Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-10

Winnifred Barton leaned against
the studio window looking out at the
driving rain with furious, exasperated
eyes
1t was enough to make a girl-well,
excited. to know that SHE had made 4
roaring failure of her chance in life
and put six feet of splendid, hulking
manhood into the position of being
able to say. Il told you so
He did not say it, which was con-
siderate of him.
The young fury at the window
wheeled around suddenly.
why don't you go home if YOU
are going to sit there like mummy
she asked rather illogically. Haven't
you anything to say
Yes, Winnie, only this: Will you
marry me?"
The girl fell back against an easel
dramatically.
"You-you brute" was her en-
phatic and sincere answer.
Hubert Dixon decided to try the
masterful method recommended by
people who know nothing whatever
bout it.
Striding up to her, he gripped her
firmly by the shoulder in spite OF his
shaking knees ana Salu
Now look here. Winnie. it is about
time you gave up this silly business
| asked you to marry me when your
father died, but you pleaded to try
your fortune as an illustrator. You
have tried and failed. Now it is my
turn You won't take my money, and
I'm hanged if I'll see you starve. The
magazines don't want you. | do. So
you are going to marry me at once
At once. do you hear?'
To mis- CONSERVATION no outburst
followed: she just slipped from his
grasp with a little moan and stood
shrinking from him, back against the
wall, as far away as she could get.
Then she dropped nervelessly into
deep chair, detected little bunch OF
humanity. sobbing pitifully.
Winnie" he CALCULATED, bent on
spelling everything. Winnie, little
girl. don't cry"
Hubert Dixon" she said, making
grasp at her lost dignity, you have
just proved that you are a coward as
we'll as a bully, so / need have no
pity. | will marry you. morrow,
if you choose; and you will enter tina.
greatest hell a man can knoW-a
lOveless home
She stood like young tragedy
queen watching him with wide scorn-
full eyes.
Very white and resolved he said:
Thank you, Winnie. You shall re-
greet nothing in our life together but
those words Goodbye
During the days of reparatiOn that
followed. Hubert was delighted to
find his fiancee most reasonable. She
was friendly, asked his advice on
every occasion. but quietly disregard
ed il. Gave him quantities of sister
ly advice. and saw that he acted upon
it. SO things went on till the night
before their wedding
Hubert called at the tiny flat as
usual and found the girl in quite
restless and nervous. About 9
o'clock the climax came.
Look here Hubert, l can't do You
this great wrong. You have been 50
good to me, so heavenly kind. At first
| thought I could punish you this
way. but | can't, | can't. | don't
care for you. In time | should lOathe
you, but | won't wrong you-like
that"
Winnie, dear, l think I'll just take
my chance of that. | have no life
but you, and, well. I'm rather young
to die"
Winnie turned with her old friend
ly smile, but she looked very. very
tired.
SO be it," she answered. You'd
better go now, or you will be late for
the ceremony tomorrow"
1t was breakfast time at Hubert
DixOnS station, and he was waiting
for it and his wife to appear
Strolling to the window he stared
at the prospect contentedly. Near
the homestead were flowers flowers
brilliant and luxuriant. bordering tho
velvet lawns that fell in terraces to
the wide dimpling river. Beyond
that were miles and miles of rolling
pasture lands, all his.
His reflections were broken by
clear girlish voice singing, Australia,
Australia" He shifted his position
slightly to get a glimpse of the singer.
There she came, a slender white
robed figure. chestnut hair cleaning
brightly in the early sun; her arms
full of masses of golden waffle
Morning. eBrt." she remarked, en-
tering through the open window. I'm
starving. aren't you2'
such an ethereal creature as you
should not be hungry. he laughed.
Il was just idealiZing you as being
dropped from the sun, bearing a royal
gift"
She placed her golden burden on
convenient chair and turned TO her
mail.
Two Of the letters were from mag
azineS accepting her work and order
ing more The other was a commits
sion to illustrate a book by famous
colonial author. asking her, if she de
cided to accept to begin work at once,