American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-24

she met many a pronounced stare. II
anything We're wrong with her attire.
After all. why did she wish to see
hat long-absent onel Was 1t to sat-
isfy herself once and for all that he
really had ceased to carer And then
he came. There was nothing unusual
about 1t II he. a successful artist. were
In the city: this hotel would be natur-
ally the place where he would dine.
Yet the heart Of Jane beat almost to
suffocation. and she clasped her hands
tightly to control the emotion which
surged within her. And, after all,
came a vague sense Of disappointment.
Something was lacking about the man
that had been there In the youthful
long Ago.. Was 1t the bright air Of con-
ndence which had pervaded his per
sonslity-or whatl Jane could not :
tell. She only knew that his face was
white and haggard as from loss OF
sleep hat his dark eyes burned rest
lessly.
A sudden light Of recognition famed
FOR e moment In the eyes which direct
ly met hers. Half-smiling, Jane leaned
forward, her hand extended in greet
ing. Then her hand fell Imply back
upon the table, for ne had turned
away. deliberately Ignoring her pres
ence. Her lips trembled like those OF
a grieved child as he rose and passed
from the room. He had remembered,
yet very evidently wished to see her
no more. And past all the patient,
weary years this fact had power to
stab her with a new and poignant
pain.
II he were ashamed to acknowledge
his old-time friend here, before them
all, Jack Gordon had changed.
She had still quite a few dollars left
she counted them over respectfully;
her spirit of holiday had flown. 1t
was, as she passed down the main
street the following morning, that Jane
came face to face with the picture.
She did not need to lean forward,
discerning his name upon the can
vas; the work was no truly his own.
In an art room 1t stood displayed, with
n ticket, For Sale"
B~reathless. eager, Jane FASTENED into
the store. ~ wish to buy that pic
ture," she said, with n fine disregard
for price.
"Fifty dollars announced the dealer.
land remarkably cheap for Mr.. Cor
don's work"
Jane closed her eyes In quick mem
tai calculation. am take It," she said.
"Where tor asked the dealer. "We
box them carefully" And Jane gave
her Hillcrest address.
Out again In the street she stopped
dazedly, counting the change in her
bag. She had Just money enough "a
take her to lower Hillcrest-she would
have to walk home from there. But
hope, like the berries, again forced its
bright way.
"He must have remembered" she
murmurcd joyously. The placing oi
the picture required much care. Jane
standing upon n chair the following
evening, seriously studied the ques
tion, After all, It was good to be bach
In the old familiar room. And ther
came a ringing Of the bell. IF" an
ticipated Jane; then, smiled at thu
folly Of her thought. She waited I
moment, nevertheless, to loosen softl'
, the waves Of her hair; 1t was 30 sh'
r had worn It ten years ago. Then sh'
opened the door.
John Gordon did not speak until n
had entered the room, until his quirl
+ glance had travelled from James fac
{ back TO the picture.
"You-stn live hereT' he asked Hh
ruptly.
: She nodded eumbly. From tn
suite you were registered In at the he
tel" he said. "as ] saw you last nigh
q from the price you paid for my YER
small picture, / fancied," he waved a
" arm about, "that you had grown ava
9 from this. that you had perhaps II
herited money"
,. Jane spoke slowly. Il have n
X money" she told him.
= "Then," he said, and bitterness wa
y in his tone "you bought the paintin
Q out of pity for me. You have hear
n Of my faIlure. For all these discou
aging years I've pressed doggediy OF
a refusing TO give In. Persisting In m
= foolish dream Of success. When
% ceased writing TO you 1t was becau'
y I could o bear TO have you know
a my failure. to sacrifice your life
= a useless promise. When the great o.
y p~ortunity should come, and with
Z. success, then / would return wort
u lily to you" The man paused I"
Y did not come" he added quietly, "B'
y stronger han myself was the year
= ing to see. and learn Of you again.
u I came back. The picture was offer
as a last hope, to defray present Q
penses. Tim
- "when I found your name to be tn
"A Of the purchaser, ] realized fully Il
W -