The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-04
The EUenine Story
s.SiIence.o
(Clarissa NIachie.)

1
| gesture of dismissal.
| Every we'll, Roy, marry the girl If
| you wish and ruin your career. have
| financed your art studies to the point
where all you need is couple years
! of perfect freedom abroad, where you
| can absorb the best there is in paint
! ing and sculpture. Then, and then
| only, will you be able to throw your
self into your work and produce, per-
haps masterpiece-for' boy you can
| paint"
Roy Benton listened and knew that
his uncle spoke the truth, but his
| heart rebelled.
There was Eve Alison, to whom he
| had been engaged for many months
| His acceptance of Uncle Gregory's Of
fer meant their marriage must be
postponed for two years. He would
not let her decide, for women We're
self-sacrificing, but she must be told
| of Uncle Gregorys ultimatum, SO she
could understand why he was going
to give up his painting and return to
the profitable, though inglorlous, bust
ness of commercial art-the illustrat-
ing of high class advertisements. He
could earn enough to support them in
comfort, and some day he might be
able to save enough to pay for his trip
abroad-with Eve, of course-when
he would take time to paint the great
picture silence that had found form
in his fancy.
Anyway, he would have Eve, and
Eve Alison would make up for every
thing else, even for the abandonment
of a career. Eve was poor a self
supporting girl who was making her
lonely way in New York. She had
been a bookkeeper in that great adj
vertising company which was anxious
to secure more of Roy's work.
oh, there was absolutely no choice
in the matteri Roy shrugged his
shoulders and told Uncle Gregory just
how matters stood 'In marry her
now and go back to illustrating ad-
yertisements,' he told the old man.
VERY well, Roy, marry her now and
you need never expect penny of my
money, I'll leave it all to the Puddi-
ford Orphan Asylum. L won't take
your final decision now. Go and tell
the girl what I've said and let her de-
eide
Roy picked up mis- hat and left his
uncle without another word. He was
to meet Eve at o'clock and they were
to dine together at a quiet little res
taurant. His mind was entirely clear
as to what course he should follow.
He was in a rage with Uncle Gregory.
How dared the cynical old man in
sinuate that Eve-whom he had never
seen and whose name he did not even
know-would refuse to marry Roy if
she found he was not his uncle'S heir 2
Eve, cool and fresh in her white
frock and smart little hat, looked
across the table at her big lover with
hazel eyes meltingly lovely. Her clear
olive skin was pink tinted, and her
dark hair, delicately arched brow;s aud
roseleaf lips made her look like an
exquisitely painted Japanese minis4-
ture.
'Well?" she asked, when their
greetings were over.
I'VE will be married at once-neXt
week." he said, finality in his tone.
And. Eve, darling, I hope you wont
mind very much if 1 go back to Den
bigh's.''
Her eyes widened with dismay
''Denbigh's?" she faltered. ''Aud
give up. your career = give up 'si-
He nodded. "And give up Uncle
Gregory's help. too. He thinks that L
ought to travel for a couple of years,
and 1 simply don't see it that way. "A
wife and home look good to me,
our humble way, eh?"
All the lovely light died out of Ewes
eyes and left them dark and broodirg.
Her face was white and wistful and
in her lap. At last her pale lips
spoke.
Il think you are very foolish to an
tagonize your uncle, Roy-and-and
I've been thinking for some tInIc
that our engagement was mistake
a bitter mistake-and-you will I'M
derstand some day. Good-by."
She picked up her gloves and var
lsned from the table before he had
time to rise. His bewildered eyes saw
on the white cloth the little pear en-
gagement ring which had plighted
their troti1.
So Eve had only cared for Uncle
Gregory's money after all. The old
man had been right-of course, his
years of experience would endow him
with IN understanding of women.
Roy groaned bitterly, put the ring
in his pocket, called for his check and
went back to Uncle Gregory
On the deck of the great liner
which was to bear Roy away, Uncle
Gregory uttered a last word of advice.
Seek the .silences, my lad-in the
loneliness of the Sahara, the temples
of India, the great bronze Buddna at
kamakura-and your picture will
come to you,''