The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-12-03
A Little Bohemian.
BY AIDA.

BY AIDA.
Ding-dong, ding-dong, sounded the bell
of the Carlsville Academy. At the sound,
thirty-five bright pupils went into the
school house. 1t was October and the
day was rather cool. After the scholars
had passed in, Iarose and followed. They
took their places in a calm, dignified
manner and resumed their studies.
had been in feeble health and was visit
ing Mrs. Dolange, the principal of the
academy. [ took seat by an open win
dow and idly began to scan the faces
around me. A tall, slender girl on my
right attracted me strangely. She sat
bolt upright in her seat, her eyes fixed
intently on the book before her. She
was singularly pale, the palor seemingly
to be increased by her jet-black hair and
sweeping lashes. Her eyes were literally
green and had swapping expression,
and her scornful, unsmiling lips hid a row
of exquisite teeth. She was Juanita APP
pleton, the adopted daughter OF Dr. APP
pleton, of a neighboring town. She
looked about eighteen, and was neatly
dressed in dark-brown. She did not
raise her eyes from the book during study
hours, not even when careless youth
dropped slate with loud bang. Some
days afterwards / had an opportunity to
converse with Juanita. | had been to
to the city, and was hurrying homeward,
when, in my haste and the gathering
gloom, brushed against slender figure
enveloped in long circular. She started
and turned around, and | recognized
Juanita
"Whyl Miss Rebston" she cried with
her short peculiar laugh; who'd thought
of meeting you here"
II was out shopping and was hurryihg
home, = replied.
Imagine my delight to be sent to the
city on an errand by Miss Winchester"
she said
is it, then, great treat for you to be
out?" / asked
"Alone? Yes" she replied Gin fact,
| hate to be indoors. The life of a Gypsy
would suit me-. ~
"You are quite a Bohemian in your
TASTE" replied.
''Oh, my mother was a Bohemian
she said, with the grandest Indifference.
81 am an orphan without kith or kin to
my knowledge" Here our conversation
was at an end, for we had arrived at our
destination.
l was to spend three weeks with Mrs.
Dolange, for she and | were old school
friends. / was an orphan too, and strug
Cling along contentedly in this world as
a dressmaker, and was what the world
styles cold maid" being thirty-two.
1t was the custom for the scholars to
rise early and walk around the extensive
grounds for little exercise before break
fast, and so the next morning, when /
found it yet twenty-five minutes before
breakfast when / came down, took up
my needlework and passed out of doors.
The scholars were collected in groups,
amusing themselves or conversing, and
several boys were playing ball. Ipassed
on into the vine-covered summer house
and seated myself. | saw Juanita no
where, but l had not been seated long
when l heard footsteps and looking up
saw Juanita pass close by. She went
short ways from me to an old poplar
tree, under which she stopped down and
gathered up the bright hued leaves, care
fully placing them in book. She looked
so quietly happy that / did not care to
interrupt her. Presently one of the
scholars, a tall, delicately handsome
youth of eighteen, came up to her. She
merely raised her head and said "Good
morning." and then resumed her occu-
patton.
"May help you, Nitan' he asked inn
ploringly.
"No! prefer to do it myself, she said
sharply. He Redeemed, and for moment
was confused, but recovering himself he
offered her boquet of lovely geraniums,
saying;
'I got these purposely for you; won't
you accept them? She raised her head
and glanced scrutinizingly at the flowers,
then, grasping the boqUet, she threw it
in neighboring meadow. Without
word she turned and left. Fred Murray
was too astonished to speak. He stood
stock still where she left him, looking
ruefully on the ground till the bell rang,
and then he went away, and l followed
at safe distance, not wishing them to
know had been an observer. For the
next few days saw little of her; she
studded hard. One day | found her
seated under gnarled old oak, com
pletely buried in English grammer. |
interrupted her with ''good morning."
She looked up and smiled good natured-
ly, at the same time making room for me
by her side. "You are very studious,