Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-01-30
The Proving
Sy JACK LAYTON

up from the portfolio OF drawings.
into tbc tace ~ the man who held 1t.
"leo SOU knew. She said anG laugh
cd softly, u have heen wondering.
how one who can ~ beautifully pie
ture home and domeSucity has So long
escaped It's charmf"
The man looked back straight into
her eyes.
zone might ask" he replied. 'the
same question Of you"
'And il answered truly. you would
not believe One never believes
woman. II IS the man alone who is
supposed to prefer freedom. When |
first came here" the woman smiled.
'you were pointed out to me ans a
heartless trlfler in affections. Dis
appointed maids II seemed, had Ian
guiShed an along your path. So con-
Guided that you had perhaps, been dis
appointed yourself in fancied loves,
which were but fancles after all"
speaking from eNperience?" the
man suggested.
speaking from experience" the
woman calmly agreed.
"And when you came among us"
he went on. Il maryeled al your choice
of this sleepy town as a place of abode
You were a successful Illustrator
they told me. and--pardon me-your
manner and appearance were both
So remarkably attractive one wonder
ed That you could bring yourself TO
hide so much"
The woman put forth a protesting
hand.
Now" she said. II am not one Of
those who expect fattery. Therefore,
II is not necessary to make the eff
fort decided to build my we'll
earned bungalow here, and settle down
IN the quiet and beauty my weary
spirit has long coveted. ! AIN doing
good work, the principal advantage
and I'm near enough to run into the
city when occasion demands. On the
ing about you. A clever man In any spe-
clal line is interesting. Why does the
architect Of ability prefer also to re-
side In the hidden corner?" :
THE home of my fathers the man
replied, correctly speaking, the home
OF my father. Though I may travel
far, this spot remains my headquar
tcrs."
The woman nodded understand
ingly
Suddenly her companion leaned for
ward.
do you know" he said, chat from
the first moment | saw you, you have
never been out of my thoughtsT
"Never have l." he laughed shortly,
deliberately sought without encour-
agement of any sort, an unmarried
woman with the intention of making
henry friend You have helped me
my work. In many ways, your frank,
sweet influence" his voice trembled.
81 believe that Observation-Disclosures at
last my longing for the home and do
lnesticity Of which you spoke. I be-
lieve"-his hands reached out to
clasp the woman's, but hers were busy
with the portfolo-''that love has
found me at last"
"You viii not believe it. after little
time" she said "Nor WIFI |. For you
have also captured my-shall we call It
admirationi But love oh! our
friendship is too pleasant thing to be
placed with past fancied loves. Let
MS put the imaginative aside, and go
on helpfully as we have been"
The man arose and walked impa-
tlently the length Of the room.
DO not let us be deceived by gla-
mour, John, we have both grown into
our independent ways; why, / am
too selfish now to consider your needs"
Among her flowers, few days later.
village neighbor found the illustra-
tor. She had always been proud Of
her small, white hands, so they We're
protected now by heavy gloves.
"Have you heard" the nelghbor
questioned "about John Craithorne--
the bachelor architect? Wen, he's
down with this terrible influenza and
the doctors say he's pretty bad. His
father, who was took to the hospital
with it yesterday, died this morning.
The houSekeepcr clean cleared out
scared to death of the disease; and
they can't coax a soul In 20 take care
a. him. Most everybody's busy with
their own home folks an it's too late
to take him to the hospital. If they
was room there, which they aln't,
The doctor was there three times
today and did what he could for Mr..
Craithorue. lie asked me to 90 in, hut
land got TO look out for my fam
lly."
Constance, the illustrator. tore the
gloves from her hands her face was
white; her ewes burned with light
, OF purpose Before the neighbor had
reached her own door. Constance was
az John Crnithorne'S bedside He did
not recognize her, but that did not
matter.
when the doctor came again. the
two labored together through the
night. and by morning the patient had
been given his chance. hopeful
chance il was Wan. disheyeled the
sick man looked up into the tenderly
transformed face of the woman.