The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-11
TIE EVENING STORY
The Failure
Gy Annie Hinrichsen.)

10y ANNE Hlnr1ChGen.l
roa, girl rushed suddenly from a
win you come in ?" she .stsd ~.
cteoiy- Come in and helm me
gulck- 1 don't know you-excenf as
me man who lives across the han
~. you are perfect. You are exactly
hnrr,, l want and I'm in such a
With two steps Treadway was in the
stand where you are" commanded
cue sir. Face this way. That's rirhf-
II ss up-the way you always carry
~. Figure tense. Splendid pose of a
man. Souns business
she stepped behind an easel and
D reE1 TO sketch rapidly Bewilder-
sIood neIo Treadway's tongue. He
s'ooo immovable, staring at her
Eyes little to the Jeff. nlease >.
sonaI W. anu imper-
May ask" he ventured. eff this
Is an inspirations" ms
higher" Snin httie
Are you"
race in repose please"
rednhr s.ie nne OF his eyes was a curly,
a9 eu-prown mass of hair. pinned. as
nait as its crinkling would per
luiI, TO a small head When she fiIf-
ca her head back in her abstract IN,
psIsonai scrutiny of him there came
m4.iiih ms vision a creamy white face
WIN dark, intense eyes. firm.
tre als cnln and a dimpled rosy, con-
IL auictory -.outh
ror long time he stood motian-
s1ss ms eyes on the red-brown
crlnkles of hair. At last he shiftad
80 Douy with ostentatious WEAKNESS
aIi ~, Grew long. audible sigh.
ana gensst s1actlon left the girls face
AasbaS tn ,'.n interest and concern
on" she deplored, "rm so sorry.
~ - are worn out. I did not realize
now long You had stood. FORGIVE
He relaxed his rightly and dronned
into chair. The girl left her o ~ ssi
ana sat down near him.
NAY L explain? '' she asked with
gracious, gentle dignity. at owe
you detailed explanation and many
npUiogies. am an artist. 1 am
neither a good nor a successfn1 ona
am, indeed, almost a failure" Tbere
was no regret nor complaint in her
voice. She was stating fact the
truth truth OF which she had accented
his morning received a request
~ IN packing house for a picture
70 pc used as an advertisement. The
supJect-a young, handsome, athletic.
wen dressed man, the embodiment
OF neaIth and prosperity. L eat Ress-
lng's Baked Beef 1t is my first or
oer. can you understand what it
Inc order meant everything to me-
So-the result
A week later Margaret weston
showed him check from the mack
ing company. my first she an
nounced proudly isn't it beautiful,
is the symbol of success
GU VIII draw many pictures Of
peer eaters and l shall have regular
employment as model. But L shall
NOT De jealous il you draw my Aunt
Melinda She is my housekeener and
cook. She was my mother's maid
ana my nurse. She ought, however,
to pose for you in my apartment"
The girl looked around her room
Ihe walls and the floor were bare.
the windows were uncurtained. A
few plain chairs and tables. an easel
and a cot were the only fnrnisbinse
The chill of its dreariness was as def
mite as the chill of bitter cold.
yes" she said slowly. Aunt Me-
linda should pose in your rooms They
are warm and bright and rich and
luxurious A stately, old family re-
tainer needs such a setting. This
room is too poor and barren"
our room is extremely artistic.
l love IT, l suggested that you draw
Aunt Melinda in my rooms because
l IKE to think of your presence there.
am away nearly all the time and
Il won't do it, she said sharply
One evening he knocked at her
door May I come in and visit a
while?" he asked.
Not tonight, Her. voice was harsh
and he did not hear the tremor.
Il shall not intrude where I am un-
welcome" he began stiff1y.
YOU are always welcome" she
said YEARLY. But tonight am very
tired and I must rest
you need a long rest. You ara
worn out with the struggle for vour
art. You belong in a home of vour
own with husband to take care Of
you and Aunt Melinda to take care of
us both. Margaret. dear. won't you
let noe %e-
Margaret, the path you have chos-
en- is bitterly hard. You may win sue
cess in your work, but you will paw
price
pay"
81 shan't let you.''
You cannot prevent me. 1 care
nothing, absolutely nothing, for YOU.
Do you think she asked with a
hard, little laugh, that 1 shall give
up my beloved art for man to whom
He whirled about. threw open his
own door and slammed it behind him.
Mr.. Dick, wish you'd marry that
poor little lamb across the hail.
"She won't have me, Aunt Me-
linda"
You haven't looked az her for a |
month, not since the night YOU
slammed the door so hard that my
pans ratified in the Kitchen. You
haven't looked at her az seen that |
she is starving to DEATH
'She is not
"She hasn't sold any pictures for /
a long time. Those beef people
bought a few and then turned her
down. She's worn out her shoes 90 /
ing around trying to sell pictures that |
nobody wants Shes so poor now
that she is taking in sewing
"Great heavens-nop'
"She was sewing and starving the
night she wouldn't let you cali ON
her and you slammed the door. Ard