The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-08-14
They Now Could
Work and Love
Their Own Way

20. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)

IL into my life-he is the best
= man ever knew" spoke Lesbia
Y Austin with force and sincerity.
HIM" commented her guardian
and distant relative, Ira Dunn. He had
/. his own ideas about Clement Rowe
the artist friend to whom Lesbia re-
t ferred.
Her eyes sparkled, her breath came
quickly, her ambition and anticipation
showed in her bonny face as he told
her of studio life in the city. Her IA
ther had been a noted t%ragedian. Per-
haps there was born in her the care
less, happy bohemian instinct.
It seemed as though the sun had de-
parted from the heavens the day that
Clement Rowe left Merton. He had
promised to return the next month.
There came a chatty, friendly letter
from Clement.
Clement Rowe did not return as he
had promised. Poor little spirit! She
grieved to think she was so soon for
gotten. Then a wonderful happening
took I'D her attention. An aunt had
died leaving her twenty-five thousand
dollars.
It was all in money, Ira Dunn told
her, and he developed a sudden new
interest in his charge.
Now Ira Dunn conceived a great
idea of keeping that money in the
family. He had a favorite nephew in
a n%eighboring town. Behold, within a
brief time, this Abner Bowen a guest
at the Dunn homestead, the chosen
sutton for tho hand Of the pretty little
heiressl
Lesbia treated the awkward, carroty-
haired youth with kindness, as her
gentle nature impelled her.
One day Abner Bowen blunderingly
proposed to Lesbia. SO palpably had
the speech he made been put into his
mouth by Ira Dunn that Lesbia
laughed outright at him. In a later
spirited interview with Mr.. Dunn she
fatty rejected his candidate and the
schemer set about forming new plots.
Then gradually there came to Les
bias mind an intense desire to make
of art her life endeavor. She made OF
her room a regular studio. But she
missed the expert hand that had
taught her the rudiments of a profes-
sion she was resolute to adopt.
+ And then one day came a remark
able discovery, that abruptly changed
all the impulses of her young life and
hurried the accomplishment of her
!soul's ambitions.
She was looking for an old scrap
book in the library when she came
across what appeared to be the PEN
jciled draft of a letter written by Mr..
Dunn. She could not take her eyes
from the sheet, as she saw that 1t
concerned Clement Rowe.
1t had apparently been written right
after Lesbia had answered the first
and only missive she had received
from the artist. 1t told Lesbia that
Clement had written a manly letter to
Dunn, confessing his love for her
and asking his permission to renew
the acquaintance.
The reply had been that Lesbia was
already selected for another; that she
would ultimately become an heiress,
and that if Clement persisted in his
attentions he would lie under the sus-
picion of being q mere fortune hunter.
'Poor, proud soul!' cried Lesbia,
her eyes scintillating with indigna-
ticn, mingled with reverence for the
man she had learned to esteem. And
he has loved me all the time! Oh, the
way is easy nowl AS TO the fortune
Her busy little mind mapped out
and carried out q speedy program.
Money should cease to be a barrier
between Clement and herself, she re-
solved.
The next morning Lesbia went alone
to the bank where her little fortune
was deposited. First she drew out a
few hundred dollars for her own per-
sonal use. Next, she sent half of the
remainder to an old aunt who had
groaned under the hard burden OF a
heavy mortgage on her home for many
years. The balance Lesbia donated to
q home for orphans in a near city.
"He can be no fortune hunter now !!
she whispered raptly to herself-"if he
really wants me-"
A note appraised Ira Dunn of what
his independent charge had done the
next day.
One day Clement Rowe received a
note from a Mrs. Ernest Moore. She
was the widow of an artist, and an
artist herself. AS he entered her
studio he CHANGED to glance past the
drapsries at an aproned figure stand
ing busy at work before an easel.
Miss AUSTIN" he fairly gasped,
land herel"
Eyes, for a month past she has
been my helper" replied Mrs. Moore,
with a happy smile. "She is making
good Roadway toward a point where
she can earn her living"
"Whatl she, an heiress?" challenged
Clement incredulously.
LET me tell you a story" said the
lady artist-and she did.
Now, then, Mr.. Rowe" she re-
- L~t-lkI-y ~ r 1s- 4 - lnouo