The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-26
lyDl1H'S CAREER
BY FLORENCE SHEDD.

| fragrant forest his eyes lost their
! WEAKNESS and the teEsie lines of his
face relaxed. For months he had been
hard at 1t, writing magazine articles
with steady purpose to oblterate
other grievous thoughts. He allowed
himself no surcease, for this was the
only way.
The girl who had entered his life
but to make of. it a mockery. must be
forgotten If life was to be endured nj
all. Repeatedly he had, been warned
against her lure. Brothers and other
friends Of the small Bohemia in which
| Bentley recently moved had testified
to the, girls unusual power of enchant-
ment and lack of heart. He had been
curious
Why was 1t that eager. and worthy
suitOrs were left always the losers,
while The girl herself continued heart
whole upon her chosen way? Bentley
doubted the invincfbie charm Of which
they spoke. In his own strong conf
dence he desired to meet the much
talked-of girl--and he did.
He was disappointed just at first.
She was not the "ravlng beauty" he
had naturally, expected. Rather a
quiet little person, instead. with child
ishly appealing eyes and sort of diff
fidcnce in her manner which made one
smile mentally at her reputation for
conquest.
She was learning to draw at the art
school when Bentley met her, and she
told him, with a shy, fleeting glance
that her name was Judith earn. The
qunintness of the name seemed some
way to suit her personality, BENTLEY
found IT necessary to draw her out
concerning her work; she was ex
tremeIy modest about her undouhted
skill. He marveled, in his own expert
ence, at her clever use of color; and
Judith cast ON him n smile of grati-
tude. .1
After that, unaecountabIy to him
self, he was often at her side. resent
ing openly any other manly presence
which might forestal him there. He
was quite sure of the girls favOritism;
had he ever been known to fail where
his fancy would conquer? The blow,
therefore, was ms bitter and uneXpect-
ed, when 1t came, as it had been to his
fellows.
Bentley, successful writer and man
Of the world Ind asked the little Illus
fro nr To
quietly, and with no given reason, re
fused Injured pride forbade him t.
urge the question, even while his hear.
yoarned desperately. So Bentley
packed up and went off to the forest
His last article, a most interesting,
treatise on birds. finished and com
pletc, awaited but the photographs.
which were ia accompany IT. The diff
hcuty he would encounter proCurinh
these life photographs added promised
zest to his trip.
But the great green silence seemed
now everywhere eloquent of the girls
magnetic presence. Never had shU
seemed so near or dear to him before.
And it was here that he had hoped t.
find forgetfnlness! ..
DiSconsolately he placed his camera
and waited The strange, mournful
murmur of the timid bird which he
sought would. he knew, inform him or
It's nearness And at last. with his eyes
closed in sad retroSncCtiOn, Bentley
heard that soft call. In moment he
was on his feet. stcalthily following
where the murmuring note led.
At break between the trees no
fore him there-the girl. She looked
like a nymph of the woods, in her
brown cotton dress, with the sun CLINT
ing down upon her bronzed hair; her
red lips were parted in a smile, differ
ent some way from other smiles that
she had given him, and the laughter
CLINT of her eyes changed to sweet
seriousness. ....t
Judith !" he whispered.
"You are surprised to see me-" she
answered softly. 81 will tell you why
! came here; it was to sketch from
life-the birds. 1t was yonr article"
she added. (Which gave to me the idea.
You discussed it with me at one time
you will remember, and you were so
anxious for its success"
She seated herself on a bank of pine |
needles and motiOned him to her side. !
Then hastily she unwrapped n port
folio. 'F
There was the tilnid bird of the |
which you so feared you could
not get" she went on. well, here Is
my sketch of the mother / had such :
q time learning her plantlve call that I
| might coax the young from their |
hiding. And here"
Bentley. leaning forward, gazed I'M :
believing. into the girls face. I
"You came out here" he interrupt
ed, land you have been doing all this
-why?", ..s..,.....e..
The girl rested her curly head
against the tree and raised her appeal
ing eyes to his. ...-
For your sake" she answered sim
ply. 81 also wished for your success,
because, you see--I love YOU"
"You sent me away" Bentley said,
huskily.
ct did not want to love you" she
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