The Press., 1919-02-06

for . monent Tn 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 he had turned
 away, deliberately ignoring her pres
 ence. Her lips trembled like those oi
 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.
 If he were ashamed to acknowledge
 his old-time friend here, before them
 all, Jack Gordon had changed.
 She had still quite 6 few dollars left
 -she counted them over regretfully her spirit of holiday had flown. It
 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 1 vas; the work was 70 truly his own. Tn an art room 1t stood displayed. with
 a ticket, "For Sale"
 Breathless, eager. Jane hsstened into the store. "I wish to buy that pic ture." she said. with a hne disregard for price.
 "Fifty dollars" announced the dealer,
 "and remarkably cheap for Mr. Cor don's work"
 Jane closed her eyes in quick men, | tai calculation. "I1l 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 to take her to lower Hlllcrest--she would have to walk home from there. But hope, like the berries, again forced its bright way.
 "He must have remembered" she murmured joyously. The placing of the picture required much care. Jane, standing upon a chair the following
 evening, seriously studied the ques- tion. After all, 1t was good to he back in the old familiar room. And then
 came ringing of the bell. If" sn- ticipated Jane; then, smiled at the folly of her thought. She waited a moment, nevertheless, to loosen softly the waves of her hair; 1t was so she
 had worn 1t ten years ago. Then she opened the door.
 John Gordon did not speak until he had entered the room, until his quick glance had travelled from Jaue's face back to the picture.
 "You-stin live hersr' be asked ah.
 ruptly.
 She nodded dumbly. From rhe suite you were registered ir at inc ho- tel" he said. "as saw you last night, from the price you paid for my very
 small picture, fancied," he waved an
 arm about, that you had grown away
 from this, that you had perhaps in
 herited money"
 Jane spoke slowly. "l have no
 money" she told him.
 "Then," he said, and bitterness was in his tone, "you bought the painting out of pity for me. You have heard of my failure. For all these discour- aging years I've pressed doggedIy ou.
 refusing to give In. Persisting in my
 foolish dream Of success. When I
 ceased writing to you it was because
 I could not bear to have you know of my failure, to sacrifice your life to a useless promise. When the great op portunlty should come. and with it success. then l would return worth lily to you" The man paused. "It
 did not come" he added quietly. But
 stronger than myself was the yearn.
 ing to see, and learn of you again. So
 I came back. The picture was offered
 as a last hope. 10 defrsy present ex- penses.
 "When found your name to be that
 of the purchaser, I realized fully the
 humility of my failure. Last nigh,
 wished to shrink away in my shabhi.
 ness. from your recognition" The
 mans voice broke huskily.
 "Oh! Jane Rose. Jane Rose" he
 whispered, "how I deceived vou with
 my dreams of long ago" And Jane raised her face to his wildly her heart was singing: forgot. ten were the long years of absence and 1 neglect. What mattered poverty. or the shah hby clothes of his humiliation |? What mattered success or worldly fail. ure? Love was here-love thai forced It's way through snows of dislppoint. ment and fallen leaves of change, love that triumphed.
 "Jack," she cried tenderly and held out her arms. And ir was long tim" after that the man, with a light of new purpose in his eyes, and the woman, smiling, radiant, moved forward to- gether. to hanw anew the picture of ''Hope."