The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-20
The Eoe,,i1le Story

The Eue1ine Story
dartla's Miniature.
(By Catherine Coope.)
| Alan Dobie sighed heavily n he
hung up the telephone. He had run9
up his flancee'B studio. only to find
out from the maid that Martha was
out and would not return until dinner
time.
(Which MEANS Alan told himself
half bitterly. that my sweetheart is
e the matinee worshiping at the
For many weeks Alan had been
aware OF the fact that Martha had
been drifting away from him. She did
not love him in the deep. true sense
fallen a. victim to the undoubted
charm Of John Ward, the fascinating
actor Of the day.
Alan's love for Martha was as un-
dying ~ the day itself. and it hurt him
to realize that the girl whom he had
expected to call his wife and for whom
all his future had been planned was
finding her happiness elsewhere than
IN his love. Martha had f1irted from
| time to time during their brief en-
gagement, but never before did Alan
feel that his position In her affections
had been jeopafdi1ed. Now, however,
1t seemed that Martha had really been
lost to him.
So completely absorbed was Martha
in the worship Of John Ward that she
| had painted q most beautiful mfnia-
ture of the actor from q magaxine
photograph and wore it almost every
locket lay against her heart. con-
slant source of pain to Alan Dobie.
Martha did not know that Alan had
stolen glance into the locket during
a ~ n
with all his heart that she could meet
| the actor. Perhaps the disillusion-
ment would follow, and IL not then
| certainly his fate would be sealed in
| regard to Martha's affections.
But a meeting did not come about
even in the atmosphere Of the studio.
Martha worshiped in secret and In
secret Alan grieved. He felt, ~ time
wore ON and there seemed no lessen
ing of the interest his sweetheart was
showing regarding the actor, that he
must do something to precipitate an
outcome to the situation.
| Alan had never from the beginning
taken the position Of adviser to Mar
tina, nor had he felt called upon to
dictate her actions. Perhaps had he
been more strict, in q sense, Martha,s
affections would have been secure.
She might have feared to arouse
jealousy in the bosom of her easy go
ing Alan Az 1t was she went her way
flirting where. she chose and only
feeling q certain sense Of security
! about man and her future. She did
not trouble especially to weigh her
emotions nor to speculate as to what
another day might bring forth.
Through genuine talent Martha had
made for herself an enviable position
among miniature painters. Had she
been a mere nobody in the intellectual
himself capable Of guiding her. but
she, having won success entirely UNI
aided. he felt 1t unnecessary to advise
her, much az he thought she needed
ALAN realized. With a sinking Of the
heart, that Martha's interest in John
Ward was developing rather than
waning. A crisis was surely at hand.
who only half loved him. He must
either break with Martha or win her
entire self.
1t was during one of Martha's popu-
lar Sunday afternoon teas that she
first discovered the 1oss OF her priced
locket with the miniature OF John
Ward in 1t. Her heart pounded
against her side when she discovered
that It was gone, and in imagination
she saw herself taunted by her secret
admiration for an actor. All Of her
friends would learn OF her infatuation
for no one could fail to know that the
miniature was her own Her famous
touch was not to be denied. For once
l
fame that was hers and the discloo-
ures following in the wake Of the
finding OF her loclket.
1nstinctively she realized that Alan
life path with girl who wore an
other mans picture. She shrank, too,
from his sc0rn and for Z second
blamed John Ward for tho entirely
unconscious part he was playing in
Martha refrained from making In
quiry about her l0cket. but after her
guests had departed made minute
search in every remote corner Of the
studio. The locket, however. was lost
and with it had gone Martha's peace
Of mind. The fear Stripped her that
it might fall into the hands Of John
Ward and Martha's shame would
know no end. Naturally, one finding
it and recognising the well-known ac-
tor. the first impulse would be to dis
patch it to him.
/ 1t was with no little misgfvings
that Martha waited the turn Of events.
OF course, she could, II John Ward
received the loclket and In turn
brought it to her. having recognised
1 her touch. disclaim any knowledge
of it.
At the thought of her idol making
himself known to her. Martha quite
recoAciled herself to the loas Of the
miniature, and her heart lost q beat
as she anticipated the prospect Of be-
perhaps shaking his hand. For the
time being Alan was forgotten. She
thought only Of tho joy OF meeting
John Ward and perhaps But Mar
/ tina did not let her thoughts 70 fur
Their than the meeting.
It was = week before the half ex-
pected happened. The great matinee
idol did receive the locket, and he did
make his way to Martha Helders
The conceit With which m.nv actor.