The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-17
OUT OF BOHEMIA.

ing the small copper kettle from the
slender blue fame.
"Why did you wait one moment?"
cried Elsa.
She fingered somewhat over the SIM
pie operations of removing her gloves
and putting up the books she brought
in. She presently gathered herself to-
gether with an effort.
did you get any lunch for your
selfP"
Laura was calmly slipping her tea.
@No."
"NoP Laura, how could ysuP To
work all day at those illustrations with
out eating! Do you mean to say you
have had nothing at all since break
fastP"
Laura, instead of replying, cast a
circular glance about the room.
"What became of the buns? We
had some buns left, had we not?"
Elsa went to an ancient and some
how picturesque chest of drawers, and
from under an improvised drapery of
half yard of old brocade brought out
paper bag.
Their eyes met, and in moment
both girls had broken into long shrieks
of laughter, ending on Elsa's part in a
half-stnngled sob.
"Oh, Laura, l am afraid l can't stand
it much longer! 1t is $3.50 degrad-
ing"
"Degrading?"
Laura had consumed her bun and
was now gathering up the two Japan
ese cups and saucers.
did you lunch today"
eyes.
Laura nodded.
with Mr.. Varian, I suppose?"
Elsa only made little additional
motion with her pretty head. Then:
"Oh, Laura, you don't think there's
any harm in it, do youP" she pleaded.
"Harmp"
"That I should have happened to
meet Mr.. Varian once or twice and
that he has asked me to take lunch
with himP You see, it is not as though
as he knew grandfather a little and
knows who l am, too, why-it's differ
ent, somehow. Don't you think SOP"
in your case-no, don't think
there is any harm exactly"
Laura! You say that so curiously!
Don't you think Mr.. Varian isis a.
an"
can honorable manP Ihope So" re-
joined Laura, coloring in her turn rap
idly under her rich dark skin. "1n
any other case should advise you to
be more careful.
you're always advising me to be
more careful. But I don't know any
one more independent or more. care
less as to what other people may think
than yourself" then remarked the
younger girl in tone a trifie ag-
grieved.
an my case it is very different. !" was
the short reply. 81 am not pretty.
You are"
@There are times when you are very,
very handsome, Laura, said Elsa's
soft voice with earnest conviction.
But it was not quite half an hour be-
fore even up there, where the last rays
of the summer twilight fingered long
est, Laura was obliged to push the
work from her. AS she did SO, waking
from the creative absorption in which
she had been lost, singular sound at
tracted her, coming from the other
side of the room. Getting to her feet
she saw that Elsa was sobbing, with
her face buried in the demoralized up
holstery of the sofa bed.
"What is it?" said Laura very gen.
tly and firmly. Bus already Elsa's
face was buried once more, and this
time upon the shoulders of Laura's
gray stuff dress. "Nothing, nothing,
Laura! But, oh, feel $3.50 unhap-
py and-wretched 1 know Pm very
very weak. But it's SO dreadful be.
ing SO poor and living $3.50"
"I warned you, you know, dear,
came Laura's quiet voice.
"Oh, / know, I know! You are sc
don't believe ever shall succeed, and
and"
There was a little pause, during
which Elsa's sobs grew full of dreary
despair.
"You must go home, Elsa"
There was protesting movement o
her palpitating little figure.
"Yes. You must go back to you
people. You are too tender, too deli
cate, too sensitive for this sort of life
You know I told you" the girl went OF
little YEARLY. "that making ones owl
living and striking out independent.
for ones self was not so easy as i
might seem. If girl have gooC
home, even though it were ever S,
simple one, she is, perhaps, safes
and happiest in its shelter"
/ "You mean girl like me-" saio
Elsa, sitting up and nodding her heat
with dreary sagacity. "You know tina
nothing would induce you to go bacl
to the sort of life which 1 should leat
on the farm with grandfather and Aun
Polly. But you are different-so dit
ferent Some day you will surely sue
ceed. whereas L"
Laura was silent a moment.
"And Mr.. Varian?" she finally said
She felt the presence of the blush OF
the others cheek which she could no
see.
"Don't, don't! Don't speak of hin
in-in that way!" breathed Elsa.
"Come in," called Laura a wee
later.
The summary invitation had ev
IDENTIFY not been heard, for the knoc
was repeated after discreet interva
This time Laura rose, and, pencil
in hand, opened the door herself.
al am very glad to see you, MI
Varian," she said gravely. "Come in.
Of the two it was not she who wa
embarrassed. Laying down her per
cils she pushed chair slightly tc
ward him with the gesture of
queen.
"Mr. Varian," she said, 81 hav
known you but a short time. Prat
tically we are strangers. Yet I thin
we shall understand each other.
you the credit of believing that I ca
speak frankly to you. l asked you
come here to see me for a special re;
son, which shall breach at once. Yo