The herald., 1914-12-31
THE EYES OF PERSIS
BY lZoLA FORESTER.


fatIgI.stlts 1914 y. inc MO- TUT" NCWSpd-
per Syul.,ateD
DO you mind very much II come
iu2"
holt sat Up lie had been sound
asleep on tie coIrh ever since din.
ner Il had been q good dinner, too
fresh caught rainbow trout from the
mountain brook that -aUbl-d Just be.
lev lEo cabin.
The cabin itself vas mos, uUtidy.
Walt Aaa been gone tour days. II was
no time tcr callers, and yet the shadow
o! one lay on the threshold OF this
-aurrgw Of bachelor Lermits, and the
shadow Was feminine
i do hope wee not disturbing
you" This time the tone seemed
t.Hgod nith regret
Oh, not AZ all not at all" called
Holt bIiDdly Come right in"
We've climbed all the way up from
the hotel just to sec your pictures. Mr
Meredith, she SMILED at him Frankly.
holding out her hand. | suppose you
are bothered terribly with climbers,
but had 20 come am Persis Owen,
and love your wonderful pictures OF
the mountains
Holt took the hand and bowed over
II. Walt was on his way TO Chicago
:cr an exhibition
He showed all the Canvases, and
discoursed 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 It. Lastly he
walked down 10 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 paintings for the time being
So, for two weeks he was the her.
NIT artist of Speartooth mountain.
Persis and her aunt came often, some
times in the car, sometimes on foot.
Then came a day when she brought
up her father to see him and his paint
ings-old Hobart Owen. who had made
his money out of new kink in break
fast foods.
Il want to have a talk with you,
the old man said later as they strolled
up the trail together I'm a blunt
man and find the shortest way around
is straight through the middle. You
are in love with my girl. aren't you?"
Yes. sir" Hollis face was a bit !
white under the tan.
Il know you haven't told her so yet, |
and | like you for it. Now, the fact |
is this: | don't want her tied up to
any artist. | know the game. Some |
win out Most Of them fall down. She |
will have plenty Of money herself, but |
/ want her married to a sensible 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" said
Holt, huskily, backing up against a
big pine. I've been several kinds of
an idiot, but think / can see light
Anyhow, here goes. I'm Walt Mere
dith's friend and closest chum. He
asked me up here to share his cabin
while he got out some special studies.
He's in Chicago now, arranging for
his fall exhibition. And he's about
forty years old. I'm attorney for the
Illinois Southern Railway, and
never handled paint brush in my
life"
Slowly a smile dawned on Owens
face. He shifted his cigar to the left
corner OF his mouth and put out his
hand.
II you can clear 1t up with Persis
as easily as you have with me you
can go and talk to her I'll keep on
up the trail a ways"
Holt turned and went back to the
cabin. Persis was sitting before the
oil study Of Speartooth, her hands
clasped behind her head dreamily.
How soon you came back! Where
is dad?"
He won't be back for a few min
utes. He sent me to you. Do you
like that stuff?" Almost plaintively he
asked the question.
It's wonderful" she said in almost
a whisper. Il could sit here and look
at it for hours"
Look at me. instead, Persis. oh,
] mean it," he plunged ahead now
recklessly. Il never painted a stroke
on canvas in my life I'm not Walt
Meredith. Can you stand any more?"
She nodded her head, her brown
eyes filling with tears. but a smile on
her lips.
MY names"
Il know it," she said. IT'S Holt
Chambers. The little boy who sells
papers down at the hotel told me long
ago. I'm awfully glad you told dad
the truth. He likes the truth"
Did you care more for old Spear.
tooth than for me?" he asked. I'll
buy it for you from Walt for a wed
ding gift"
She turned her back on the canvas
and held out her hands to him. Ar s
was vanquished. &"