The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-16
THE EVENING STORY
Babes in the Studio.

l
with gravely serious eyes they seemed
to represent that which she had longed
for with her whole heart.
| They were tiny victims of the great
storms and knew neither parents nor
| home. The matron from the orphanage
| had brought them to Leona, thinking
| that perhaps the lonely woman who
spent her days in her Photographic
studio might take them under her
| guidance.
| Leona told the matron, but is my
meager income sufficient to give them
proper care?"
| What they would lack in material
| comforts would be made up to them in
love-" the matron replied, land that
| is more than they get with u.s.
| Leona laughed a trifle unsteadily.
"They will get plenty of love- she
! cried, and took the littlest one into
| her arms. He was scarcely more than
| a year old, and the sister was perhaps
three.
| the baby arms twined about her neck
and the little girls tiny hand crept in
to her own. ct will take them if I
have to live on bread and water that
| they may have milk
They were strapped together on an
irnprovised raft the matron told
Leona- THAT is how we know them
to be brother and sister-that and the
similarity of clothing
1.-The parents?" inquired Leona,
were they
I'VE can find no trace of them. The
little girl says her name is Mary FL
len Dutton.''
Mary Ellen" unused Leona when
the mAtron had gone, 81 had always
wanted a Mary Ellen of my own-but
second best, in this case is very lovely"
She turned happily toward the two
children who had come so suddenly
into her life, and it seemed as if an
unusually powerful ray of sun came
shining through the skylight.
Perhaps 1 can make my fame in
art photography now that I have two
perfect models always before me.
can study every adorable mood that
steals over them"
Perhaps it was because of the in
spiratfon ever before her that Leona
began to make great strides in her
chosen profession. Perhaps it was the
knowledge that there were three
mouths to feed, instead of one, that
added zest to her endeavors. As the
months passed she found herself be-
coming well known in the art of child
photography, and her small studio
proved almost inadequate to house her
patrons, and not large enough by half
to accommodate those who thronged to
her exhibits.
AS her business increased, so also
Leona wondered how she had ever ex-
listed without having the childish pratt
tie and laughter about her.
and I thought I could be happy
without this kind of love- she told
herself with a wistful smile. tom
knew me better than I knew myself
when I sent him away. He could well
say, told you so,' if he knew how
barren my life was until the advent Of
the children-even if they are those Of
someone else"
Shortly after her meteoric rise into
fame and fortune Leona sent series
of photographs to one of the maya
zines. Her subject was Impressions
of Childhood" in which Mary Ellen
and Danny Dutton figured in all their
whimsical moods and poses.
The advanced art in her work. the
beauty of the models and Leona's name
gave the series immediate acceptance.
She was interviewed and prevailed
upon to the extent of letting her own
picture appear along with her sub
jects.
When the magazine came out Leona
blushed as he own eyes looked out from
that widely read periodical. Perhaps
she had not known how beautiful a
woman she had grown to be.
She was sitting on the floor of her
studio with Mary Ellen beside her and
Danny in her lap showing them the
pictures when some one knocked
at her door,
come in!" she called out, think
ing it was her brother Dicks knock.
But the man who entered was not |
her brother Dick, nor did his eyes,
when they fell upon the group, express
brotherly sentiment.
The famous exponent Of art-pho- |
Biography could only remain where she |
was otherwise Danny would have |
tumbIed. She looked up and bushes
Ior- o1n nIyo
Daddy" screamed Mary Ellen, and
rushed like a small tornado into the
big mans arms. They closed hungrily |
about her, and Leona choked back the
terrible ache in her throat at the sound
that came from the mans lips. He
buried his face in Mary El1ens golden
curls and Leona swept the tears swift
ly from her own eyes. Unconsciously
her hold had frightened on Danny, but
1t had not been necessary, for the
smaller child was in no way sure of
this big man who had entered upon
their domain. A little glow of triumph
warmed Leona. She knew that her
avished love had brought big returns
from Danny.
During the next five minutes Leona
realized that she was only a figure
head in that reuniting of father and
children, yet the burden of the emo
tiona1 strain fell upon her and left
her strangely weak
'I saw their picture in the maya
zine,' Daniel Dutton had said by way
Of explanation, land 1 rushed to the
office, obtained your address and-I
am happier than have been for many
he had added, and his eyes
mad drawn Leona into his happiness.
'1 think 1 understand Leona had
said slowly. They have brought
,ouch of heaven into my life and heart
even during the months I have had
hem" Leona had spoken swiftly, lest
his man, with his prior claim, find
,ut that he had robbed her of the