Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1912 — Her Art—Or Heart? [ARTICLE]

Her Art —Or Heart?

By CATHERINE COOPE

“Julia, just be sensible and reason this thing out with me.” Leon Wilson, astride a chair gazed over folded arms at the girl. “You want to follow a career and I haven’t a desire in the world to marry and never will have. Why not-go throughthe marriage ceremony with me? Come —be sensible.” “It was a perfectly detestable thing to do —to make such a will.” Julia was on the verge of tears. "Uncle Harry mifeht have known I would follow my art without his money!" '/‘That’s just it,” expostulated Leon. “The old man hated careers and he knew that you couldn’t study without money—and you can’t Julia. You can’t go abroad and study under good masters and all that sort of thing without money and if you are not married by the end of next week you are penniless and I get all the money. -It puts me in a mighty mean position—especially when we are such good pals.”* "I know—but —we don’t love each (other—that way,” cried Julia. “That’s the joy of the whole arranger ment.” Leon Jumped excitedly from his chair. “If we did, it would be goodby to career, goodby to mp trip around the world and goodby to the freedom we both love.” “You are putting it rather sensibly,” admitted Julia. “But —you may fall In love some day and then —” “Never! Living all my life with so perfect a specimen has made me indifferent from the ordinary woman." He turned frank, serious eyes toward her. “Uncle did me the greatest turn of my llife when he picked a little waif out iof the snow and gave her to me for ja sister. Do you think I am going jto let an old man’s foibles stand in ithe way of your desire? If you were !in love with some one and thinking iof marrying in time to save the monjay it would be All right, but you are not —are you?’’ , J. “No,” laughed Julia. * “Good! We can be married immediately as the will demands and then—we can drop each other at the first ;lamp post,” he added lightly; ; “It is a good idea," admitted Julia, (“but I still feel that I am stepping between you and happiness.” “Rot!” Leon’s tone satisfied her. “In another minute I would sell this beautiful old Wilson Manor and give the {money to a home for stray mice.’ Just {because Uncle Harry was jilted by a igirl who chose a career instead of thim and a family I see no reason why lhe should seek to cut you off.” “Perhaps he expected that clause in the will to make me settle down with a husband and family,” Julia laughed. ■' “Uncle was mistaken," Leon said. {“Then it’s settled! Julia, you are a Itrump!” . ; “So are you,” echoed Julia. “Settle the bargain!” He leaned over and they kissed each other —a kiss void of tremor. “Eloping would save a lot of embarrassment,” Leon suggested. “We can isend th? certificate back to the lawyer, and he will fix you up with the money.’ “Half of it,” corrected Julia. “But I didn’t know you were coming with me.” He raised his surprised eyebrows. “My dear Julia! Do you want all the villagers to know the conditions •of our marriage? Certainly I wdll escort you to Paris —I suppose that’s your destination —and from there I will start otj, my Joyous trip. We are both sick of this place—the conditions of the will are really a blessing to each of us. If the break hadn’t come this way we might have hung on at the old place for another decade." “Yes, and we couldn’.t have lived in this house together, anyway," laughed Julia, “and wouldn’t the place seem terrible —with one of us gone?” “It could be, Qur marriage is doubly sensible.” Leon gazed reminiscently about the old-fashioned sitting room. “We will leave old Mammy Jane in charge while we are away." He turned and faced Julia. “There is a full moon—are you game to elope tomorrow night? We can sail Saturday and J am sure you would rather get __a trousseau in Paris than in Wilsonville.” * “You forget- 1 -! don’t need a trousseau.” Leon looked uncomprehendingly at her, and a slow blush mounted her cheeks. “That’s he laughed, quickly. ’“Well, I must be off to get the rings. They are to be thick and broad so (that none of those French guys will jtry to flirt with my wife.” The word sounded strange in Julia’s ears and she would have called him back, but he was gone. The following evening they slipped off and were quietly married. A trip to France was filled with keen enjoyment nor was It marred by embarrassment at their unique position. It was more a continuation of the life they bad always led. The day ot parting arrived. It was raining and gloomy. Leon went to Julia’s studio in the Latin Quarter. “Remember, Juliar—if you are over lonesome or if you have the slightest desire to marry—just telegraph me. in the former case I will come to cheer you and in the second—we will look Into an annulment of our marriage. -It Is all very simple.” "You are an old dear,” murmured

Julia with tears" in her voice. “And promise you will do the same.” “Haven’t I already promised to love, honor and obey?” he chideATightly for the tears were very near. . .“Well, 1 must-be off. Come and kiss your husband goodby!” he commanded. Julia went and stood within the circle of his arms and he drew Tier close into them. “Now, be good to yourself—and study hard.” He turned and was gone. The girl, left alone, threw herself down on the couch and sobbed out her loneliness. Paris without Leon. Paris with only work ahead seemed a very dreadful place to Julia. She dried her tears and set to work with a will. When Leon left his wife he turned into all the booking offices he passed and purchased tickets to Rome and St. Petersburg and Berlin and all the places he had seen in his dreams for many years past. I was terrible to buy only one ticket. The pleasure of traveling had been diminished by one-half with no Julia to buy a ticket for. During The long journeying, Leon managed to pick up an occasional friend, but occasional traveling companions were few. Leon was desperately lonesome. There was no one" to rhapsodize with; there was no one to grumble with and —there was no one to talk home with.

Home and the thoughts of home becam’e an obsession. He longed for the great chair in the living room at Wilson Manor, his pipe and tobacco were always there. He thought many times of his big clean bed with its sheets that smelled of lavender. Most of all he wanted to sit in his own dining room and watch Julia pour him a cup of Mammy Jane’s black coffee. Some five or six weeks later, having come by the quickest route from the interior of Japan a man alighted .from the train as it steamed into the station at Wilsonvilie. The long station bus was discernible in the darkness and the man sprang eagerly toward it.

Before the lank horses started off another passenger crept into the bus. Wilson could see that It was a woman. .

The wheels rumbled on through the darkness and finally drew up at the huge entrance posts at WJlson Manor. The horses would Have turned. In, but Leon Wilson sprang lightly out-. “I’ll walk up through the grounds." He spoke shortly because the sight of the old tree lined drive had made speech hard. He swung off through the winding lane on which the trees cast weird shadows. When the lights from the living room gleamed through the foliage the refrain of “Home, Sweet Home," burst from his lips—nor did he hear the voice- that had called to him a second time. “Leon! Leon! Wait for me—l am afraid of the shadows!” His suitcase dropped on the roadway as he turned swiftly but a Tittle panting figure had tumbled into hi s arms. ——-— —— “Julia sweetheart!” he breathed. "How in the world—” He could only gaze down into her eyes. - “I dropped my bag down by the gate,” she panted, “so I could run fast enough to catch up with you—l came in the bus.” Her voice halted, but he still looked down at her. „“I couldn’t stand Paris any longer without—” _ ’ “Without —?” he prompted. “Leon,” she asked quickly, “do you love anyone?” “Yes,” he said, “I do.” He felt for the hand with its two rings and his own closed over it “Shall we go home now?" “The lights are beckoning—aren’t they, Leon?” - ...