The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-26

am bition for mel oh, / know It Just
broke his heart and / can't bear it!
He's working now and studying nights
to be mechanical engineer hardly
We'll" asked Aunt Blanca graveiy.
what do you want me to do as a
June offering?"
This answered the girl with
bright promptness; rent a studio for
Rolf, fit it up, easel, paints, everything
and give him a years tuition with
some great artist! Give my boy his
old work again, what he Lowest Re-
viye his ambition, oh, Aunt Blanca.
will YOU give him this chance? All his
life he will be grateful to you and 1
will be too! We can rent the studio
and fit it up without him knowing it
and then spring the whole thing on
him as surprise! oh, will you, Aunt
Blanca ?"
The old lady -hesitated. finally, I'M
able to withstand the girls beseeching
eyes. she consented. Under one con-
dition. that 1 do it all myself. make
all the arrangements and buy the fur
niture for the studio apartment"
"Of course 1 won't butt in at all:
I'm too happy. too deliriously happy!
Think of Rolls face when l tell him
that a fairy godmother has restored
him to his rightful placei"
A few weeks later Rolf Basset was
invited to Aunt Blanca's for the week
eno. Rolf was to arrive late Satur-
day afternoon and the ladies rolled
the tea table out on the leafy porch.
Wen first have tea" chirped Car
lotta kissing her smiling aunt, and
then I'll tell himl"
But she could not keep her burning
! secret that long. Rolf, very brown
and hearty looking, had scarcely seat
! ed himself when his fiancee said
archly, Rolf. what would you say if
somebody told you that you could re-
turn to your art. go into a lovely stu
do, study for year with a master.
/ in a word, be a fairy godmother to
your" She did not dare look at him,
but her eyes. sparkling with anticipa-
ton. held Aunt Blanca's attention.
What I'd say?" drawled Rolf in
differently. biting into a sally lunn
with great relish-'Tll say that the
fairy godmother was a big fool. Ha!
Ha! Yes. big fool. throwing away
her money! And he took another
big bite of buttered muffin, not seeing
girls face suddenly grow white.
Yes he continued, innocent of the
castles he was smashing, I'D say there
are just about enough people trying
to be artistic in this world and the
quicker a man realizes that he'll never
be a genius and turns to something
else for his vocation. the better! Why,
Carlotta, never slept so well in my
life since have been doing real
work nor have ever earned SO much
I
prospects, Not that I'll never paint
again. OF course 1 will, but in vaca-
ton time, and for my own pleasure
hy-Carlotta-what is the matter ~
He was at her side in an instant.
| Carlotta sobbed; she turned from
her beloved and flung herself in Aunt
fBlanca's arms. "Oh. he is just like
the resti Another June offering a
failure!" In vain Aunt Blanca tried
to soothe her.
Rolf ca nc close, slowly compre-
bending. Aunt Blanca" he begged
almost desperately. what does this
mean? Did Carlotta or did you fit up
a studio for me? And I spoiled every
thing %
eyes. yes" sobbed istfiancee quick
ly. looking up at lask everything is
waiting, ready and"
Here her aunt interrupted. II have
! a. confession to make. Carlotta. In
the last minutes 1 got cold feet. !
Cancelled the furniture order and the
studio. had my doubts whether
| Rolf. after having tasted the, inde-
/ pendence of business life and income,
would care to go into your scheme.
So, Car.otta,'' and the girl was smiling
| thru her tears. the June offering is
still to be made. If you two will ac-
cept little bungalow as a future we'd
ding present-but 1 won't choose it,;
I'll not even help select it, so that
afterward if the cellar is damp or the
neighbors are noisy you CAN'T"
They smothered the rest with kisses.
Copyright. 1920, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)