The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-01
TIE EVENING STORY
Vagabond Jane.

that was her home, her heart con-
tracted painfully. A child, not more
than ten, was huddled against the
chilling pillar of the doorway, seek
ing shelter from the biting November
wind. The child had taken off her
own rag of a coat and it lay cuddled
over a still smaller form in her arms.
The eyes of a hunted animal gleam-
ed forth from the small, pinched face
when Jane stopped in front of her
What is it. child? No, don't be
afraid'-for the child had made an
involuntary movement as if to flee
give me the baby and come with me;
you are cold through and through.
Il dasn't go home till 1 get two dol
lars" the child said mechanically, as
she followed Jane into the tenement
building and up the stone stairs
Through her apathy. brought on by
mum bness and hunger, the child re
sponded to Jane sympathy. I'D get
beat if l went home without them two
dollars, and 1 amt got nothin' but
copperS=tW enty-fOur of them.
s'Poor little dear" said Jane, and
pondered the situation while she put
the infant to sleep on her own couch
She could not afford to make up the
difference in money to the child, as
her own resources were limited, yet
the money must be found, and that
before dusk set in
She went about preparing 1000 1or
the children. Her knowledge as to
correct feeding of an infant IN arms
was more or less vague.
children of the poor can eat any
thing and thrive thought Jane, and
a grim little smile played about her
lips The milk she warmed seemed
perfectly satisfactory, and. when the
infant was again asleep Jane spoke to
the older child.
pennies for you. You must stay here
until I return James order was not
repeated-the girl was only grateful to
have a shelter from the cold.
Out in the street James brow puck
cred. How could she get the necessary
money?
A street singers voice caught her at
tention. There was an idea! Pennies
were being showered down upon the
girl from the high windows, and Jane
believed her own small voice equal in
monetary value to that of the street
singer.
She walked several blocks in order
to gain courage to lift up her voice in
song The neighborhood in which she
from the wonderful lace curtains in
those hundreds of windows. She found
her way timidly to the back court and
there she began her strange mission
An unusual emotion took hold of
Jane when little bundles of pennies, or
nickels or dimes, dropped down from
surreptitiOusly opened windows. Before
long Jane had enough and to spare for
the small children waiting for her re-
turn.
Dusk was coming on slowly, but Jane
made her way to one more building.
She had read the word studios" be-
tween the massive portals and her
reason told her that there was a donf-
Gle of great souls
The unusual strain had begun to tell
in James voice, and she was not a lit
tie weary when man came to the |
doorway and stood deliberately watch |
ing her. James tones trembled and the
hot color crept into her cheeks.
When her song was finished she |
turned to 60 The mans voice stopped !
her; 1t was gentle voice and full of
persuasion
7 will give you s25 if you will pose
for me for an hour" the man said.
The money consideration did not |
startle Jane, but the strangness of her
experience brought the SLOW whimsi- |
cal smile to her eyes. While she was
again.
You will be doing me a great favor |
j must have a model tonight
Il have never posed-but I believe |
could sit still for an hour" Jane !
sighed and rather enjoyed the prospect |
of sitting quietly. She was more tired /
than she had realized.
You will have a rest every fifteen
the artist told her and mar
veled at the refined. sweet charm of |
the street singer. He led the way to
the elevator and Jane followed.
Her eyes cleaned at the soft luxury
Of Dana Nillars studio. She sank
down. upon wide couch
Villar stopped to admire the odd
color scheme she presented.
You would make far more money
as mcclellan you do as q street
singer he told her as he put a. rough
sketch on his easel.
Il a mnot a street singer" Jane re
marked casually.
what are you-by profession ~
Villar swung his models platform into
he fast fading light and placed a chair
on it.
Jane smiled slowly 'sIm-just a
gagabond," she said, and vilIar turned
n time to catch the unconscious
pathos in James eyes
He drew a quick breath; the girl
IF you will come to the model
stand now, please When he took
lane by the hand to assist her to the
nigh stand a dull color swept the girls
ace. While he draped a soft brown
,elvet over her shoulders an I'M
dreamed of sensation kept her eyes
rom looking at him.
Villar's eyes never left the perfect
wal of her face: it was framed in rich
masses of red-gold hair and the deli
ate flush strayed up until it met the
shadows beneath her soft gray eyes
you are far too beautiful to be a
.vagabond" Villar found it diff
,u1t to use the word in connection
With his model.
James easy flow of speech came
,aek to her when Villar had returned
o his easel and she told him of the
title children and their urgent need
# money.
The artists hand stopped often
Turing her story and it seemed to
i'm that the entire warmth and glow