The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-09-26
An ALIEN u BOHEMIA.
BY HELEN r. HUNTINGTON.


Ioa sc = aspezdabge.= she sad
vita szz4ilz zzd fleeing GAME 1.
so11er lite figure Il orr right. Won't
.ou szT something 70 little Mrs. Bor-
ing for E1ez she : quite impossible, Of
course but her husband Is the man
most talked about Just now. / had to
invite her. yoe know
Mrs. Loring vas scanning the sea of
eager. smiling faces around her with an
anxious gaze that seemed 10 go beyond
the present into the possible future.
She smiled brightly when Madam intro
dneed me. and extended an ili-gloYed
hand with a murfnur Of PLEASED 10
meet YOU and after thai Iapsea into
timid yeas and nays which left me no
choice but talk. Yes, plainly. she was
impossible TO madam's eoterie. She was
diffident almost 10 awlkNardness; She
vore what tradespeople describe as
good clothes OF the Atwood Variety
made after painfully defective aimili
tude Of the prevailing fashion, which
brought out all the imperfections OF
her thin little figure. There was no
vulgar display. only general unfitness.
Mention Of her husband brought n
faint flush to her tired face.
THAT is he" she said, nodding
toward a tall. fair man with a frank.
almost boyish face, fairly surrounded
by group of fashionable men and
women.
lie Is making an enviab1e reputa-
tioH in literature | remarked at ran
dom. feeling somehow that she had
very small part in his triumphs. you
must feel very proud of his success.
"Oh, il gives me such pleasure Just
TO hear people talk of him. she an
swered, Frightening into a sembIance 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 next saw her Senior Ferada of the
foreign legation, was guiding her
through the human maze, his handsome
head bowed to catch her timid muir
nlnrs
| 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 1t pleases
me just to hear people talk of him."
Six months after that night at madam's
the news of Mrs. Lorings sudden dis
appearance gave society little trelnor
Ct surprise. 1t was rumored also that
she had deliberately left her husband
and as he was a very popular and sue
cessful man, society sympathzed deep
~, and helped him to forget his sorrow.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Loring's name was
llotted out, and the world went its ae-
cusiomed gait.
During the Lenten season this year
society found time and inclination to
distribute flowers in the hospitals; and
aa we bad great quantity of flowers of
on ultra-fashionable wedding. | 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 IA.
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 way that was goo1 10 re-
member long after.
The next day received little note
written - tlie ess4.i8 pei. iiaii,i OF
pninstaking schoolgirl, requesting me
10 call at the hospital on the following
afternoon during visiting hours. 1t was
signed in holder hand by n nurse of
ward A.
ut was little Miss Ely who wrote
you" the nurse explained. when 7 ar
peared. "she begged so hard to have
you come once more. The poor little
THU is 50 sweet and patient we hadn't
n. art to refuse; she never has any.
on, ~ see her"
What is her irouble?7 I asked, try
Ing vainly to recall Miss Ely.
Consumption it's last stages. She
cannot possibly recover. II Is only =
question IF days. perhaps hours"
a little figure propped against
snowy pillows leaned forward ex
pectantiy as I entered. A big crimson
rose nodded dangerously at her
breast, as il had so lately nodded at
bridal altar.
I'm afraid madame does not rcuen-
Der me-" she said. as she smiled ard
pressed my hand with feeble warmth.
will you forgive me for troubling you
again2 | want so much to hear OF
friend whom ! think you know. Do yon
remember Mrs. Loring?"
! Immediately recognized the littls
patient face. with its big. searching
eyes and the swift. proud smile.
Il know ] cannot live long" she be-
gan. as il apologizing for her very ex-
istenee. land IL doesn't matter now.
They DO not know here who am nr
any part of my life, and / did not mean
10 tell anyone; but I want so much to
hear Of my husband once more before
I die Won't you tell me OF him2 You
cannot know how have longed 10 hear
OF him. You are not angry that ask
yosf"