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

Elsa came in with nushed checks
and brilliant eyes.
Laura, bending over a spirit lamr
Oh the Uttered table, glanced up from
her brewing.
~ waited awhile for you, but az
YOU did not come"-sho observed
lifting the small copper kettle from
the slender blue flame.
"Why did you wait one momentT
cried Elsa.
She fingered somewhat over th'
simple operations of removing he
gloves and putting up the books sh'
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? II
work all day without eating! DO yo'
mean to say that you have had moth
ing at all since breakfaslP'
Laura, instead of replying, cast
circular glance about the room.
"What became of the buns? w
had some buns left, had we nOt?'
Elsa went to an ancient and some
what picturesque chest of drawers
and from under an improvised draper
of half yard of old brocade brougl
out paper bag.
Their eyes met, and in momer
both girls had broken into long shrek
of laughter, ending on Elsa's pal
with half-strangled sob.
"Oh, Laura. Pm afraid can
stand it much longerl It's $3.50 dc
grading"
"Degrading p
Laura had consumed her bun an
was now gathering up the two Japal
csc cups and saucers.
"Did you lunch to-day"
Yes"
"With Mr.. Varian, l suppose3"
Elsa only made little motion vii
her pretty head. Then:
"Oh, Laura, you don't think there
any harm in it, do you?" she pleade
"Harm?"
"That l should have happened
meet Mr.. Varian once or twice, al
that he has asked me to take lun,
with him? You see, it is not
though he were a perfect strange
As long as lie knew grandfather
little and knows who | am, too, wi
its different, somehow. Don't yt
think so?'
"In your case-no, don't ,hil
there is any harm-exactly."
, "Laurar, You say that so curiou
ly! Don't you think Mr.. Varian
is a-an''-
can honorable man? | hope so
rejoined Laura, coloring in her tu
= rapidly under her rich, dark ski
"In any other case l should advi
you to be more careful"
, "You're always advising me to
: more careful, but l don't know al
, one more Independent or more Cal
> less as to what other people IN
think than YOURSELF" remarked [
; younger girl, in tone trihe a
a grieved.
i "In my case it is very differeu,
: was the short reply. 81 am not prett
. You are"
b "Therc are times when you q
h very, very handsome, Laura" 81
y Elsa's soft voice, with earnest conv
ton.
4 But it was not quite half an he
: before, even up there, where the II
', rays of the summer twilight linger
d longest, Laura was obliged TO pu
y the work from her. AS she did
). waking from the creative absorpti
:. in which she had been lost, a singu
s sound attracted her, coming from
+ outer side of the room. Getting
Q her feet she saw that Elsa was s,
- !, bing, with her face buried in the
8 moralized upholstery Of the sofa b.
u "What is itp" said Laura, v,
}. gently and firmly. But already Els
IS face was buried once more, and I
it time upon the shoulders Of Laur
gray stuff dress.
=, "Nolhing, nothing, Laura! B
u oh! l feel $3.50 unhappy apt
is wretched! l know Pm very, W
10 weak. But ifs so dreadful being
n, poor and living so-so"-
N II warned you, you know, dea
n came Laura's quiet voice.
10 ooh, know, l know! You are
~ brave and strong and talentedl Bl
ID ID don't believe l ever shall succeed, 1
ID -and"-
ne There was little pause, dur
| II, all L.