The Lamar register., 1919-05-14
ENlD'S POSTER
-
BY SOPHIA 8. COHEN.

Home. home. home the rumbling
wheels OF the express kept up noisy
accompaniment to the iiotous song of
JOY In Enid Blair's heart. After an
absence Of five years she was coming
back to the little village where she was
born and had lived until the lure OF
the city grew too strong for her to re-
sist. Her heart beat quickly as she
thought Of the old folks and OF Tom
Marvin.
Tom Maryin-his name brought up
long forgotten memories. Would he
be the same? They had been coin-
rad-s In Milivllle and had faithfully
promised to write to each other when
she left. AT first her letters had gone
and come quite regularly. Enid WAS
working hard and soon her efforts tat
painting gained recognition. Then.
with her triumphant success. came
harder work and gradual forgetful-
ness OF the old Millville associations.
and their correspondence ceased alto
gether. Tom also was busy. She
heard vaguely that he wns the life and
soul OF the movement on foot TO arous..
"
Vile and make a busy. enterprlslng
town Of 1t. She heard. too, that he
had been highly successful and was
now one OF the leading citizens OF the
town. A cold fear clutched at her
heart Had he murrisdf
Enid took n short vacation from her
work and during the time met Tom
only once. He had nodded to her u
perfunctory greeting and they had
passed ON as casual ncqunintnnces.
The next three weeks were busy ones
for Enid The establishing Of her
studio left her no time to think OF
Toms coidness. Finally the last
touches had been added and u neat
placard outside announced that Miss
Blair needs II model for a war post
err" Many applicants came. but none
seemed TO be Just what she wanted.
Even Uncle Billy. the town patri-
arch. offered himself as model. and
hobbled out OF the studio very much
hurt ut having been firmly refused In
spite Of all his pleading. He could not
seem TO understand that what Enid
needed was Ii young man, upright and
strong. and poor old Billy was almost
ninety and bent double with rheuina-
tism.
After II month OF anxious waiting.
Enid despaired and had almost decld-
ed TO 20 back to the city. where she
could easily obtain II model Ht AN
hours notice. Then. ut the beginning
OF the NTH week. as Enid was Just
starting TO pack. Tom Marvin walkei
In with the plaNrd under his arm.
Enid dropped the box she WAS hold
ing and stared.
"Er-Mlss Blair" he began awkward
ly. you need a model: maybe l Will
dor
Enid thought she detected a twinkle
Of laughter through his difiidence. and
Immediately regained her composure.
Let me see." she said. deliberately.
aud appraised him with cold profess
sional calm while he squirmed under
her impersonal gaze.
Yes. youll do. Mr.. Marvin" she
said briskly. and Tom felt strangely.
unrensonably elated.
The sittings began Immediately, and
were II source of pain and JOY to them
Pi''
tier than ever In her long smock ms
she bent her fair head critically this
way and that to observe the effect of
the poster, but he could not break
down the barrier Of reserve that stood
between them. And Enid could not
but notice how strong and manly Tom
had grown. SO the slttings went on.
They spoke OF many things. but never
Of that which lay nearest the hearts Of
both. The poster grew. and the
splotches of color took on deiinte
form. Enid saw with JOY that It was
far exceeding her anticipation. and Ia
her mind attributed this to her lnspir-
lag model.
Finally the poster was done. Tom
sbI duty for moment when he re
alized that there were to be no more
sittings. Then happy thought came
to him