Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-06-26

of the Joy that my first hard-earned
check gave me. have everything on
earth that money can buy"
"But why didn't you keep up your
art work-your Bohemian friends
wouldn't that have helped to make
you happy?" West was kindly sympa-
thetic, but there was beginning great
urge within him to try to keep this
rare girl within his circle. It seemed
sheer and .unadulterated madness to
want to keep her, since she was mar
ried to a wealthy man and her fancy
for Bohemian life and studio days
were perhaps but passing desires, but
there-she was answering his Ques-
ton.
''It was not worth while my work
ing at art when l didn't have to. If
had possessed genius or even great
degree of talent 1 would have kept
at it. But I only have talent enough
to keep the wolf from the door. AS for
my Bohemian friends-well, tried
keeping them in my life, but my hus.
band called them all nuts and made
me SO unhappy about them that gave
them all up. OH just can't tell you
what it means to me to be actually
back here with a smock on sitting in
my very own studio"
1--WE won't quarrel either about the
studio or the smock," said West. Il
am only glad that I happen to be the
tenant here while you have chosen to
play at studio days again"
$50 am l." greeted Gretchen and
gazed contentedly at the slim boyish
man the while she realized that he pos
sessed tremendous charm. Il might
have found a crusty old maid who
wouldn't let me in at ALL She was
thoughtful for so long while that
West looked apprehensively at her
and wondered if he had done anything
to displease her. But before he could
form words to inquire, Gretchen asked
coaxingly: Are you going to want me
to come again?"
West was just a bit puzzled. He
also knew that he wanted her very,
very much indeed. It was difficult to
know how best to express his thoughts.
He decided that his hs1bitual frankness
was the best course and after that she
must take the situation in her own
hands.
"You have asked me straight ques-
ton, little wraith," he said and
despite himself a great softness crept
into his voice and eyes, $50 must tell
you that if had my own way would
not let you go out of the studio again.
You have come in Of your own free
will just to humor a whim which will
perhaps pass as quickly as it came,
but you have thrust something into my
studio and into my soul that 1 desire
greatly to keep"
So brilliant color famed into
Gretchen's cheeks and so tremendous
light into her eyes that West
stopped speaking. He had annoyed
her beyond forgiveness.
The sun trailed down and away
from the window, leaving but the
steady warm glow of twilight.
II should not have told you this" he
continued finally; ''you are the wife Of
another man"
"But I'm not-now," Gretchen put
in quickly, TREMENDOUSLY. II would not
have come back to studio days had he
been still living. And now I'm all
alone with so much money that it
weighs me down and / just want to
come back to Bohemia and paint
dreadful pictures and get snippy little
checks for them and It was she now
who stopped, blinded by the happiness
that Vests eyes reflected.
"Then you are free-free to sit at
my tea cart every day-free to let me
keep that which has come into my
heart and free to be happy in the dear
old studio way?"
Gretchen nodded silently and be-
cause West wanted to take her in hts
arms but didn't think it quite the
thing he walked over to the window
and stood looking out at the twilight.
Gretchen arose swiftly and stood be-
side him her slim hand touching his
sleeve.
Love makes the world very won.
derful place to live in, doesn't it?' she
asked softly.
''That smock is so absurdly big it is
difficult to find you in it," observed
West.
"Still, I feel that you found me-"
laughed Gretchen as together they
gazed happily out over the housetOps
from the studio window.