The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-07-12
Her Adventurous
Night
II Had an important
Result

BY AGNES G. BROGAN

y .efNfN-FNF~ - S>r>S
/ Miss Pauline Chester, art student
and would be illustrator, stood at the
I curb OF the busy street awaiting a
/ home bound car Home. She smiled
/ dcrisively IN the scmi-dafkness at the
meaning of the word Surely the big
I bare room. half studio, half housckeep-
ing apartment. was poor substitute
for home. And il was all she now pos
sessed.
She thought as she stood there aside,
yet In the very midst of things alone,
yet crushing her way through the
throng to the car how typical II all
was OF her present life, Even In the
brightly lighted apartment, as she
passed down the corridor that led TO
her room not one OF those whom she
met each day might speak a welcome
because she had not been properly in
troduced.
Polly was not sure she would care to
know them II she had. They were all
such silly, chattering women, over.
dressed and Indifferent; such rude,
staring men-all but one. Polly thought
of him gratefully. Something per-
haps in the grave kindness Of his ex-
preston. his deferential yet unobtrus.
i've courtesy, brought back the old days
in Brooktield.
Each morning he raised his hat as
simultaneously they appeared In the
corridor locking their doors for the
days absence. Always Poly smiled
and nodded, but the man vouchsafed
no word. She was glad, and she was
sorry-glad that he was so very much
the man she wanted him to be, sorry
that one so alone as she might not have
the comfort of an understanding friend
In despair Polly had added to the
cherries furnishings of her studio the
companionshp of cat. He had fol
lowed her, this big yellow cat, from
some darkened area the night she had
bought the fish. After his coveted
meal had become a thing Of the past
Patsy. as she called him, still deigned
to remain her friend.
! He had, she discovered, certain en-
barrassing and stubborn tendencies,
one of which was to pry into the af-
fairs Of his neighbors, so that twice
the nice young man across the way
had been obliged to lift Patsy gently
and place him outside his door.
Both times Miss Chester apologized;
both times the young man bowed ST.
lently and pleasantly and withdrew.
4 Polly found herself making little
sketches of the grave faced man and
the yellow cat during times Of inter
mission at the art school
4 you poor thing" she Knocked herself
one day as she hastily destroyed her
4 drawings, filling up your head with
man aud yellow eat just because
they've been little human
! Ii seemed impossible to make pre-
/ sentable sketch Mt home, the boys In
I the fraternity room overhead We're so
very noisy, while player piano banged
/ away below. She wondered as she sat
| through endless evenings just what 1t
would be like to mingle with the gay
throng outside, to be with one who
could sympathize and understand.
He" was lonely too She was sure
Of that. Among them all he seemed to
| live apart At those times when she
had rescued Patsy from before his
door she had caught glimpse within
Of an. open book, half smoked cigar.
So he, too, sat each night alone. His
eyes, she fancied. were strangely visit
full. Or was 1t fancy? Polly sighed
impatiently.
Always she rebuked herself, your
thoughts go back to that man"
1t was all very ridiculous, 50 she fell
to drawing In earnest. No better sub
ject at hand, she drew painstakingly
the yellow cat lying stretched before
the fire.
This accomplished Polly studied re-
fectively an opposite vacant chair,
then with a sudden dimpling smile she
bent again over the drawing board.
She was so absorbed she failed to no.
tice the cessation Of the player piano
and a gradual growing silence settling
over the building.
Raising at last flushed face, she re-
garded with much satisfaction her
work. The figure pictured In the chair
opposite her own was remarkably true
TO life. The mans" open book lay
upon the table beside him, his half
moked cigar In his hand, Patsy com
iortably stretched at his feet.
Twelve" chimed the little clock In
,harp, even strokes. Mercy" exclaim-
ID the girl, and jumped to her feet.
There was something the matter with
the lock as she attempted to fasten her
door for the night, so she thrust II wide
open, intending thus to close II secure
ly. mysterious rustling sound, as OF
tome person or persons stealthily NOV
Ing farther hack among the shadows
caused polly's heart to futter uncom.
fortably.
Not long ago there had been rob- .
berry In this very apartment. She wish I