Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-19

of her palpitating little figure.
"Ycs, you must 90 back to your
people. You are too tender, too deli
cate, too sensitive for this sort Of life.
You know l told YOU" the girl went
on, little wcarily, "hat making
ones own living and striking out in
dependently for ones self was not so
easy as it might seem. If girl has
good home, even though it were
ever so simple one. she is, per-
haps, safest and happiest in its shell
ter"
"You mean a girl like me-" said
Elsa, sitting up and nodding her head
with drcary sagacity. "You know
that nothing would induce you to go
back to the sort of life which should
lead on the farm with grandfather and
Aunt Polly. But you are different
Some day you will surely succeed,
whereas I"-
Laura was silent moment.
"And Mr.. Vurian?" she finally said.
She felt the presence of the blush on
the others cheek which she could not
see.
"Don't, don't! Don't speak of
him in-in that wayl" breathed
Elsa.
"Come in," calld Laura week
later.
The summary invitation had evil
dently not been heard, for the knock
was repeated after discreet interval.
This time Laura rose, and, pencils
in hand, opened the door herself.
81 am very glad to see you, Mr..
Varian,' she said, gravely. "Comc
in"
OF the two it was not she who was
embarrassed. Laying down her
pencils she pushed chair slightly
towards him with the gesture of u
queen
"Mr. Varian," she said, I have
known you but short time. Practi-
caly we are strangers. Yet think
we shall understand each other.
do you the credit of believing that |
can speak frankly to you. | asked
you to come here to see me for a
special reason, which shall broach at
once. You are aware" she concluded,
What Elsa-Miss IIart-has returned
to her homo and fricnds?"
"Iudeed? l had 10 idea Of it.
No."
Laura dropped her eyes for a mo-
ment.
"You make it more difficult for me
to say what | wished" she observed
in moment. "She has gone back to
friends because she was far too sens-
tive and delicate little creature to
face the hanl-to- mouth, struggling
existence of female art student sue
cessfully. She should never have at
tempted it. blame myself now, fol
love the child dearly. Still, hel
year of such experience as she has
known here would do her no harm
rather good, perhaps, were it not fol
one thing" and here those gray eyes
rested full upon the young man again
land with that you, Mr.. Varian, art
connected.
, .H?"
, The gray eyes flashed scornfully.
8 at is unworthy to dissemble !"cricC
Laura. off you have given that poo
1 child cause to think that you love her
, and have taught her to love you in re
| turn, there is 10 reason why yOl
should attempt so to conceal the fact
K "Pardon Inc, have been unneccssar
lily rude and hasty. But | am L sa'
: best friend, think. / know her very
8 thoroughly. Her happiness seems t.
have become, in some sense, my re-
/, sponsibilty since she left the SAT-
n shelter of her home TO be with met,
try the same life that | have tried
Q Mr.. Varian, believe Elsa is very un
happy now. AUDI
Q "And you think she is unhappy be
v cause l have trihed with her aflec
!. tions? Led her TO fix them upon m
Y when"--
0 "Of course, you are man of til
= world, Mr.. Varian, and Elsa is mer
little country girl" interrupted Laura
Z" with rapid utterance. Her case, some
:. how, did not seem so very clear afte
all. And strong and collected as sh
C was, she was growing strangely mel
d vous now.
= "But Elsa is worthy to be the wifi
of any man." she hurried on. "And
IL --she paused abruptly.
81 81 honor you more than can sa
ii for what | have seen of you in tn
III ast ten minutes" said Varian's voit
., at this juncture. "Fcw women woul
N have had such diroctncs', such loyalt
II to a friend, such courage. But thel
10 is mistake here. IL cannot MARI
to Miss Hart"
b. Laura raised her head. For
e. moment they measured each other.
Il. "You cannot marry"-
y "No. Because ! do not love he
IS | have looked upon her as a prett
is child-nothing more; and mindf,
's of her grandfather's kindness to II
the summer that was thrown fro
t, my horse when riding near his plac
. and laid up under his roof for week
" hayo tried to do what little con