Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-16
JUDITH'S. CAREER
BY FLORENCE SHEDD.


face relaxed. For months he had been
hard ut IT, writing magazine articles,
with steady purpose to obliternte
other grlevous thoughts. He allowed
himself no surcease for this was the
only way.
The girl who had entered his life,
but to make of IT mockery, must be
forgotten If life was to be endured at
all. Repeatedly he had been warned
against her lure. Brothers and other
friends Of the small Bohemia in which
Bentley recently moved had testified
TO the girls unusual power of enchant-
ment and lack of heart. He had been
curious.
Why was it that eager and worthy
suitors were left always the losers,
while the girl herself continued heart
whole upon her chosen way? Bentley
doubted the inyincible charm Of which
they spoke, In his own strong conf
dence he desired TO meet the much
talked-of girl--and he did.
lie was disappointed Just at first.
She was not the "raving beauty he
had naturally expected. Rather Il
quiet little person, instead, with child
ishly appealing eyes and II sort of diff
fidence In her manner which made one
smile mentally ut her reputation for
conquest. l'
She was learning to draw at the art
school when Bentley met her, and she
told him, with shy, tlecting glance,
that her name was Judith earn The
quaintnesS of the name seemed some
way to suit her personality. BENTLEY
found 1t necessary 10 draw her out
concerning her work; she was eX-
tremely modest about her undoubtcd
skill. He marveled, in his own expert
ence, at her clever use of color; and
Judith cast on him n smile Of graft
tude.
After that, unaccountahly to him
self, he was often at her side resent
ing openly any other manly presence
which might forestall him there. He
was quite sure of the girl favoritism;
had he ever been known to fail where
his fancy would conquer? The blow,
therefore, was as bitter and unpXpect-
ed, when it came as it had been to his
fellows.
Bentley, successful writer and man
of the world. had asked the little Illus
traitor to marry him, and had been
quietly, and with no given reason, re.
fused. Injured pride forbade him to
urge the question even while his hear.
yenrned desperately. SO Bentley
packed up and went off to the forest.
His last article, most interesting
treatise on birds, finished and COM
plete, awaited but the Photographic
which We're to accompany II. The diff
ficulfy he would encounter procuring,
these life photographs added prpmisen
xest to his trip.
But the great green silence seemed
now everywhere eloquent of the cirls
magnetic presence. Never had sho
seemed so near or dear to him before.
And It was here that he had hoped t.
find forgetfulneSS
Disconsolately he placed his camera
and waited. The strange, mournful
murmur of the timid bird which he
sought would he knew, inform him or
its nearncSs. And at last, with his eyes
closed in sad retrOspection, bentley
heard that soft call In "A moment he
was on his feet, stealthily following
where the murmuring note led.
At break between the trees he
paused breathlessy. a girl stood be-
fore him there--the girl She looked
like nymph of the woods. in her
brown cotton dress. with the sun CLINT
ing down upon her bronZcd hair; her
red lips were parted in a smile. differ
ent some way from other smiles that
she had given him, and the laughter
CLINT of her eyes changed TO sweet
seriousness.
Judith" he whispered.
"You are surprised to see me-" she
answered softly. II will tell You why
| came here; it was To sketch from
lifc--the birds. 1t was your article
she added. (which gave to me the idea.
You discussed it with me at one time,
YOU will remember, and you were 50
anxious for its success
she seated herself on bank of pine
needles and motiOncd him to her side.
Then hastily she unwrapped port
folio.
There was the timid bird of the
marshes which YOU so feared you could
not get" she went on. "Wcll, here Is
my sketch of the mother. | had such
Il time learning her paintivc call that
! might coax the young from their
hiding. And here"
Bentley, leaning forward, gazed I'M
believing into the girls face.
"You came out here" he interrupts
ed "and you have been doing I'LL this
--why?"
The girl rested her curly head
against the tree ana raised her appeal
ing eyes to his.
"For your sake" she answered sim
ply. II also wished for your success,
because, you see--l love YOU
"You sent me away" Bentley said,
huskily.
81 did not want to love you she
explained Long ago ] decided upon
nm artistic career in place of domes'
.,oi,v Ga I Wo,lll not listen TO love