The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-13
4 IiCALIHORpE's SUCCESS
IV|Eas4 f'stfN
IVY BylHoPE AINsLEE.


sou whc was treading lightly about
In the room above him was that OF
gratitude. The former occupant OF
that room had been heavy of step and
seemed ever ready TO drag furniture
across the floor or to drop endless
tribes, such as trunks and pianos,
with a thud just over his head. Poor
Calthorpe had been driven to distrac-
tion. and his painting had suffered no
less than his ceilings.
It was whiKe he was pondering dis.
consohtely over the failure OF his
great Path Through the Woods"
canvas that Calthorpe paused TO
listen for the footsteps above him. 1t
seemed to his sensitive ears that the
steps dragged and were weary.
Heetarted suddenly. The dun thud
that broke the rhythmic tread above
sent 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
Calthorpss fears were accentuated.
It was not until he had rushed
down forV huge accumulation of
keys in hEs possession and had tried
each one quickly that he succeeded
In gaining access to the room.
He glanced in, caught q swift
breath and closed the door gently.
It was as he had feared. The thud
had dlbeen the falling of human body.
and Calthorpe knelt down to raise
the girls figure into 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.
Its,was not many more seconds be-
fore The felt an emotional stab that
left hfm 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
thai CaEthorpe came near losing the
remnant of strength and reason he
still possessed. He was dominated
by an impulse either to weep beside
her or to press her face against his
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 vast very foolish of me-" the
girl sighed w-earily. 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, I am frightfully tired of
life," she said, as IL diyining his
mental attitude toward her 81 am
unutterably sweary." She spoke not
bitterly or cynically, but calmly.
hopelessly.
You seey' the girl continued, II
have lost every one who was dear to
me. ! saw them all snatched from
me in one ghastly moment. / have
been trying to work, but / seem un-
able to stand the strain. You don't
blame me for not wanting to live,
do your"
NO Caithorpe said, and rose
quickly to his feet. 81 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 / will do every
thing in my power TO make the world
q happier place for you"
Calthorpe was becoming so 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 II 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 II was hung and the
world of art had cast appreciative eyes
upon it, Calthorpe was no longer
struggling landscape painter He was
portrait painter Of rare genius-one
who could by mastery strokes of the
brush bring forth the soul of his suo-
ject His Study" could have been
sold ten times over, and the price it
brought finally was triumph for
Calthorpe.
A slender woman, in soft mouse
velvet, with wonderful auburn hair
and glorious deep eyes, stood beside
him when the picture was hung.
Everly, who had advised Calthorpe
to forswear landscapes, was also
present.
"hrs. Calthorpe," he said, with
grim smile. your husband once told