The Parker post., 1912-04-20

meet"
you should have very beautiful
model" Josephine said Wont it be
hard to find?"
He smiled down at. her 1T have
found my model" he said
But Josephine did not understand
the significance of his tone.
81 wish might watch you work, ="
she said
81 hope you will watch me many
times" he said He hesitated, and
then asked, do you think your moth
er would let you sit for me? | should
like to do you as you are now with
that big muff and fur. and with that
three-cornered hat on top OF your
curls You seem the very spirit OF
youth: your vividness almost lights
up this dull room
Josephine had never been called
pretty. and there was something in
this mans tone that made her feel
that he meant what he said 1t was
not fattery, but rather the satisfied
estimate of one who has found what
he wants
Il am afraid mother wouldn't let
me come here" she said, but if you
could work at our house"
81 will ask her." he told her
Tha: night he pleaded so eloquently
that Mrs Danforth consented, and ev-
cry day after that Josephine sat for
Him. with Peggy and the little folks,
and the statue grew under his deft
fingers.
1t seemed to Josephine in these
days that life took on new meanings
This man, with the slender. white
fingers and the kind smile, became so
much a part of her thoughts and her
daily life that when one morning he
announced that the statue was fin
ished and his sojourn at the Oaks end
ed, she gave a little gasp Of dismay
Are you going to leave "s?" she
asked
He did not look at her as he said
slowly, 81 must | cannot stay here
any longer; | must not"
She didn't dare ask him why; some
instinct told her that it was because
of her that he was going Because
she was a woman she must let him
leave in silence The children ex,
pressed their regrets; they did not
know how they were to get along
without their dear Toy Man
Aren't We ever going to come and
knock at the knocker and see the
mandarin and the lions?" Peggy
walled
Josephine shall have the key" he
said Perhaps she will come here
sometimes and let you play. Will
you?" he asked and Josephine said,
Yes
After he had gone, however. she
found that it was not easy to visit the
big empty room. The spirit of the man
who had presided was lacking, the
children were restless without his
quick suggestion and tactful planning
1t gradually came about, therefore,
thai the boys were left alone in the
big room, and the children played out
of doors in the winter sunshine
Josephine dropped and lost her
brightness, and at last Mrs. Danforth
sent her to visit an aunt in the city
Then a round of sightseeing and of
excitement began for Josephine.
One day she came to an art exhibit
and was startled to find her counter
part in white marble in the center of
the room 1t was beautiful figure
hu o6r ri M
crowd Josephine, gazing at it, forgot
her surroundings. Then some one said
Hush. here comes the sculptor" and
she turned and faced the Toy Man.
"You-at last" he said and drew
her away from the crowd In a Sc
her many questions
Did you think me cruel to leave
you?"
Josephines face famed 81 didn't
dare Think" she said
"If | had not seen you here" he
told her, Il was going back tomorrow
10 the Oaks to find you, and you know
why | want you Josephine p
81 am not sure" she faltered.
There were things that kept me
from you" he explained
Il had had great money failures,
and the old furniture in that house
was the extent of my possessions
Everything depended upon my ability
to make good with this statue. was
to receive a contract for larger work
if | could produce something besides
the tiny figures over which | had
wasted so many years, If my statue
of you had failed | would have had
no right to ask you to marry me for
ruin would have faced me, but now
now can go back, and we will work
together"
The children in the little town wei
coined back their Toy Man with en-
thusiasm He was too busy now to
have them every day. but once a week
they were welcome, and just before
Christmas he and Josephine were
married After the wedding there
was a strange departure from the
usual custom, for instead of a recep
ton at the brides house, there was a