The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-07

on the rug, hid her race IN lieA q. -
and cried The dusk OF the March eE-
ening came down and inclosed her. pur
she did not stir until some one khCch
ed and kept knocking Then she asheN
who was there. 49,
eco away" she called. Il am trcu
to death. 1 won't let you in he pa
leyed a little, pleading that she neeu-
ed a walk that at least she should 80
that evening to the theater with NM
But she was obdurate. He went away.
Then Mrs. Jerry began to help. she
gave parties and invited kitue anu
made John Carter take her horne She
always threw them together. ana
she did it with the skill and delicacy
of long practice. 1t did not occur 70
the young man what was being dOle
to him. But Fairlie saw. And she
knew that the little matron was right
in a few things. Pot-boiling pictures
were stultifying. She had done II until
she was heart-sick- She had worked
until she ached. soul and body. when
little money-so little-would nave
freed her to do the good work OF
which she was capable. she was -
last getting recognition. but II was nNe
+ ashes in her mouth. The JOY was out
CT it.
Fairlie knew that John Carter, also
! Just making good, had suffered also
She knew better than anybody. lie
had told no one else. He knew she
would understand. She was his COM
rade. But "A wife was, of course what
he needed. 1t was bound to come
And kittie was pathgUcally IN love
with him. Fairlie shut herself up AM
worked harder than ever.
The late fall. and early winter pass
/ ed. and something new came over
Fairlie that made her world wonder
She came out of her shell. once II
had taken coaXing to make her accept
I invitations. All at once she was seen
! everywhere. She sold a picture or tWp
to rich people she met she bought
few stunning gowns. Her quaint little
figure, her black hair ana irish blue
| eyes made her noticeable anywhere
No gayety was too gay, no hour too
\ late And she worked also-no one
could see how. She grew thin, but
/ more brilliant.
With ali this she kept her old cir
Gle of intimate friends AT a sort Of dis
lance. She was friendly enough, hur
| never to be seen for three minutes to-
| gether. The busy. 90 away card
| was on her door. or she was out ar
some festivity. John Garter almost
| never saw her. and though he went
! where she went. she managed never -
| give him a word. Thus. by grace or
| circumstances-and Mrs. Jerry Towne
-Kittie was somehow constantly IN
If was along in early spring that
! Carter taking stock with himself.
/ realized that he was becoming mere
| acquaintance to his old comrade-he
| seemed to be coming out OF a dazc or
dream of some Ort. and wondered how
he could have allowed IT, He was sim
painting pot boilers-he had mother
to support-but doing fine work also
| by leaps and bounds.
| One bright March morning hc beg
cared himself for an armful Of dafo-
dis and went Straight to Fafrlic's
studio. The sign was out. but he
! knocked. and then went in. Fairlic
! flashed at him where she stood i'm paint
| apron. holding her palette. before the
/ easel where she was working lie felt
! leagues away. though she smiled.
"Go away John, Genius burns, Look
at this-of the old wood in winter-and
then DEPART He came over. gave a.
! word of hearty praise to the work. and
then took the girls palette lway from
| her He claspcd both her hands in his.
despite her.
"Fairlie. what's the matter with you2
For months you have not been like
yourself You have somehow shut me
out Of the old friendship-and 7 simply
won't have it. Have I done snythingr
| Tell me-" She trsmblcd in his grasp.
put made herself meet his gaze ana
pulled her hands away. She spoke very
calmly almost uOnchalantly.
Nonsense. John. We have simply
both been Vary busy. OF course you
haven't done anything I am glad
you arc doing so we'll" He stood
looking al her.
John. I'm glad you come in. IL
gives me chance to tell You before
tell any one else that I am going TO
marry Stephen Kingston. tt" Ills
gaze Of utter astonishment made her
pause. "Why-not2" she asked
why not?' he repeated. You can't
love him. Fairlie. And if you did It
would be horrible for you. Nothing but
money and society. You know You
wouldn't work. There would be no
stimulus Nothing fine and high and
driving to keep you at it-a deathiv
ease that any artist mus. fight Fair1ie.
don't You see-you always have little
comrade-that the struggle. the necos-
sity. is good for us?" She ri, ID to ston
nlm' but could not Il don't carr If Won
nave promised him 7 shall tell Won
what came to say. that I love so,r
peter than anybody else in the world
KNOWS how to. You shall NOT do ~
child DO you want tor"
A knock came at the door and 70
save herself from giving way to her
own heart. she cried Come inr''
Mrs jerry entered win H. -
hltue, several danes Of their world. and
q q. neshgible man or two. Last came
To5n ~ S. ,,, Fairlie had not told
her answer. They an ratbere5 49,.
her and John Carter. who was rneasurinS
win a keen eye the sleek assurance 81
the other man. VI
hrs we came ne to sec your winter picture
nreezed Mrs. Jerry. we knew Won
guard. Mr.. Carter has also done 4. - az.
was concentrating herself secretly, r,,
ma naV ing helped stephen Kingston to see
so much Of the pretty artist re- -,,.t-t,
es seemed likely to come Off as sobed,5ioS
by her. "ieo
At that moment a naughty bo,, VIII, ~
~ pan OF melting snow forever settled
the case OF Stephen Kingston's aanirstio,,
20 marry Falrie- The boy flung the bali
II shattered 10 a thousand bits the v-fn6Nv,
raise. ppNN UP 70
At the crash all the women screamed
,,s allne olu nor move but cried out. her