The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-07
:CA[TnORpE'S SUCCESS
BY HOPE AINSEEE.

,Calthorpe's feeling toward the per
! son who was ,treading lightly abou
4 In the room above him was that o
.gratitnde. The former occupant o
that room had been heavy Of step ant
| seemed ever ready TO drag furniture
across the floor or to drop endless
trif1es, such as trunks and pianos
| with thud just over his head. Poo
'Calthorpe had been driven to distrac
tion, and his painting had suffered NJ
less than his ceilings.
1t was while he was bordering dis
consolately over the failure of hi:
great Path Through the Woods
canvas that ,Calthorpe paused Il
listen for the footsteps above him. Il
seemed to his sensitive ears that the
steps dragged and were weary.
He started suddenly. The dull THUG
that broke the rhythmic tread above
sent q chilly fear over Calthorpe. He
went into the hall and up the flight
of stairs that took him to the land
ing"and then to the door Of the room
above his own. He knocked softly
There was no answer. Continued
knocking brought no response, and
Calthorpe's fears were accentuated.
1t was not until he had rushed
down for huge accumulation OF
keys in his possession and had tried
each one quickly that he succeeded
in gaining access to the room.
He glanced in. caught a swift
breath and closed the door gently.
1t was as he had feared The thud
had been the falling OF human body,
and Calthorpe knelt down to raise
the girls figure into a sitting posture.
Her head fell inertly against his
shoulder.
He looked quickly about for means
of recalling her to life. The room
was pitifully lacking in nourishment
either for the body or the soul. He
lifted her gently and bore her down
to his studio.
II was not many more seconds be-
fore he felt an emotional stab that
left him trembling. 1t was when the
girls eyes opened and looked af-
frightedly into his own There was
revealed such a depth of suffering, of
misery and of pathos in those eyes
that Calthorpe came near losing the
remnant OF strength and reason he
still possessed. He was dominated
by an impulse either to weep beside
nv ~ hnr hi
breast that he might hide from her
the world that she had found SO
bitter
Il think must have tainted"
These were the first words she spoke.
There's not much doubt about it"
Calthorpe said gently. You did
faint"
That was very foolish of me-" the
girl sighed YEARLY. Then she straight
ened herself and looked about her
wonderingly Almost unconsciously
she accepted the dainty bits of nour-
ishment that Calthorpe put into her
fingers.
Yes, ! am frightfully tired of
life," she said, as If divining his
mental attitude toward her. II am
unutterably weary" She spoke not
bitterly or cynically, but calmly.
hopelessly.
"You see." the girl continued, II
have lost every one who was dear to
me. saw them all snatched from
me in one CHASTITY moment. l have
been trying to work, but l seem un-
able to stand the strain. You don't
blame me for not wanting to live,
do you?"
NO." Calthorpe said, and rose
quickly to his feet. II don't blame
you at all, my child" She seemed
little more than a child as she sat
gazing wonderingly upon the COM
fort Of his studio. He turned sud-
IDENTIFY toward her. 81 want to paint
your portrait If you will just sit as
you are for me l will do every
thing in my power to make the world
q happier place for you"
Calthorpe was becoming 80 excited
over the prospect of putting the ex-
quisite face on canvas that uncon.
sciously he moved toward his paints
At this the girl, with her painfully
bought understanding and sympathy,
laughed softly. You may begin to
paint me now If you WISH" she said.
Her tone was that .of one to whom it
mattered little what she did.
Calthorpe called his canvas "A
Study" When 1t was hung and the
world Of art had cast appreciative eyes
upon 1t, Calthorpe was no longer a
landscape painter. He was a |
portrait painter of rare genius--one
who could by mastery strokes OF the |
brush bring forth the soul of his sub
ect His Study" could have been !
sold ten times over, and the price it
brought finally was a triumph for
Calthorpe.
A slender woman, in soft mouse
7elvet, with wonderful auburn hair
Ind glorious deep eyes, stood beside
him when the picture was hung
overly, who had advised Calthorpe
o forswear landscapes, was also
present
MRS. Calthorpe," he said, with a
rim smile, your husband once told
ne there was no depth in the human
l wonder If he still
lolds to that opinion"
Mrs. Calthorpe glance shyly up
yard at her husband. Claiborne