post; 10
the boys there, the whole good-natured.
happy go-lucky gang, and to Hardy-ah.
Hardy,-who had been so good TO him
and given him his big chance. had taken
such pains and interest. helping him with
ideas and suggestions. criticism and SYM
pathy. To tell Hardy that he was going
20 leave him, here on the eve Of the cam
paign-and Clayton. the mayor, he would
have % tell him. too-oh. the devil, Why
must ne think Of these things just now7
After ALL when he had reached home
and had run upstairs with the news and
the szalea. Edith did not seem delighted.
But dearie. business is business he
argued. "and we need the money"
yes, I know: doubtless you're right.
Only please don't say business Is bust
ness it isn't like you, and"
But think what it will mean-ten thou
sand a year,
ooh. Neil I've lived on ten thousand a
year before. and never had half the fun
that / had when we were getting along
on twelve hundred.
Yes. but then we were always dream
ing Of the day when Id make a lot: we
lived on that hope didn't we?'
Edith laughed. you used to say we
lived on love"
You're not serious" He turned 10
gaze modify cut Of the window. And
then she left the azalea and perched on
the fat arm OF his chair.
Dearest she said. II am serious. !
know what all this means TO you. We're
human. and we don't like 20 whip at crusts
Ike Hindus,' even for the sake Of youth
and art never had illusions about love
In cottage and all that. Only. dear.
have been happy, so very happy, with
you. beCause-well, because I was living
in an atmosphere OF honest purpose, hon
est ambition. and honest desire to do
some good thing I'm the world. I had
never known such an atmosphere before.
At home. you know. father and Uncle
James and the bOys-well, 1t was all mOn-
ey, money money with them. and they
couldn't understand why l."
could marry poor newspaper artist.
That's just the point"
She put her hand to his lips.
Now dear! If they couldn't under
stand, so much the worse for them. II
they thought II meant sacrifice 70 me-
they we're mistaken I have been happy
IN this aittle fat: only"-she leaned back
and inclined her head with her eyes
asquint-"only the paper in this room IS
atrocious. It's a typical landlords selec-
tion-McGaw picked It out. You see what
It means to be merely rich"
She was 80 pretty thus that he kissed
her. and then she went on:
And so, dear, II I didn't seem TO be as
impressed and delighted as you hoped tc
find me. It is because was thinking OF
Mr.. Hardy and the poor, dear, common
little Post and then-of Mr.. Clayton. DID
you think OF him?'
Yes"
You'll have toto cartoon himT'
Il suppose So"
The fact he had not allowed himself tc
face was close to both OF them. and the
subject was dropped until, just as hC
was going dOwntown-this time to break
the news to Hardy-he went into the
room he sarcastically said he might begir
10 call his studio. now that he was get
ting ten thousand a year. to look for q
sketch he had promised Nolan for tn,
sporting page. And there on his drawing
board was an unfinished cartoon, a draw,
ing OF the strong face OF John Clayton
He had begun it a few days before to US,
on the occasion Of Clayton's renomina
ton II had been labor Of love. ant