Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-05
IN BOHEMIA.
[Copyright, 1s05.l

They called him Willie Wallie," and he tried to be an artist. There was quite littlc colony of artists struggling and starv- ing and feasting now and then together. Bess Nolan was one of them. If she hadn't becn woman, she would have won her way more promptly, for she certainly could draw.
 One day Wallace met Apgar, an engraTe er who had waxed rich.
 "Whero arc you livipg?" asked Apgar.
 Ion the west side.
 "Come down and take a room in my house. We are going to the country for the summer. It won't cost you a cent, and you can have the whole house. I don't like to leave it alOne.'
 Wallace accepted the offer, and there he worked on his water color, He called it Fishing" and it really seemed to him now and then he could see the rushes sway with the swing of the river current.
 He finished it and took it to Abbott's, on Broadway. They told him he might leave it, but they had not heard of him. There was no encouragement.
 Then he went back and drew details of shipping and architecture and cursed the whole unproductive and uncongenial busi- ness.
 When he made a sal?, he couldn't collect the money until the first of the month, and he was hungry. He went back to Ap- gar's house and looked in the larder. There was crock of Indian meal. He ate mush three times day and finished an other drawing. He took it to another house, and they told him he could have the money as soon as the cashier came back
 He stood out on the pavement whistling and whipping his trouser leg with a cane, For he looked the dandy, even when he wondered how there could be so many good things on one side of Delmonico's window and so few on tho other.
 Bess Nolan came along, and he greeted her.
 "Take me somewhere to luncheon, said Bess, for his prosperous appearance de- cCived her.
 "Got a house over on Second avenue" said Wallace right down by St. Marks church. Come home with me and try one of my boiled dinners.
 "Good!'' cried Bess. What a lark Got housc Well, we'll But I am due at Thurber's at 7 The society meets there tonight, you know.'
 "Oh, we will bo through by 7," said Wallace rcassuringly. He had lost all thought of tho embarrassment. Being bohemian, he began to see the fun of it.
 He seated Bess in the parlor, where he could call through to her as he hustled about the kitchen and dining room. She wanted to help, but he drew tho carving knife and forbade her approach.
 They had a jolly time visiting at long range She wanted box of crayons they had both seen at Abbott's, but she couldn't afford it yct.
 "Como on," called Wallace. "Dinncr's ready
 She came out laughing It was delight fully jolly.
 "Why, Waffle, didn't know you could cook, she was saying as he ushcrcd her to a seat.
 Well, you shall escape that knowledge no longer. Will you have some mush, or''- and he hesitated, looking at her sobCrly.
 She took mush. When they had each eaten a bowlful, served with milk, which the grocer still sent on Apgar's account, Wallace hustled about and cleared the table as if his real dinner was now ready for serving.
 "Havc some of the fried mush, BeSs, or''- And he looked at her again, a slab of the edible poised on a spoon "Or what, now?'' demanded Bcss, brave enough to see through everything. "Or water" replied her host, dropping tho spoon and grlsping the pitcher. Then they both laughed heartily. "Oh, Waffle, and you call this a dinner! I never dreamed. Come on; we'll get q dinner"
 "Why, don't you ljko''- he began, but she Silenccd him.
 "Ncvcr mind. This fare doesn't draw | we'll Come on." She found his hat and her own, and they l went, happy as larks, toa decent rcfcctnly. "INe got lots of money" she said as | they gave their orders. "Don't you want to borrow"
 mt st Ia fitTl,t itry hnr A man doesn't like to be under money obligations to a woman, even in Bohemia. Some one at the next table bowed to | Bess.
 Manager at Abbott's," she remarked | by way of explanation, for Wallacc's back was toward her acquaintance | "Doing anything in water colors Miss | Nolan?' asked tho manager. Nothing much.'
 thing called Fishing for S40A,ctds and moss banks and all that sort of thing. Oh, how arc you, Wallacc?' 1 Well, thank you, ," said the artist, nev- CT changing jot of color or manner. "Say, what's the price of that box oi crayons was looking at the other day?'
 "Twelve dollars, if it isn't sold. Great demand for those things just now.'
 ''Why can't you send for it now, before ! UHc SGOFC Clt)ScS! The manager did. Somehow Wallace was so dominant it never occurred to him to decline.
 | "Chargc it to my account, " said Wal lace when the package was placed be- ,r, him, and ho looked across the table at sub | missivc BcSs.
 ''Wallie, you re a great man." was hr1 l low voiced comment. ''Onc would thinf | you wcro worth millions"
 II am worth millions if the right ont thinks so, he replied. ! 1 saw William Wallace a few days ago | No ono calls him Willie now. In fact, the, do not call him at all--thcy address him. But he doesn't look a whit more dappe or treat the magnatcs of the picture store a whit more lOttily now when he rrall, l has a house of his own and d strong ho, down town and q wife who loves drawin; than he did in the old days when he wen hungry, faultlr>s in dress, Spotlrss ill lin en, but half fainting for q dinner bette than COrnmeal muSh. | LE Roy ARMSTRONG.
 Her Fishing Feats.
 Miss Fly Rod'' is the fetching namt ! I~rx lD1; oe IT.;