Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-07-03
Ye
Pink Waist
By MILDRED WHITE
oprrlrht. lgla. by western Nsw.pspsr unlon.l

Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper unlon.)
Dora'S steps quickened involuntarlly
as she neared the shop where the
pink waist was displayed. For three
days IL had tempted her behind the
plate glass window At night she had
even dreamed of the waist, or rather
dreamed of herself an enchanting and
transformed Dora, fitting about in
some beautiful place, that same pink
waist adjoining her own small person.
But the dream had been rudely shat
tered by the announcement OF her per-
sistent aud newly bought alarm clock
that it was time TO be "up and do
ing"
Strange faces looked now through
that window, strange voices sounded
were forever slIenced. But Dora arose
brayely at the summons of the u rm
clock, and was soon after on her way
ofliceward, down busy city street.
The pink waist Haunting its charms
was the first disturber OF Dora's peace.
She wanted that waist, unreasonably,
lnsiStently she wanted it, Her neat
black costume was tiresomefy oppres-
sive
Ten dollars was the price marked
on the waist, and as far as Dora was
concerned three more ciphers might
have been added. She wondered IL
she could not make the waist in a
sense her own, by painting 1t into
by a tall, pink-blooming hollyhock, for
instance-the girls cheeks as softly
pink as the waist-a bit of pink cloud
showing in the distance.
1t was Dora's inexperience in the
business world which made the pink
waist a thing of inpossibilty Back
again in the bare little room, high
above the surrounding roofs, Dora joy
ouSly drew forth brush and colors
she must paint the pink-waist girl be-
fore her vision should vanish.
The old wooden wardrobe was filled
with Dora's sketches. She seldom
showed them to anyone; they were
to her mere relaxation. But now
a desire possessed her to share with
some one the beauty of the pink-waist
girl. Mrs. O'Brlen. the landlady, wns
very Kind Dora took the sketch to
her.
my dearie" exclaimed that wom-
an. raising her hands. ''It'S the won
derful tuIent you have. Why don't you
take the picture around to the Gift
Shoppe,' rs they spell ton the cor
ner? Many paintings not half as good
as yours Eve seen for sale there, with
sign over 'em, Original Studies"
"Do You really think began Dora,
but Mrs O'Brien was carefully wrap
ping the picture.
'Yor run around with it right now"
she said
When Dora came back the blue eyes
were wide with awe.
The picture is In the window" she
told Mrs. O'Brlen. "and if it sells
am 10 have ten dollars"
And how much are they to have?"
shrewdly asked the landlady.
Dora laughed. why, of course, II
won't sell. She Sald--but It did.
Dora, noting the absence of her
painting from the window after its
third day of proud exhibition. hesi-
tated for moment in the shop door
way, hoping, yet fearing. to enter.
This gentleman" said madame of
the shop. brislily. has just bought
your pink study You have dropped
in opportunely; he was requesting
your address,
The unbelievable purchaser of her
work turned, hat in hand. Dora
stared speechlessly from his interest
ed, fine face. down to her framed pie
ture.
"You-really wanted it," she asked
at length
"More than | have wanted anything
for a long time" the man replied.
1.-THE purity of the girls face, the
soft blending Of color-this is a won
deI'ful sketch Miss"
He examined the painted name
across a corner of the cuuvaS-"Theo-
dora Trenton"
He glanced up at her sharply
"IIaye you done much Of this sort Of
thing?"
"a wardrobe fun" laughed Dora.
the reality of il all was coming back
10 her.
Strange murmured the man this
Is the first Of your work that have
seen. 1t has an originality certain
delicate skill | should have remem-
hered Who is your instructor
u was Obliged long ago to give up
my studies" Dora said sadly. Then,
before his sympathetic gaze she began
suddenly to tell him about the home
that was no more-the necessity for
work which forced one to put dreams
and aspirations aside, the advice Of
Mrs. O'Brien. and-the detachable pink
waist In the window.
And rs the man listened he smiled,
and his keen eyes grew very kind. You
may have seen the name Stacy across
drawings in the magazines" he said.
well. I am Jack Stac+, and | hope
that ii may be my privilege to help
Won make those aspirations come