Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-02-19
PAULA'S WAY
BY AGNES G. eRoGAN.

stuulO window on q rainy evening
looked down with a wistful smile into
the street. Her tall lonely neighbor
was stridlng along through the storm
10 the house doorway, his soft hat
shedding tiny rivulets of water, vari.
Gus paper bundles beneath one arm be-
tokening his bachelor supper.
The girl turned with a sigh to the
coy comfort Of her womanly appoint
ed room, the rose-colored light of the
shaded lamp, the blazing logs on the
neartli-0f what had been an Cld-tine
mansion.
Now the great house was given over
TO workers in the world of business. n
doctors office here. dentists there,
and on this particular high floor.
studios of various kinds.
Paula's own particular realm was q
music studio" She had come to the
teemlng city with high ambition. She
would be one Of the great musicians of
the day-and now little Paula had
grown to be content with her lot as
humble instructor.
The classes which came at regular
hours provided her with this small
home and the necessities of life, and
though the career Of brilliant promise
faded, still there was much to bring
her JOY. She loved every child who
climbed the steep stairs to receive her
instruction. She loved the old Irish
woman who came TO clean up morn
ings. Paula had even a smile for the
crotchety janitor.
Every soul in the old building loved
Paula, so how could the young Illus
traitor escape who moved in across the
hall? After he realized the intense
enjoyment the girls society gave him,
Jack Lanse determinedly denied him
self fro,. it. Who was he, in his self
imposed poverty, that he might seri-
ously care for any woman? Marriage
was as hopeless in his present circum-
stances as his chosen career was PROV
ing to be.
1t was Just as his shrewd, tiresome
Old uncle had prOphesied-if Jack per-
sisted in depending upon his drawings
as means of livelihood he would be
disappointed. Jack was disappointed !;
but still dOggedly determined in his
profession. He would be an ilustra-
tor. He knew that 1t was in him, so
the preferred place in his uncles bust
ness concern was refused and Jack
himself brought to the cold reality of
self-prepared meals in Sky-lghted
room.
His room looked unusually cherries
this rainy evening as he flung wide
the door, when suddenly an opposite
door opened and in the lamplight stood
the girl, against whom he had resolved
to close his heart.
Poor jacket" she said whimslcally.
"all wet and cold. You'd better come
In by my fire while yours is heating up.
And tell me, any luck today?'
"Thanks," Jack began stifiy. II will
be all right here"
You won't" interrupted Paula de-
cidedly, "and can't afford to let YOU
run the risk Of taking cold. Who would
look after you If you were sick? No
one but me-and I'm too busy"
paula, Paula" murmured Jack ten
Derby and smiled as he yielded.
There might be an opening with
Browns Magazine" he told her. seated
before the blazing logs, "if could
keep things going until got my start.
Jove! II only unc would give me
part of that legacy before he dies. Tn
In for the whole thing. you know, and
I'm not wishing ION dead men. But
now"
Paula nodded understandingly.
Il KNOW" she said, ats like old
Aunt Riah. I'm to be Aunt Riah's heir
some day. In the meantime she ignores
my existence and have to play scales
for my dinner"
The man rose abruptly.
paula" he said, "I'm going to give
up this striving fOr-what I thought
wanted most in the world. You see, I
want you now more than any career;
I'm going to work."
Don't" the girl begged of him.
wait Jackie, walt-awhile. I could
not let you give up such promise.
You've got to succeed with your tai
emit"
For Gays after it was the girl who
avoided her lover. The Irish woman
told Jack at last that Paula had gone
away. She would be back, she said,
very soon. Then 1t was that the unbe-
lievable happened: TO Jack came an
order for five thousand dollars signed
by his unCle's solicitor.
The lawyer stated that the donor
wished to remain unknown. Jack
chuckled gleefully. This was his
uncle's way, he reflected, of silently
yielding the point.
Jack could scarcely wait for Paula's
return, and when she came, his i'm
periOus wooing brushed all objection
aside.
They were married in the musical
studio" with the old Irish woman and