The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-20
THE EVENING STORY
His Hideous Heirloom.
(By Stacy E. Bakery

time-worn and hideous bureau to
her favorite nephew-and nothing
else
Marvin Chapman debated long on
whether to favor the relic of an art
less manufacturer with resting room,
or relegate 1t to secondhand en-
porium. In the end love and a certain
respect for the old lady won; the bu-
reau was installed in the otherwise up
to-date apartments of the young man.
Miss Harriet Herlien had been a
highly esteemed woman, aggressive in
word and action. She had a shrewd
mind, calculating, keen.
Chapman, who had not seen his
aunt for a number of years, remem
bered her as sharp-eyed old lady,
silver haired and always CARRIED in
black.
The bureau amused the friends of
the young artist, and laughing con-
gratulations were given Chapman on
having secured so handsome an an
tique. He volunteered no explanations.
The bureau became permanent fix
ture in his rooms.
Chapman was an artist of much tai
ent, but, as yet, little success. He
managed, by rigid economy, to live
within his all-too-small income, and
keep up appearances. Meanwhile. the
spotlight of publicity was gradually
coming closer.
The youth had always believed that
his aunt was woman of vast wealth
and that he was to inherit all of her
fortune. Believing this, he had made
no effort to husband his own little
money. Now he realized his mistake
| this leaning on possibilites-for his
dream was farther away from him
than overland he had imagined it
most tangible, and of bound-to-come-
| true construction.
But. after all, even if the little coun-
try studio, far. away from the stress
and clamor of the town. were elimina-
| ted, and the constant production OF
pot boilers" was always to be ne
cessity, the heart of the dream was
still left to him. The heart of the
dream. the radiant center around which
all these thoughts and visions OF the
future revolved, was-Annette Leya.
The young artist had known the girl
for years. They had been fellow stud
ents in Paris, and her dark eyes, stud
ded beneath perfect brows, had made
their strong appeal to hfn1 long before
he had become acquainted with her.
Above and beyond her perfect figure,
her rare poise; above and beyond all
these, the magnetism of her personality
had claimed him, and he knew in his
heart that there never could be any
ether.
The youth had been keen boy,
fresh from the country in those days,
and what the girl could have found in
him was a mystery. To be sure, the
aquilipe nose, the firm, frank eyes and
the fighting jaw told Of victor1es~to
come; but. as general rule, young
girls are not able to judge OF sucn
| til ngs.
Both Chapman and the girl were now
back in New York, and the friendship
had long since ripened to an engage
ment and a full understanding. Ann
cites career as an artist was in the
same state as that of her sweetheart.
II think it is rather quaint" COM
piimented Miss Leya, upon her first
glimpse of the monstrosity. Neverthe-
| less, her enthusiasm broke to no fine
fren i Polite IMPLICATIONS came to tht.
| girl with difficulty. Her perfect lips
and her rather serious profile were con-
sistently above trivial word vagaries.
Several months after the installation
| of the heirloom Chapman received a
caller.
my name is Cummings introduced
| the elderly person. having calmly help
| ed himself to a chair. He removed an
ancient tile and nlopped the shining
dome of his head with a gaudy hand
kerchief. You have never met me,
| sir, but your late aunt-a most esti-
mable WCman-insisted that l call on
you when in the city. We were friends"
| ne finished simply.
about the room, resting at last upon
a little door leading to a chamber.
Just visible from where he sat was
the freak gift that had descended to
Chapman.
The artist noted the curious glance
of the visitor. THAT bureau" he
laughed, was my inheritance. Aunt
Harriet willed it to me. If had fol-
lowed first impressions the thing
wouldn't be here now, but-well, aunt
was a good old soul, and she certainly
must have thought something of the
old affair or I wouldn't have been in
ficted with it. Her sentiments are
mine. I shall stand by that ancient
exy~ir11 va
lieves me of it's guardianship"
II wouldn't mind owning it my
self" confessed Cummings. "T'n give
YOU twice what the thing cost-just
| to own it for keepsake. you know"
1T is not for SALE answered Chap
II will give said the old man.
| sticking to the subject. Just 800 for
| the clap-trap. Better take it,
chapm as h Patiently aTh Cant you un-
lone thousand dollars exclaimed
the old man. land not a cent more,"
"You had better see a DOCTOR" sug-
THAT bureau isn't worth a cent to
any one but me. 1t is old, dilapidated
and hideous."
the door. ct see we can't do bust
ness" he called back to the surprised
Chapman. Goodbye"
The painter stared after his &C.
centric visitor. Crazy" he calculated.
| MAD as a March hareI Some old
lover of aunt's. probably. and he
wanted that-er-thing a keep
! sake Jove, who would have sup
posed romance existed in such a
| frame?''
Nevertheless. and despite his firm
and indignant refusal of Cummings Of
| fer, Chapman had been tempted. One
| thousand dollars meant a lot to him
| srWhy, boy" she said, softly, you don t
| know yourself as well as know you
| One slim hand rested on his arm.