The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-28
The Euenir1g Story
Another Day.

| IF you could give me just day
option, Mr.. Betz.'' Marian frowned
slightly, looking around the big, rest
full studio longingly. "I can't be
quite sure about taking it until 1
| think it over. You see, the rental has
increased since last year"
'Thirty-five is too little, Miss Earle.
and then, don't you know, I've got an
other chance to rent right away
Have you?" She looked at him
doubtfully 1t did not seem as if any
one else could ever want the old studio
so much as herself. After eight
months it looked more inviting than
ever I'm sorry, but 1 must give
myself chance to think 1T over. III
phone early in the morning"
| She went out into the square and
sat down near the fountain, trying TO
make up her mind. 1t had been eight
months since she had left there. Sea-
bury had received his appointment as
staff artist at the front, and it had
meant so much to his whole career
They were engaged: sometimes II
seemed to her that they had always
been engaged ever since she had tax
en- the studio below his and he had
dropped roses on her window sill.
| But he would not leave her alone in
New York while he was in Europe ana
she fatty refused to be war bride
Either she would marry him and go
with him, or else she would wait until
his return.
fatalist." she said. Il think one dies
when his hour comes, and l don't be-
lieve you're going to topple over at
all We're not prepared for marriage.
| II isn't lust love that makes it sue
cess by a long shot. You want to
build on a firm, economic basis.
s'Then go up to mothers and stay
with her until 1 get back You can
write all you want to, and she'll. love
to have you. She has me all dead and
buried already, and it will brace her
up to have you laugh at her. GO along
Marian"
heart of Vermont to great, bling
old farmhouse perched on a spur OF
Hand that overlooked mountains and
was a darling little old lady, cheerful
and motherly-too motherly. Marian
after seven months, began to feel like
a progressive duck with hen parent
She fretted after town environment II
and the incentive to work Her stuff
was flat and she knew it. Seabury was
on the point of sailing when he got ar
offer from an English paper and wrote
he would wait three months longer II
she did not mind. If she did not mind :?
| Marian packed furiously and sent back
a cabIegram: "Going back to work. "
He would understand. Yet, even
while she told herself that romance
did not attract her and that work was
the great thing even for woman,
after three weeks in town, she found
herself down around Washington
Square looking up studios, and her old
| one was let.
THAT night she dined out with
| friends of the Quarter down at a little
Italian place on West Eleventh street.
And some one spoke his name.
| "You knew that Seabury was back,
| didn't YOU Miss Earle? Made a
smashing record for himself, too.
Looks awfully fit. I met him up at
| Mamie Bells last evening at dinner
Marian smiled. No, she had not
heard of Mr.. Abbott's return, but she
was so glad of his success. He was
always such a clever, nice boy
I'D like to see him marry Mamie
Bell" went on her right-hand partner
at the long table. shes just the sort
of girl to develop ana supplement the
gifts of a man like Seabury. Awfully
well balanced and optimistic, don't
you know? Got plenty of tempera-
ment. but it's all in focus Seabury
needs a restful complement to
nature like his
''Yes?" Marian's tone was sweetly
interested and impersonal. Are they
engaged?"
II don't know, but I suppose so.
her since he got back"
Marian slept little that night
| Wrapped in a kimono, she sat by her
window, thinking. And here she had
| been ready to even take back the old
studio for sentiment sake. 1t was all
very we'll to tell herself that she need
ed the old environment She Just
wanted to be back where they had
first met and been so happy together.
The following morning she was
rather late, but determined Mr.. Betz
stood on the basement steps. talking
to the janitor, when she came along
$50 right up, Miss Earle. I'll be
there in a minute" he called to her,
and she went up the long flight of
stairs. past the little niche where
the suite at the north end of the
house The door was ajar. She
passed through the high, narrow pas
sageway into the studio and stopped
short Over by the window, looking
down on the little patch of garden,
stood Seabury, his hands clasped be-
hind him, and he looked curious1y
with the approval of Mamie Bell Nc
MILAN.
i He turned around at her step, and
gave a quick exclamation, brimful of
the boyish, explosive happiness she
loved in him.
didn't it?'' he cried, catching her
hands in a grip that hurt. I've been
trying to rent it from old Betz for
i week, but he's put me off, telling me
he had another party after it, and
I'd have to wait another day Lord,
it's good to see you again, Marian
/ You're looking WELL, said Marian,
trying to draw away
It am not. I'm sick and Disguised
and miserable, and can't eat or
sleep
no? I thought you were dining
rather regularly
What do you mean? oh. with