Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-07


conspcuousy in love with each other,
7 am not aware that II is condition In which ex
cuses are properly made. Unquestonably they
would themselves, dare say, rudely resent anv ex-
tenuation of their conduct. And any one else, as
matters ultimately turned out, will not greatly be
inclined to lay at their doors the obsoescent charge
of indelioacv Cecea-Cecelia Francesca Puryis
and 1ucius Prettyman did not.
TO elaborate bit--Fanny Denton and Cecilia
Francesca shared together a battered apartment on
the roof of great gloomy, rambling structure, de-
voted to the housing Of courageously impecunious
art students I say on the roof since the case was
lust that9 they lived in an insecure-ooking story
which the thrifty owners of the building had hastily
constructed on the top of everything to contain
new lot more courageous and more impecunious
than the rest Somewhere down the canal-like halls
Fritz Allen also had studio and Lucius Pretty
another.
In the daytime the four of them worked at an art
school nearby. Cecilia did miniatures in very
ladyke and miniature way; Fanny inclined to
conventional designing; and as for Denton and Lu-
cius the former dashed out fictitious illustrations
for his fictitious imaginings, while Lucius toiled
worrisomely along in the ''life class" and brooded
deeply the possibilities Of large, depressing
devoted to the depicting of death scenes OF
famous generals and like inspiring subjects.
OF truth it cannot be said of Cecilia and Lu-
cius that they we're in the bloom of their youth,
though to be sure, Cecelias spirit was innocently
inexperienced to appalling degree, and she was
wont to cothe herself in garments of a Imply ar
tistic drapery suggesting in hue at least the Inn
mortal blithe Bottcell maidens. At any rate her
soul was youthful and her nature unselhsh and
beautiful. -
Lucius probably never was young. The nnblta-
BILE strands of his nature seemed never to Dosen.
His high, pale brow betokened in its concentrated
little knot of lines above the nose spirit furrowed
with the ploughshare Of Serious Effort. He
moved in and out among his fellows, gentle.
shabby, good-tempered abnormally shy creature
whom all loved, when they were not consumed with
a helpless rage at the ponderous precision OF his
mental and physical workings.
It was natural enough that the four Of them, liv-
ing together in the "Roost"-so they called the
parlous top story-should be much In each others
company Youthful art is not peculiarly solitary
profession; and moreover, their frank poverty, and
the franker attachment of Fritz to Fanny gave ad-
ditional strength to their bond.
To Cecilia the wooing of her roommate afford
ed first-hand observation Of what to her was the
most tbrillingly beautiful and complex emotion Of
the world. Fanny herself, being somewhat prac-
tca even in the affairs of her heaxt, did not en-
courage Cecelia's sentimental out-breathings So
it happened that Cecilia fell into the habit OF
ding the progress of the delicate footsteps pf love
to Lucius Prettyman.
The two men, Of evening, would drop into the
studio of the girls-a very proper apartment, to be
sure with the beds converted artessly into divans
and all the feminine evidences hid in the closet
Lucius really was brought in the beginning by
Fritz to divert Cecilia from the fascination of his
methods with Fanny. And 1t generally turned out
the two serious would early retire to the
kitchen-an elastic apartment made by the folding
of screen about little gas-stove-there to whis-
per and to cook up indigestibe messes for refresh
ment; while Fritz and Fanny-well, it really Is not
our province to disclose the sweet story of their
affections.
1t was in late October when Fanny briefly ap
prised Cecilia that she engaged to Fritz Cece-
liza kissed her rapturously. my dear, my DEAR"
she cried softly, isn't 1t wonderful"
20, don't know" remarked her friend sharpen
Ing a lead pencil judiciously. "Fritzie is nice
boy. And I'm sure he's very lucky to get me-"
Cecilia was staggered. "oh, Fanny! How can
you'll oh, it seems to me love is the most beauti-
full"
20, yes. everybody gets it sooner or later, they
say" broke in Fanny prosaically 'It takes an aw-
ful lot of your time, though. Heavens! l haven't
done thing in a month"
Dear. how you joke about it?" sighed
Cecilia.
Fanny looked up in surprise. Mercy, Cecilia,
It's no Joke. Lend me your gamboge, will your"
Poor Cecelia she too bewildered to reply.
That same night Fritz lounged into Prettymans
room. Lucius breeding solemnly over pipe
well, Lucy" Fritz let fall casually, the little
girl and have hit 1t Off"
II beg your pardon, said Lucius uncertainty.
Fanny and I, you know-engaged-'love true
love, undying,' grinned Fritz with appreciation.
Z Lucius rose with grave ceremony and put out his
hand. "Allen IL congratulate you, sir, she's
splendid woman. You are fortunate man.
Sure. Lucy that's the eye. She's a little peach
Guess wen do the trick all right"
Prettyman sat down heavily. He could not
grasp the insouciant Fritz's attitude
But" he hesitated laboriously.
you aren't going to cry about it. are you?" said
his friend briskly, lighting cigarette
Lucius seemed about TO reply; instead he lapsed
into mood OF impressive thoughtfulness After
long silence he stammered blushingly, "Ah--Allen
ah--did-you-ah-if you don't mind my ask
ing-was it-ah-hard to do?"