The Detroit times., 1914-04-22
The Ambition of
Mark Truitt

under the nlCkeflng Hght hef ewes
,aglOW anger still flaming IN her
cheeks, was bright warm vital youth.
The hand upon her arm tingled nom
the contact and frightened its clasp
Insensibty, under his regard, the
Transforming angry defiance melted
But the transformation remained.
Yes She turned abruptly and
left him descending the stairs with
out so much as a glance backward.
For a full minute he stood looking
az the place where she had been
Then he drew long signing breath
Shes a queer one, be muttered.
Now it was the romantic habit OF
this young man when he laid him
down 10 sleep, 10 give his lasi wax
ing moments TO thoughts OF her who
i was TO wear the trophies OF his bat
Ting So the Moslem nightly turns
\ his face toward the city OF his
! prophet Thus il was on that night
| His thoughts dwelt conscientiously on
7 Unity, In the fashion that is a lover
duty. until sleep, stealing close,
/ treacherously set them TO drifting
rudderless
The. last TO resist consciousness
was, VIII she look the same tomor'
row wonder"
When he -aWoke. the late morning
sunshine filed his room But the
eager expectancy pervading him, as il
some long planned holiday mad
daWned. was more than a reflection
or this outer radiance
Then he remembered Kazia and her
transformation and that through the
night he had dreamed or splendid
tempestuous creatures with finely
nodded chins and white rounded
throats and arms. the touch OF which
set man 10 tingliug lie laughed
silently. how dreams could twist the
fact But he was curious -he called
it curiosity-to see whether the trans
formation held
lie bathed and dressed carefully.
And for the frst time ne perceived
MOT his clothes. relic OF Bethel days
lacked something wheW s5vdged Sy
city standards He frowned' arrthe
image In the cheap mirror
Il must buy a new suit he NUT
tered.
When be went, downstairs he found
Kazia bending over a windowbox In
the dining-Toom where three scarlet
geraniums famed. She heard his ap-
proach and turned slowly. No
deceptive half-light, but the full glory
OF spring sunshine, was upon her.
She was Indifferent as ever. But the
transformation held
"Oh. Hullo,"
Hello" she said quietly, and
moved away toward the kitchen
"Kazia--"
She paused inquiringly.
"Er-" he foundered. Its a fine
morning
Yes she said
His remark, he felt. hardly Justified
her detention He groped about for
a more fertile topic. Fine geran
iums you've got there, Ka2ia."
Yes"
MY goodness he laughed. is
yes all you can say? Don't you re-
member We agreed TO be friends
II said | wanted you TO stay" she
corrected, without enthusiasm. IN
get your breakfast" This time she
accomplished her escape.
He sat at the table leRtily amused
Probably-thus he considered her un-
responsiy poor thing still
doubted his sincerity. And she had /
reason. beyond question; on the /
whole he had been selfish in his rigid |
seclusion. He must repair that
Kazia, bearing his breakfast, inter !
rupted his musings He surveyed ap ]
provingly the dishes she set before |
him
You're fine cook, KaZia Now |
don't" he protested humorousIy. gay |
yes"
Unsmihngly She ignored both the |
compliment and the jest win that !
be all9"
We'll, no" What else"
"You might he smiled sit down !
and be-friendly. I've got to work
1T seems. ne complained, you re
always working"
She shrugged her shoulders That's
what I'm for" And she left him
He frowned. It might have been
raining on his holiday. He was able
breakfast
Back In his room. which she had set
| in order while he ate, he formally and
! finally dismissed Kazia from his mind
land began his weekly letter 10 Unity
| At the end OF an hour my darling"
! stared At him from an otherwise emp
10y DdkFf anu ltN was wv
| into the sunlit streets and wondering
INhy Kazia wanted him to stay, why
ther indifference Of the morning and
/ why his disappointment
! Ali along Il seemed. he had been
taking an unconscious impression OF
lher. which the acid OF yexation now
developed. She for instance when
she spoke in that low-pitched musical
voice had, not an accent, but a quaint.
! ~ unusual fashion or dropping her
words that was not TO so out OF his
limited vocabulary very nice" Her
face was ready finely made, even in
1.-The judgment OF one who had certain
Icameo-like features in mind. she
seemed a cut several cuts. above the
lplodding Roman and his family In
HER Guect.Pazing eyes. he now remem-
lbered We're sometimes fearessness
III smoldering restlessness that sug
gested many possibilities to youth
into whose blood the fever OF spring
he'd crept when he thought OF II. he
WAS surprised that he had not earlier
perceived her prettiness; and that
luther Youths had not discovered her
he took IL for granted they had not
lie now gave her industry and EN-
lCiency qualities OF which the mills
were teaching him the value. a more
Than perfunCtory appreciation.
Another hOWr lt sUppf cptalOpuiug