Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-11-19
ANOTHER DAY
py HOPE BROWNING.


If you could give me Just . days
option, Mr.. Betz." Marian frowned
slightly; looking around the big. rest
full studio longingly.
I'm sorry, but l must give myself
a chance to think 1t over. I'll 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 az
STAFF artist at the front. and 1t had
meant SO much to his whole career
They were engaged. Sometimes 1t
seemed to her that they had always
been engaged ever since she had
taken the studio below his and he had
dropped roses on her window sill.
Go up to mothers and stay with
her until l 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"
And Marian had gone. Up into the
heart of Vermont to a great, rambling
old farmhouse perched on a spur of
land that overlooked mountains and
valleys for miles. Seabury's mother
was darling little old lady, cheerful
and motherly-too motherly. Marian.
after seven months, began to feel like
a progressive duck with a hen par
ent. She fretted after town environ
ment and the incentive to work. Her
stuff was fiat and she knew 1t. Sea-
bury was on the point of sailing when
he got an offer from an English pa
per and wrote he would wait three
months longer If she did not mind.
II she did not mind? Marian packed
furiously and sent back q cablegram:
Going back to work."
That night she dined out with
friends of the Quarter down at little,
Italian place on West Eleventh street.
And someone spoke his name.
You knew that Seabury was back.
didn't you. Miss Earle? Made Q
smashing record for himself. too.
Looks awfully fit. l met him up at
Mamie Bells last evening at dinner"
Marian smiled. No. she had not
heard of Mr.. Abbot's return. but she
was SO glad Of his success. He was
always such q 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 and supplement the
gifts of man like Seabury."
Yes" Marian's tone was sweetly
interested and impersonal. Are they
engaged"
Il don't know. but l suppose 30.
He's been around everywhere with
her since he got back"
Marian slept little that night.
Wrapped in kimono. she sat by her
window. thinking. And here she had
been ready to even take back the old
studio for sentiments sake. 1t was all
very well tostell herself that she
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.
Go right up, Miss Earle. I'll be
there in a minute" he called to her.
and she went up the long fight of
stairs. The door was ajar. She passed
through the high, narrow passageway
into the studio and stopped short
Over by the window, looking down on
the little patch Of garden, stood Sea-
bury.
He turned around at her step, and
gave a quick exclamation. brimful of
the boyish, explosive happiness she
loved l. him.
by Jove. It dragged you back, too,
didn't it," he cried, catching her
hands in a grip that hurt i've been
trying to rent the place from old
Betz. but he's put me OF. telling me
he had another party after it. and I'd
have to wait another day. Lord. it's
good ~ see you again, Marian"
"YLu re looking WELL" said Marian,
trying to draw away.
Il am not. I'm sick and disguised
and miserable. and l cant eat or
sleep"
NO? I thought you were dining
rather regularly"
What do you mean? Oh, with Nan
ME Bell? That's only business. She's
doing the writing end of my series for
the Dispatch. didn't think you'd
mind"
why should mind"
"Why?" He glanced beyond her to
be sure of privacy and caught her sud-
denly in his arms. That's why" he
told her. after q minute. Because
you happen to be the only woman that
can upset my life for better or worse,
don't you see? l dropped everything
when l got your cable and came over.
| understood how you felt. And when
got here l couldn't find you, 90 I
did the next best thing. l was going
to rent the old studio because l knew
you'd come back here some time"
Let me CO." she said, struggling.
Somebody's coming"
Mr.. Betz whistled jovially as he ap-
preached. perhaps as q kindly signal
of warning.
WELL" he asked. what do you
think about it,"