The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-16
The Eoe,,is1s Story

ln The Eue1,i,s Story
The Eyes Of Persas.
(By lola Forrester.)
DO you mind very much II come
Iin7''
Holt sat up. He had been sound
asleep ON the couch ever since dinner.
It had been a good dinner. too, fresh
caught rainbow trout from the noun
tain brook that rambled just below the
cabin.
The cabin itself was most untidy.
Walt had been gone four day. His easel
still stood before the north window,
with g. half finished oil on it Of the
Speartooth crag backed up against ono
OF Waits best amethy; line sunsets.
Canvases stood against the wall. Paint
tubes and water color boxes lay care
lessly about. And the dinner dishes lay
uaWashed ON the table. It was no time
for callers. and yet the sha Cow OF one
lay on the threshold Of this sanctum of
bachelor hermits, and the shadow was
feminine.
II do hope we're not disturbing you?"
This time the tone seemed tinged with
regret.
Oh. not at all. not at ALL" called
Holt blindly. Come right in.'
He stood up, hitchinx at his belt, and
then he smiled. For the girl standing
there In the patch Of Afternoon sunlight
was the same girl he had seen In the
| automobile that morning when he had
gathered in his rainbow trophies from
the brook. He had caught the humming
OF the motor and turned. but not in
time to see her face, only her head
and the back Of 1t at that. but it had
sssea aex e "a esys 81 IA "a, - g
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tawny himself Raw gold it seemed,
tawny, like some mountain Noness
Now he saw that her eyes were brown,
and he approved the contrast.
We've climbed all the way up from
the hotel Just to see your pictures. Mr..
Meredith" she smiled at him frankly.
holding out her hand. II suppose you
are bothered terribly with climbers, but
had to come. am Persis Owen, and
love your wonderful pictures Of the
Imountains."
Holt took the hand and bowed over
1t. Walt was on his way to Chicago for
an exhibition Walt was q bear with
women anyhow. Never would he have
known how to handle this situation.
The gods were in a smiling mood, and
barefacedly Holt took advantage Of it.
I He showed all the canvases. and dis
coursed on them. He found the weary
little old aunt out under the big pine
and chatted with her until she beamed
on him. He dug out some tea. and
Persis helped make 1t. Lastly he
walked down to the hotel with them in
the cool of the late afternoon and made
several appointments. No, he was not
SO busy then. he assured them. In fact,
he had finished nearly all OF his paint
ings for the time being.
i Poor old Walt, grand old Walt" he
said to himself. going back up the trail.
It's q shame to steal your fame, but T
n To a . - \
told her that I was plain Holt Cham
bers. attorney-at-law, Chicago. ILL.,. she
would have turned and gone back down
the trail. Haven't stayed patiently
up in this heaven forsaken place acting
as general encourager Of erratic genius
for two solid months? Isn't there any
thing coming to me? She'll probably
only stay a week. and, by my faith. she
- the sweetest lady mine eyes have
looked on
He leaned back his head and laughed,
drawing deep breaths Of tho mountain
air It was D. joke on old Walt. taking
the homage for his daubs. He hoped
the Joke would not turn around the
other way. The eyes Of 'Persis. were
full Of faith.
So. for two weeks he was the hermit
artist OF Speartooth mountain. Peruis
ana her aunt came often, sometimes in
the car, sometimes on foot. And It
seemed to Holt that he was watching
the unfolding of q flower. Slender,
vivid. full Of rare changing moods. she
shaped herself into the girl of his
dreams. and he knew he loved her. Then
came day when she brought up her
father to see him and his paintingB-old
Hobart Owen. who had made his money
out Of q new kink in breakfast foods
Before his shrewd, twinkling eyes Holt
felt his first qualms.
II want to have q talk with you,' the
OLD man said later as they strolled up
the trail together. I'm q blunt mxn
and find the shortest way around Is
straight through the middle. You are
in love with my girl, aren't your
Yes, SIR" Hollis face was a Dit
white under the tan.
II know you haven't told her so yet.
and like you for 1t. Now. the fact
is this: I don't want her tied up to
any artist 1 know the game. Some
win out. Mo- Of them fall down.
She win have plenty Of money herself,
but I want her married to . sensi3!e
young business chap that knows his
way around in the world and can look
after her. I'm mighty sorry to have to
tell you this. er-I didn't catch your
name, lad"
my names Holt Chambers. .aid
Holt, huskily, backing up against big
pine I've been several kinds Of idiot.
but think can zee light, Anyhow.
here goes. I'm Walt Aeredithss friend
and closest chum. He asked me up
here to share his cabin while he got
iout some special studies. He's IN Chi-