Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-03-22
OUT OF BOHEMIA.

on the lllLSteu ldOIeJ RldnceQ up 1TOm
her brewing.
Il waited awhile for YOU, but as
you did not come" she observed
lifting the small copper kettle froD
the slender blue tame.
''Why did YOU wait one moments"
cried Elsa
She fingered somewhat over the
simple operations of removing her
gloves and putting up the books she
brought in. She presently gathered
herself together with an effort
Did you get any lunch for your
self?"
Laura was calmly slipping her tea
NO"
"NO? Laura, how could you? To
work all day at those illustrations
without eating! Do you mean TO say
you have had nothing at all since
breakfast"
Laura, instead of replying. cast q
circular glance about the room.
What became of the buns? We
bad some buns left, had we not?"
Elsa went 10 an ancient and some.
how picturesque chest of drawers,
duu llOLu uLN q iu uiDiOhlScu
Of half yard of old brocade brought
out paper bag,
Their eyes met, and in a moment
both girls had broken into long shrleks
Of laughter, ending on Elsa's part 10
half-strangled sob.
''Oh, Laura, l am afraid 1 can't
stand it much longer! 1t is $3.50
degrading"
Degrading"
Laura had consumed her bun and
was now gathering up the two jap
anese cups and saucers.
Did you lunch to-day"
YES"
Laura nodded.
With Mr Varian, l SUPPOSE"
Elsa only made a little additional
motion with her pretty head. Then:
'Oh, Laura, you don't thluk there's
any harm in it. do you?" she pleaded.
"Harm?"
That I should have happened tO
meet Mr.. Narian once or twice and
that he has asked me to take lunch
with him: You see, It is not as
though he were a complete stranger.
AS long as ne knew grandfather a
little and knows who | am, too why
its different somehow. Don't you
think so?"
in your case-no, don't think
there is any harm-exactly."
Laura. You say that so cuTiously!
Don't you think Mr. Varian isis 3
All"
IAN honorable man? l hope So, "
rejoined Laura, cOlor.ng in her turn
rapidly under her rich dark skin. In
anv other case 1 should advise you to
be more careful"
YOU'RE ALWAYS advising me to be
more careful. But 1 don't know any
one moIG independent or more care
less as to what other people may
think than Yourself" then remarked
the Younger girl in tJne a trife ag.
grieved,
In my case it is very different,
was the short reply II am not
pretty. You are"
There are times when you are
very, very handsome, Laura" said
Elsas soft voice with earnest couvic-
tion.
But it was not quite half an hour
before even up there, where the last
rays Of the summer twilight fingered
longest, 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 attracted her coming from the
other side of the room. Getting to
her feet she saw that Elsa was Sob
oing, with her face buried In the de-.
moralized upholstery Of the sofa led.
what is it?" said Laura very
gently and firmly. But already Elsa's
face was buried once more, and this
time upon the shoulders Of Laura's
gray stuff dress.
Nothing, nothing, Laural But,
oh. l feel $3.50 unhappy and
wretched! l know Pm very, very
weak. But it's so dreadful being SC
poor and living so-so-"
Il warned you, you know, dear, y
came Laura's quiet voice.
''Oh, l know, l know! You are SO
brave a1f strong and talented But
don't believe ever shall succeed,
and-and -"
There was a little pause, during
which EIsa's sobs grew full Of dreary
despair.
"You must 90 home, Elsa"
There was a L:Otesting movement
of her palpitating little Ggure.
"Yes You must 90 back tn youl
people. You are too tender, too dell
cate. too sensitive for this sort of life
You know l told you," the girl went
on a little wearily, THAT making
ones own living and striking out in
dependently for ones self was not
so easy as it might see /. If a girl
have good home, even though il
were so simple a one, she is, perhaps,
safest and happiest in its shelter"
You mean a girl like me-" said
Elsa, sitting up and ~ ling her head
with dreary sagacity. "YOuknow that
nothing would induce you to go back
to the sort of life which should
lead on the farm with grandfather
ana Aunt Polly. But you are differ
ent-so different Some day you will
surely succeed, whereas l.
Laura was silent a moment.
And Mr.. Narlan?" she finally said.
She felt the presence of the blush
On the others cheek which she coult
not see.
Don't don't! Don't speak of hir
1n-in tnat way!" breathed Elsa.
"Coms in," called Laura a wesl
ATha summary invitation had svi