The Penn's Grove record., 1894-03-02
A MERE ACQUAINTANCE.

l. '"iLNA " VIVA ''N -
you did not come she observed,
lifting the small copper kettle from
the slender blue flame.
"Why did you wait one moment
cried Elsa.
She fingered somewhat over the
simple operations Of removing hel
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
mo"
mo? Laura, how could you? TIC
work all day at those illustrations
without eatingl Do you mean to say
you have had nothing at all since
breakfast"
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,
and from under an improyised drapery
of half a yard of old brocade brought
out a paper bag.
Their eyes met, and in a moment
both girls had broken into long shrleks
OF laughter, ending on Elsa's part in
Il half-strangled sob.
"Oh, Laura, l am afraid l 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 today"
Eyes"
Laura nodded.
with Mr.. Narian, l suppose"
Elsa only made a little additional
motion with her pretty head. Then:
"Oh, Laura, youdon't think there's
any harm in it, do you?" she pleaded,
Harm"
THAT | should have happened to
meet Mr.. Narian once or twice aud
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 he knew grandfather a
little and knows who l am, too, why
its different somehow. Don't you
think so?"
'tIn your case-no, 1 don't think
there is any harm-exactly."
Laura! You say that so curiously!
Don't you think Mr.. Varian isis a
-an-'
IAN honorable man? l hope So"
rejoined Laura, coloring in her turn
rapidly under her richdark skin. TN
any other case | should advise you to
be more careful"
"You're ALWAYS advising me to be
more careful. But l 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 a tone a tribe ag-
grieved,
I'm my case il is very different
was the short reply. ~ am not
pretty. You are"
There are times when you are
very, very handsome, Laura" said
Msa's soft voice with earnest convic-
ton.
But it was not quite half an hour
before ever up there, where the las5
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, a singular
sound attracted her, coming from the
other side of the oom Getting to
her feet she saw that Elsa was sob
bling, 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, Laura! But,
oh, / feel $3.50 unhappy and
wretched! l know I'm very, very
weak. But it's SO dreadful being SO
poor and living $685."
n warned You, you know, DEAR"
came Laura's quiet voice.
"Oh, l know, know! You are so
brave and strong and talented! But
/ don't believe l ever shall succeed,
and-and -"
There was a little pause, during
which Elsa's sohs grew full OF dreary
despair.
"You must go home, Elsa"
There was a protesting movement
of her palpitating little figure.
Eyes You must go back to youl
people, You are too tender, too deli
cate, too sensitive for this sort Of life.
You know l told you," the girl went
on a little YEARLY, 'that making
ones own living and striking out in
dependently for ones self was not
so easy as it might seem. II a girl
have a good home, even though it
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 nodding her head
with dreary sagacity. ''Youknow that
nothing would induce you to go back
70 the sort of life which l should
lead on the farm with crandfathep
and Aunt Polly. But you are differ,
ent-so different. Some day You will
surely succeed, whereas /"
Laura was silent a moment.
Sand Mr.. Varian?" 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 way.' breathed Elsa,
n 4 = 4 =
"Come in," called Laura a week
later.
The summary Invitation had evil
IDENTITY not been heard, for the knock
was repeated after Il discreet inter,
val.
This time Laura rose, and, pencils
in hand, opened the door herself,
II am very glad to see you, Mr..
Varian," she said graveiy, Come in, "
Oh the two it was not she who was
embarrassed, Laying down her pen
els she pushed a chairSlightly toward
him with tie gesture of a Queeh
NH Narian," she said, Il have
Known you but a short time. Prac.
tiCally We are strangers Yet Ithi X