The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-30
EVENING STORY
A Fortunate Fancy.
BY INES MACDONALD.

I'M NnAA1oANA1AlJ.
Martin Brown was in no way a re- |
markable man except in the matter of
elephants, and of elephants he had
what was in all probability the largest
single collection in the world. Please
do not mistake this assertion. His
elephants were not alive, not real ele-
plants, YOU know, but images, mod
eled and carved.
His small studio apartment was full
of ivory elephants. some Of them no
larger than watch charm; bronze ele-
plants, porcelain, plaster and wooden
elephants;- some of which he himself
had carved, for Martin Brown was no
mean craftsman-a sort of jack
trades person, with fancy for ele-
plants.
The elephant is a large animal; even
so is the subject of the elephant. For
years he had studied them. their hab-
its, their relations. their mental de-
velopment, their physical structure.
their evolution. He had a friendly in
timacy with every elephant in New
York, and whenever he visited the
ZOOS the keepers allowed him the free
dom of the place..
The affection of an elephant may
seem a ludicrous thing. but to see
those great beasts touching him ca
ressingly and feeling him over with
their delicate trunks was not a funny
thing at all. 1t stirred one with won
bond which existed between them.
At the library the attendants called
Martin Brown the Elephant Man."
and he was a familiar personality to
them all. Whenever anythings new
came in that even so much as men,
toned elephants, it was always called
to his attention.
This had been the rule with but one
exception. For more than a year past
in several of the magazines there had
been occurring a most Interesting type
of black and white drawings which
featured the elephant in strange and
peculiar phases, and in most unusual
surroundings. There were sad ele-
plants. coy ones, comical, rollicking.
devil-may-care elephants, abandoned
and dignified elephants.
They strolled or danced along the
streets, they looked curiously over gar
den walls. into or out of unexpected
doorways. strolled up or down the
the most delightful company of dane
ing girls or nymphs in silhouette.
And when Martin Brown first saw
those drawings he laughed and hunted
eagerly for more. He found them, quite
a few of them, cigned modestly in the
corner, IS. B." He called the attention
Of one Of the librarians whom he had
known for several years and asked her
if she knew anything of the artist. She
d1d!i The artist was a girl who came
thSIS poISu over el6pI1dHI DOOhS
and made quantities of sketches.
What kind Of girl?" asked Martin
Brown.
Rather young-and sort of attrac-
tive" reluctantly admitted the librar-
ian, who wa5 neither. why. here she
and his glance followed hers as a tall,
slim girl came toward them.
Miss Barstow." said the librarian,
stopping the girl with gesture toward
Martin Brown, this is the elephant
man, Martin Brown
Brown looked into a pair OF sad
gray eyes that were frankly wide and
curious. He could not understand why
those eyes were sad. for there was a
hint OF humor in the curves of her
mouth. and her drawings sparkled
with fun.
i've often wondered about you,
Elephant Man." said Sara Barstow.
with an opened-eyed smile. Z
1t@was put natural that they should
become friends, they had SO much in
common. AT his sinsistent invitation
she visited his>studio from time to time
and studied and sketched his elephants
and he gave her of his lore and such
a companionship as she had never be-
fore known except in the timidity of
her dreams.
Brown did not know, but that was
the reason for the sadness in her eyes.
the loneliness of a shy but courageous
spirit fighting upward in the conten-
tious competition of remorseless Man
haitian. But as she reveled il the joy
of her association with Brown the look
of sadness lifted from her eyes and
they began to reflect the dancing
lights of her natural spontaneous ma
ture that had always revealed itself
in the humorous quirk of her flexible
mouth and the jolly elephants which
cavorted engagingly when depicted by
the genius of her drawing.
Together they went to the various
ZOOS and one after another she met
the friends of his fancy. The keepers
stared in surprise to see their tenn
peramental and sometimes cratic
charges instantly accept this slim girl
with the same affectionate fellowship
that they always displayed for Brown
himself
ressing trunks down over her thin
clad shoulders, curling them about
her with disconcerting ardor. But Sara
Barstow was unafraid-delighted to
feel that they trusted and loved her
even as they did Brown
There was but one exception in this
attitude toward Sara Barstow among
the elephants of New York, and that
exception was Minerva, the mightiest
beast of them all. Minerva had been
early girlhood and brought to New
York. For years there had been no
indication that she had resented this
interruption to her jungle career, but
Minerva was Of the species feminine,
and the female of the species has its
own peculiarities, as almost every one
and Rudyard Kipl.ng can swear to-
The day Martin Brown and Sara
visited Minerva, Minerva seemed not
at all her own sweet self. True, she
squealed del.ghtedly at the sight of
Brown and reached toward him en-
gagingly with her trunk. but after
they had exchanged greetings and
Sara advanced to be introduced, Min
erva disgraced herself.
Sara was a woman. Even Minerva
could see that-and she was instantly
jealous. Her little eyes Redeemed with
hate and suspicion as Sara stepped
fearlessly forward and stood there
talking softly as she gently patted
Minerals swinging trunk with her