The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-21

me Next Best Thine.

II 49, @VAADV43vO S8VUg1
The Next Best Thing.
(By Laura Adelia Kirkman.)
Go away to the city?" repeated
Mrs. James shrilly well, I guess not.
Lefty James! You Jest get them fool
ish ideas right out Of your head!''
Lefty dropped her eyes to the car
Pet and bit her lip. For weeks.
months. she had dreamed OF going to
the city to develop the talent for art
which she was sure she possessed. She
might have known that 1t was useless
to hope-that she would meet with no
sympathy from her parents who SEEM
ed unconsciously prejudiced against
any new order Of things.
FOR it's nothing but that" she told
herself bitterly. as she went mp to her
the expense. because the farm is pay
ing well; and it's surely not because
they need me, particularly, out Of all
their eight children"
But Letitia James was not the sort
OF girl to waste time mourning over
the inevitable. She was far too senst-
BILE. Realizing the futility of further
argument, she set about contenting
herself with the next best thing: quilt
making.
IT can at least paint with rags!"
she said ruefully. Il shouldn't won
der If could take prize at the coun-
ty fair this year for the best quilt
even II can't ever win a prize in q
salon for painting!'
Investing the total of her long ac-
cumulating butter and eggs money
into silks and velvets OF every con-
ceivable shade and tint. she turned
her bedroom into what she laughingly
called a quilt artists" studio, and set
to work. Five weeks remained be-
fore the opening of the fair. In that
time she should be able to make three
quilts. she told herself.
The first one completed she called
her BIRD OF Paradise" quilt. In its
center was emblazoned q harmonious
~ brilliant bird, surrounded by q rus
set-green grapevine. A conventional
design Of single grape leaves formed
the border.
"Oh. it will surely take a prize!" she
thought delightedly, as she laid it
away In her bureau drawer. I've
n news; seen one like it before in my
Yet, with the completion Of the
next one, she said the same thing. This
one she called her Garden quilt, its
design being an old fashioned garden
with tntrtcately winding paths. So
dextronsly had her fingers worked the
bachelors button was unrecognizable.
TT Is better than the last" she
thought happily. as she laid it away.
With the completion Of the third.
however. she had no words Of joyous
confidence: she had only feeling. ST.
lent with pride, she spread 1t out on
the bed and stood above it.
A felled fruit tree formed the main
design of this one. Beside the tree
stood stump from which slender
green of the sprouts struck the bright
est note OF color in the entire design.
Around its border was embroidered q
couplet which Lefty herself had COM
posed:
Fell the tree and pick the fruit;
But you cannot kill the root"
1.-THE Quilt Of Ambition she named
1t softly. as she folded it away with
the rest.
stood in her eyes. Quietly she went
around the room picking up the re-
naming pieces OF silk, and putting
away her sewing things. When the
last thread had been picked up, she
out over the green orchard.
Perhaps they are better pictures
than could have made with paints"
she said steadily. Perhaps they are"
citedly she climbed into the great
farm wagon with the family and drove
to the TAR distant fair grounds. The
three quilts had been sent there pre-
viously. and she was attire with eager
mess to see them on exhibition.
Just as she had dreamed, they oc-
cupied the most conspicuous position
in the handiwork booth.
Look. father!" she cried excitedly.
clutching the arm beside her. See!
MY Quilt Of Ambition has taken the
first prixe!"
Receiving no response, she turned
disappointedly. Then she gasped. The
arm she had clutched was not her
fathers. but q young mans!
IT beg your pardon" she began in
confusion.
But the young man swept away her
embarrassment IN a breath.
Did you do that quilt!" he inquired
quickly. DO you paintf"
She stared at him. All at once she
noticed that his face was refined and
sensitive, his hands long and artistic,
his keen eyes unmistakably those Of q
critic.
.sNo." she answered interestedly,
quite oblivious to the fact that she
was violating one Of the cardinal laws
in her mothers code of etiquette, by
chatting with a stranger. NO. don't
paint wanted to go away and study
but my people wouldn't hear Of 1t;
so decided to paint with rags. in
stead"
The young man took step nearer
the prize quilt.
ssJJnusual imagination-sensit to
tonal values" he said. Then turning.
he smiled alphabetically into her
| eyes. I'm an artist, too" he in
troduced himself: ''only I'm one that's
had a chance. Ny names Winthrop.
come from New York. And II can
fix It up with your folks, by George.
you're going to have . chance. too"
IS. Lefty gasped. She was blank with
surprise. All at once her frustrated
hopes and dreams rushed back over
her and transformed themselves into
two bright. unshed tears. She could
only look at him, specifies.
Even when her family suddenly
came up. she was unable to find her
tongue.
But the young man had full power
over his. This II your mother?" he
said bowling to Mrs James politely.
May make myself acquainted :" he
went on to tho daxed woman. 81 am
John Winthrop, Of New York, an
mart In