Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1916-11-30


raised her from the bench where she
was sitting. t -; o.. .r -
THAT is so. Mary" he said softly.
perhaps you cannot confide in one
who is little more than stranger. but
you might find it possible to take your
husband into your confidence"
"What are you saying" she al
most screamed, though she trembled
violently, and did not seek to extricate
herself from his embrace.
"Tll put it quite clearly, dear" he
cooed. "Will you marry me?"
She recoiled as though he had struck
her.
"Oh, no, no." she walled. Anything
but that! 1t is impossible!'
He knelt by her side and endeavored
| to soothe her.
Listen, Mary" he whispered. 81 love
you, and l begin to hope that am
not altogether Indifferent to you. You
are pure and good woman, l know,
and shall be honored beyond meas
ure-"
"Stop!" she screamed in frenzy.
Must l even sacrifice one of my few
friends? Marriage between us would
be a crime. Our poverty would crush
us. Don't you realize what 1t means?
l am ambitious. 1 love my art, and
would sell my very soul for the where
withal to prosecute 1t. l want to see
the great wide world-the world which
I have read about and dreamed of but
which seems to be n mere mirage on
the ever more distant shore of the
morass of my daily life"
| Now, John, in his wooing, had man
aged to lose sight of the all-important
fact that he was supposed to be des-
perately poor, and Mary's passionate
refusal to bear poverty's handicap
came rs n shock. Yet he was strong
minded enough to hold back, even In
that tense moment, the explanation
that would have cleared the horizon
and led the girls stumbling steps into
the firm, sure road Of happiness.
eve are both young, Mary" John
urged. II have every confidence of be-
ing able soon to place you in far
better position than we both occupy
at this time. Don't send me away
from you because 1 am only work
ingnan."
He was astounded by the hard and
defiant glitter which shone suddenly
in those beautiful eyes. The melting
blue in their depths turned to the cold
sheen of steel. She plucked note
from her breast.
Read that !" she said, almost harsh
ly. There you will find the problem
confronting me. God help me, have
to choose between honest love of n
poor man and the temptation of a
wealthy one!"
Hardly grasping the true sense of
the words, John opened the crumpled
letter. 1t was signed "Evan," and bore
that days date. A glance at its con-
Guiding passage sufficed.
80 I must go abroad. to Paris. Will
you go with me? Think of the opportu-
mites you will have for study. And don't
you care just a little for me? Unhappily.
know, is out Of the question in present sHt
conditions. 1 want you to weigh this
proposition fairly and reasonably. and will
come for my answer this evening.
A dawning horror showed in Johns
face. He had met Evan Parker before,
and deemed him n decent sort of fell
low. Yet the man had the callOusness
to admit an infamy over his very
signature. Mary's tortured soul barred
itself in a wild cry.
God help me! I don't even know
what l shall say when he comes"
John realized vaguely that lovemak-
ing or consolation was not to be
thought Of just then.
The two stricken people were made
aware by hilarious sounds beneath
unexpectedly. Somehow, the boys
harmless mirth grated at that instant
and John went out, lodging into his
own room until he could be certain
that his friends would not see him
crossing the landing. Then he crept
downstairs, meaning to seek Parker In
the artists luxurious studio.
In his rage against Parker he did
not guess that his own visit to Mary
might have disastrous sequel. In
fact, it nerved the girl to make ur
her mind, once and for all. She could
endure the struggle no longer. Screw,
; ing her resolution to the pitch of sac
rifice, she lifted the clay model OF
her statuette carefully In her arms
, carried it into the disheveled living
rooms where the three Irrepressibles
were sprawled in as much ease as their
ramshackle furniture would permit
and, sweeping aside some cooking
utensils on the table, deposited there
her one precious gift.
II am going away, dear boys" She
sobbed needless of the amazed silence
which greeted this dramatic entry OF
their tear-stained idol. 81 am going
far, far away. You'll never see me
again, and l want you to keep this