The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-10-16
AN ALIEN IN BOHEMIA.
BY HELEN +. HUNTINGTON.

Madam's gloved finger tips touched
my arm lingeringiy.
You are SO dependable" she said,
with smile and feeting glance at a
somber little figure at our right. won't
you say something to little Mrs. Lor-
ing for me? She is quite impossible, of
course; but her husband is the man
most talked about just now. 1 had to
invite her, you know"
Mrs. Loring was scanning the sea of
| eager smiling faces around her with an
anxious gaze that seemed to go beyond
| the present into the possible future.
| She smiled brightly when Madam intro
| duced me, and extended an ill-gloved
hand with murmur of PLEASED to
meet you," and after that lapsed into
timid yeas and nays" which left me no
choice but talk. Yes, plainly, she was
impossible to madam's coterie. She was
diffdent almost to awkwardness; she
wore what tradespeople describe as
"good clothes of the all-wool variety"
made after painfully defective simili-
tude of the prevailing fashion, which
brought out all the imperfections of
her thin little figure. There was no
vulgar display, only general unftness.
Mention of her husband brought
faint flush to her tired face.
"That is he," she said, nodding
| toward tall, fair man with frank,
almost boyish face, fairly surrounded
| by a group of fashionable men and
| women.
'IIe is making an enviable roputa-
| tion in literature" remarked at ran
| dom, feeling somehow that she had
| very small part in his triumphs. you
must feel very plNud of his success.
ooh, it gives me such pleasure just
to hear people talk of him!" she an
swered, Frightening into a semblance of
absolute beauty. sometimes people
who don't know me point him out to
me with praises and eager pride of mere
acquaintance"
Soon the moving throng divided US.
When nextT saw her Senor Ferada, of the
foreign legation, was guiding her
through the human maze, his handsome
head bowed to catch her timid muir
murs.
I did not see her again, but met her
husband requently-always in the
midst Of a gay, brilliant throng of wor-
shipers-and every time / saw him
seemed to see little plain face with
big, shining eyes, and hear delighted
exclamation of: "Oh, how it pleases
me just to hear people talk of him!"
Six months after that night at madam's
the news of Mrs. Loring's sudden dis
appearance gave society little tremor
Of surprise. 1t was rumored also that
she had deliberately left her husband;
and as he was n very popular and sue
cessful man, society sympathized deep
| ly, and helped him to forget his sorrow.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Loring's name was
| hlotted out, and the world went it's ac-
customed gait.
During the Lenten season this year
society found time and inclination to
distribute flowers in the hospitals; and
as we had a great quantity of flowers of
an ultra-fashionable wedding, I took
the surplus to a hospital across the river,
where there is less noise and show but
just as much trouble as in New York
Gratitude and love, whose customs are
| unchanged since the foundation of the
| world, manifested themselves with pa
| thetic tenderness among the sick and
| discouraged. / knew no one; but after
an hour or so in the wards felt the
| human bond that makes the whole
world kin in q way that was good TO re-
member long after.
The next day [ received little note
written in the cramped, vertical hand of
painstalling schoolgirl, requesting me
to call at the hospital on the following
afternoon during visiting hours. twas
signed in bolder hand by nurse of
| ward A.
SIT was little Miss Ely who wrote
you," the nurse explained, when ap-
peared "She begged so hard to have
| you come once more. The poor little
thing is so sweet and patient we hadn't
| the heart to refuse; she never has any
| one to see her"
what is her trouble?" l asked, try
ing vainly to recall Miss Ely.
"Consumption-in its last stages. She
cannot possibly recover. 1t is only
question of days, perhaps hours"
A little figure propped against
snowy pillows leaned forward eX-
pectantly as 1 entered. A big crimson
rose nodded dangerously at her
breast, as it had so lately nodded at
| bridal altar.
I'm afraid madame does not remem-
Der me-" she said, as she smiled and
pressed my hand with feeble warmth.
"Will you forgive me for troubling you
again? l want so much to hear of
friend whom l think you know. Do You
remember Mrs. Loring?"
l Immediately recognized the little
| patient face, with its big, searching
eyes and the swift, proud smile.
II know 1 cannot live long," she be-
| gan, as if apoiogizing for her very ex-
istence, land it doesn't matter now.
They do not know here who 1 am or
any part of my life, and / did not mean
| to tell anyone; but want so much to
hear of my husband once more before
! die. Won't you tell ME of him? You
cannot know how have longed to hear
| of him. You are not angry that ask
you?"
mo, oh, no." answered. and claspei
the hand little closer.
"Do you ever see him or speak to
him?" she asked, eagerly, the hectic
| flush deepening in her wasted cheeks
and her eyes shining like stars.
"Yes, l see him often. People call
him great genius, and he has every.
thing to make him happy"
"Thanll God! Oh, how glad am
how glad!" Tears rose in her dark
| briob+ ax,ac and trioEIad down in hic