The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-01-02

that lOng-lbSent one? Was 1T to SAT-
Iisfy herself once and for all that he
really had ceased to care? And then
The came. There was nothing unusual
about it II he, q successful artist, were
in the city; this hotel would be natur-
ally the place where he would dine.
Yet the heart of Jane beat almost to
suffocation, and she clasped her hands.
Tightly to control the emotion which.
surged within her. And, after all
lscame vague sense Of disappointment
Something was lacking about the man:
that had been there In the youthful.
long ago. Was It the bright air Of CON.
fdence which had pervaded his per-
s0nalit or what? Jane could not
tell. She only knew that his face was
white and haggard as from loss ,of
sleep, that his dark eyes burned rest
lessly.
"A sudden light Of recognition famed
for moment in the eyes which direct.
| II 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 Of
a grieved child as he rose and passed
from the room. He had remembered,
vet very evidently wished to see her
| no more. And past all the patient.
weary years this fact had power to
stab her with new and poignant
pain.
II he were ashamed to acknowledge
his old.time friend here, before them
all, Jack Gordon had changed.
She had still quite a few dollars left
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 cam
vas; the work was so truly his own.
In an art room It stood displayed, with
a ticket, "For Sale.'"'
Breathless eager, Jane fastened into
the store. II wish to buy that pic
ture," she said. with a fine disregard
for price. ... .5
Fifty dollars" announced the dealer,
and remarkably cheap for Mr.. Cor.
don's work. y
Jane closed her eyes In quick men,
tai calculation. "I'll 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
daz edly, counting the change In her
bag. She had just money enough to
take her to lower Hillcrest- she would
have to walk home from there. But
hope, like the berries, again forced its
bright way.
He must have rem mbered," 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 be back
in the old familiar room. And then
came ringing of the bell. .sIf - an
ticipated Jane; then, smiled at the
folly Of her thought. She waited
moment, nevertheless, to loosen softly
the waves Of her hair; 1t was so she
had worn It 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 James face
back to the picture.
on still live here?' he asked alb
ruptIy. 81
Sire nodded dumb1y. From the
suite you were registered in at the .ho-
+ tel, He said, ''as I saw you last night,
from the price YOU paid for my very
small picture, faDcfed, !" he waved an
arm about, that you had grown away
from t1ds, that yuS had perhaps i'm
sheritsd money
Jane spoke slowly II have no
money" she told Him
''ThenIr he said, and bitterness was
In his tome, ''you boaght the painting
out Of pity for, me-. Yon have heard
of my future: For MI these dfsconr-
aging years I've pressed dogged1y on.
refusing to- give in. FersistfnE fn my
foolish dream. ofs success. When L
ceased writing to, yuH It was because
Z could not bean To, knve you know Of
my failure, to. sacrifice your life to-
IA useless promise. When the great OPP
portunfy slioultl cgxne, and with It
success, then, I wuald retusn worth
lily to- you" The man parsed. ut /.
did not come, i" he added quietly. But
stronger than myself was the yearn-,
ing to. see, and learn Of you again. So
y came back. The picture was offered
as q last hops to defray present ex-s
speases. .fa
When I foaand your name to be that
so4 the purchaser, realized fully the
katni1fty ef my failure. Last night 4
wished to shrink away In my shabbi-s
ness, from your recognitio lion. : The.
hrrl-