The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-06-06
ENDS POSTER
-
BY SOPHIA 3. COHEN.

absence of five years she was coming
back to the little village where she was
born and had lived until the lure Of
the city grew too strong for her to re-
sist. Her heart beat quickly as she
thought Of the old folks and of Tom
Marvin.
Tom Marvin-hiS name brought up
long-forgotten memories. Would he
be the same? They had been COLI
rades in Millville and had faithfully
promised to write to each other when
she left. At first her letters had gone
and come quite regularly. Enid was
working hard. and soon her efforts at
painting gained recognition. Then,
with her triumphant success, came
harder work and gradual fOrgetful-
ness of the old Millville associations,
and their correspondence ceased alto
gether. Tom also was busy. She
heard vaguely that he was the life and
soul of the movement on foot to arouse
the sleepy, picturesque village of Mill
vile and make a busy, enterprising
town of it. She heard, too, that he
had been highly successful and was
now one of the leading citizens of the
town. A cold fear clutched at her
heart. Had he married?
Enid took a short vacation from her
work and during the time met Tom
only once. He had nodded to her q
perfunctory greeting and they had
passed on as casual acquaintance.
The next three weeks were busy ones
for Enid. The establishing Of her
studio left her no time to think Of
Toms GOODNESS. Finally the last
touches had been added and a neat
placard outside announced that Miss
Blair needs q model for war post
er." Many applicants came. but none
seemed to be just what she wanted.
Even Uncle Billy, the town patri-
arch, offered himself as a model, and
hobbled out of the studio very much
hurt at having been firmly refused in
spite Of all his pleading. He could not
seem to understand that what Enid
needed was a young man, upright and
strong, and poor old Billy was almost
ninety and bent double with rheuma-
tism.
After q month of anxious waiting,
Enid despaired and had almost decid-
ed to go back to the city, where she
could easily obtain model at an
hours notice. Then, at the beginning
Of the fifth week, as Enid was just
starting to pack, Tom Marvin walked
in with the placard under his arm.
Enid dropped the box she was hold
ing and stared.
"Er-Miss Blair" he began awkward
ly. "You need a model; maybe will
do?"
Enid thought she detected twinkle
Of laughter through his diffdence, and
Immediately regained her composure.
"Let me see," she said, deliberately,
and appraised him with cold profess
sional calm while he squirmed under
her impersonal gaze.
eyes, you'll do, Mr.. Marvin" she
said briskly, and Tom felt strangely.
unreasonably elated.
The sittings began Immediately, and
were a 'source OF pain and JOY to them
both. Tom thought Enid looked pref
tier than ever in her long smock as
she bent her fair head critically this
way and that to observe the effect OF
the poster, but he could not break
down the barrier Of reserve that stood
between them. And Enid could not
but notice how strong and manly Tom
had grown. So the sittings went on.
They spoke of many things, but never
of that which lay nearest the hearts OF
both. The poster grew, and the
splotches of color took on definite
form. Enid saw with joy that it was
far exceeding her anticipation, and in
her mind attributed this to her inspir-
ing model.
L Finally the poster was done. Tom
sat DULY for a moment when he re-
allied that there were to be no more
sittings. Then happy thought came
to him.
evil you sell that poster to me?"
he asked.
The abrupt words brought Enid out
of her reverie. She looked at him in
beWilderment.
'Will you sell that poster to mew he
repeated.
'sBut I intended to donate it for the
drive next week." she faltered.
Then she suddenly realized that she
would see him no more after she left
Millville. Why not keep the poster as
q remembrance?
''No, won't sell it to you," she add
ed somewhat fiercely.
'Why?" He stepped nearer.
Enid could keep the tears back no
longer.
"Can't you understand" she sobbed.
He did understand, and she was in
his arms Immediately.
'Enid, do you mean-?" A stified
"yes" from his shoulder told him all
he wished to know. There was no
need of explanations.