The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-11
The Ambition of
Mark Truitt


n do not"
NO, mean / have never blamed
YOU or course, We were too young
for It to have any lasting significance.
And, II ! remember Alright, | invited
lit-and SO put you IN what must have
seemed a very tragic quandary at the
time The most critical ear could
have discerned nothing ungenuine in
her ripping laugh.
III did. he answered But you
didn't invite IT, You weren't the sort
OF girl that needed TO invite it--you
aren't that sort OF woman now
/ Eyes. no less than tongue, we're elo-
Quent of his admiration; but she was
/ looking away. But most women
wouldn't be SO ready to forgive. They
would remember only hurt vanity.
I I'm at your feet for your charity. I've
/ seen little OF IL in my life
! Have you looked for it,"
NO. Nor had Il, Nor valued it,
until now
And now?"
"Why now I-need IT,"
Somehow the confession, an uncon.
sidered remark that. however, had
! the ring OF sincerity impulsiye say
ings are apt TO have. seemed TO estab-
! lish even more firmly their intimacy.
! II neryed him 70 his next remark.
"Kazia, don't you think you could
tell me what has happened TO you
during all these years."
1T wouldn't be interesting
But IL would he insisted In the
| first place, IL is your story. Which is
enough. In the second. left you an
| ignorant-no, not that elther-an UNI
schooled little Hunky girl Now ind
YOU fine cultured woman, with an
air-do you know it?--thaL not many
women | know have, capable, I'm
sure. since you always were that, and
evidently educated That makes il
the story Of success. which is always
interesting"
You draw on your imagination,
I'm afraid You would hardly look
for success in a nurse"
But that's exactly where / am
looking for il" He assumed a com
handing air. ION with the tale,'
She shrugged her shoulders and
was silent quarter OF mile spun
by
'Youll be disappointed. she began
abruptly, because there isn't much,
and it's commonplace enough. | mar
ried Jim and lived with him a year.
Then | left him. Not because he
wasn't kind-he was. in his rough
way. But he was shiitless and he
drank too much. He had no ambition
and-f wasn't happy with him, so
left him, though | knew IL hurt him,
"A woman can do that he inter
TUpted quickly
Some women do 1t, you mean. I've
always been ashamed. though | never
went back to him Later, | got di-
yorce. went TO live with Uncle Ro.
man. but Piotr. who had hated Jim,
made IL so unpleasant had to leave.
He hated me, too, | think"
"Or loved you, in Piotrs peculiar
fashion. But so on"
After a while ! found work in
tobacco factory. rolling cigars. Not
the kind YOU smoke, but cheap vile
things. lit wasn't nice"
i've heard OF those holes he NUT.
tered. You there-why--"
IL was one of many" she went on.
In two years | was sick and in the
hospital heavenly place where there
was ventilation and nothing TO do and
good things To eat. | used TO pray
I'd never get we'll" She paused, star
ing fxedly ahead, ineffable sadness in
her eyes. He thought she was seeing
again in memory the horror of the I
filthy disease-breeding shop.
There isn't much more. didn't /
have to leave the hospital One OF
the internes took an interest He had
influence and helped me TO register as |
a nurse. I've a knack for surgical
work, and since | passed my examina-
ton, I've always had cases For the 4
rest, I'm not educated. I've merely I
read little, here and there. as I've |
had time
That's all and not what you seemed I
TO expect just cruel selfishness in !
the beginning and a little luck after. I
ward. Which is not the success you 4
worship
But / see more than that | read I
between the lines Long afterward, (
recalling this scene. he remembered /
her quick questioning glance. but then I
he gave il no thought IL see the i
courage TO make fight, the will to /
rise and being equal to the opportu /
nifty when it came And I've heard I
that the really charitable are never SO |
TO themselves"
."Oh. II you will" She broke on |
with shrug. let us talk o; some.
thing else"
But | think he insisted. you
make too much OF leaving your hus-
/ band. Surely a woman has the right
TO look out for her own happiness /,
and
/ III isn't that" she interrupted at /
~ She broke on again The pretty I
color had left her face and her hands
were folded tightly i'm her lap, ITS |
the time In the factory can't for !
/ get H. IL was horrible. Often II
killed. II made the girls willing TO
pay any price TO escape Sometimes I,
Il can't seem to realize it's ended for I
me"
/ "Ah ] can understand that OFTEN !
! have awakened In tSe night all in |
a tremble because I've dreamed | was
1 back In the mills I'VE been afraid 10 !
90 TO sleep again. But that is the !
price OF success"
All Your success always sue
cess She turned on him almost
fercely. But that isn't the price /
It's the CLOS because TO endure. is
TO be strong. The price-its what
We do and become TO escape It's the
haSdening. the concessions. the loss
of sympathy and eentleness. OF the
Itniupg that mala "a ufop,ap T,,,- MT