The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-05-07

Il
had confidently expected to take the
city by storm. In fact she was an
artist OF rare ability.
But what is the use OF ability unless
| someone has brains 10 recognize il?
So day by day she had besieged the
Offices with her drawings. Once she
had sold one. and she had lived on
that lingering hope until the remain.
der OF her money was gone. Then. at
her WITS end, she had accepted the
position which the landlady told her
| could be obtained at Darrow's.
She had lost all faith in herself.
She had worked like an automaton
for four months and had done moth.
ing. Her best drawing, one which she
had thought could not pass the observ-
ant eye, had never been returned Ia
her from the magazine 10 which she
had submitted IL, and she had lacked
the courage 10 call and inquire about
! ii.
At Darrow's she had toiled behind
the counter of the hosiery department,
at the beck and call of vulgar, frock-
| coated floorwalkers, a cipher among
ciphers. She felt crushed by this at
! mosphere that surrounded her. She
felt utterly out OF place among the
| young women. of a different type and
education, with whom she came into
touch; and they, sensing the differ
ence. were not slow to let her perceive
their resentment.
Then temptation had come to her.
| too.
1t had been in less loathsome guise
than with the boy. 1t was not one
of the floorwalkers, but the son OF the
owner, young Darrow, fresh from col
lege and taking his fling before set
tling down in the world. He had come
into the store with his mother, who
was making some purchase there.
With worldly wisdom he had not
approached her while the other clerks
were present. But he had found the
means TO see her twice or three times
And he had asked her TO dine with
him the following evening.
She was not ignorant OF the world
She saw from his demeanor that il
did not occur to him that she was any
thing but one of the underbred, under
! paid drudges in his fathers store
! She had known what significance
would attach itself TO her acceptance,
But she was desperately lonely, ano
the thought OF an evening in restau'
rant, and at a theater afterward, the
sight OF other faces, the touch with
| life was overwhelming.
I'll have to accept or 60 home
she thought wearily.
II she could have known at that mo
ment letter, signed by the editor OF
the magazine, enclosing a check fol
seventy.five dollars for her drawing
and asking for more, lay in the wire
basket beside the desk OF the editors
stenographer, ready to be posted on
the morrow-if she could have known!
She got up from her chair The
boy was going out of his room at the
same moment. They knew each Other
by sight: sometimes they sat neal
each other in the cheap little restau
rant where they got their meals when
ever they could afford the luxury.
They we're both too shy to speak to
each other, and desperately alone; bui
now, staring into each others faces
in the deserted hall on the top story
OF the rooming house, they drew to
ward each other like abandoned barks
drawn by some current into a vortex
''Are you going to dinner" asked
the boy timorously.
yes" she answered, looking at him
with shy approval.
Let's go together" he said, great
ly daring.
They descended the stairs together
At the street door she took his arm
and they proceeded toward the restau.
rant, without word being spoken.
That was the most wonderful meal
either of them had ever had. Theii
conversation was monosyllabic, bui
there was little need OF words in the
happiness Of this strange sympathy
| And afterward they strolled together
up and down the lit streets. They
| paused at the theater door. Women
in costly furs, accompanied by men in
evening clothes, were going in.
I'm glad I'm not among that crowd"
| thought the girl, and wondered how
many young Darrows there were
among them.
And the boy. utterly abashed at the
| thought Of the temptation that had
come TO him, and feeling himself Who'll
| ly unworthy OF the girl whose arm
was still linked in his, was planning TO
see Mr.. Vincent on the next morning
at nine and tell him OF the conspiracy.
Its great, isn't IT," said the boy.
"Just living, | mean"
Yes, it's great" the girl answered
and she knew then that she would
have strength TO refuse young Oar
row and to remain at her post. II
was only a humble post in the out
works of civilization, but suddenly she
| felt like a soldier.
Il thought once OF going home and
giving up-all this said the boy