The bee., 1908-04-16
FELICIA
BY Lulu Loretta Baker

Felicia was a riddle, anyway.
And she did not heave a sigh as she
left the stenes of the book, and sat
down to her solitary supper
I'm as hungry as a bear" she said,
half aloud.
80 am |. Don't be frightened said
voice at the open window. And, be
ing a riddle, she didn't scream though
no door about the house was closed,
and II was dusk
I'm alone" Her voice was steady,
though her blood was pounding her
veins. There isn't even dog here;
so II you wish to come In you will
have no trouble" She was even sar-
castle.
She filled a tumbler with milk from
a pitcher at her right, while he came
around to the door.
You're brave" he said. She did
not look up
"I'm very hospitable as well. Don't
hesitate a moment"
He sat opposite her, cycling with
real hunger the steaming mush pushed
over to him.
He bent his head. as II ashamed.
and ate eagerly.
She looked at him steadily for the
first time.
An awful fear. greater but different
from any fear of molestation, clutched
at her. Internationally she moved for
ward. her gaze so piercing that invol-
unfairly the mans intellectual eyes
fastened upon her as If hypnotized.
They stared at each other silently
for several seconds. the self-possesscd
slender girl and the wlde-eyed man.
do you think such method as this
Of obtaining data is entirely laudable :?
Some people are easily frightened"
Her eyes still on his. and coldly.
He jumped from his chair, over
throwing his glass, searching her face
Who are your"
Felicia Thrawley."
You are mott" rudely. "Felicia's
hair was brown yours is almost white,
and It is only six years. You can't
be-"
Indeed" was her only rejoinder.
The mans fingers trembled. He
tried to say something. but could not,
and shame overwhelmed him at
thought OF the great work he had neg
lected, becoming in the last two years
next TO a vagrant in reality, instead Of
posing as one to study the conditions
of his country. And Felicia! Felicia,
the clever, the girl whom he used to
imagine loved him at times; then as
ne sought her out, eluded him, seemed
/ to hate him.
How did you come here?" he
managed to say finally.
Il live here. I'm living the simple
life," she laughed a little. hunting
eggs, wadlng In the creek. cooking
when like. and incidentally filling a
small post as critic" She named a
welI.known publication.
He interrupted her with a cry Of
gladness for her strong, ambitious
womanhood. And seized by impulse
he did not try to fathom, he con-
fessed his neglect of the university
expectations Of him, him whose chair
there was as yet filled only temporarily
while he, the master at economics and
sociology, was tramping the world for
actual knowledge of its conditions
And he had come to love the life so
that he had deceived the trustees. his
friends and newspaperdom, revealing
in the gypsy's love of woods and hills
and hower-tangled paths. though they
thought him still diligent in the work
he set out to do.
Wasn't II, isn't 1t gloriousG
Felicia was radiant, the ever-charmine
Felicia.
"What?" he said, duly, as a child
who expects TO be scolded.
why, to be half pagan, forget
ting universities, dusty books and
problems"
you don't hate me for stopping
ITO live awhile?" she finished
scornfully. mo, I've dols as near the
same as l could, bel-g a woman
Chloe and Sambo ar4s here with me
delayed in the fields to night Father
is dead, you know" she added Will
her face paling "And / couldn't bear
TO stay in the town any longer"
you are alons-'
Except Re.rdeer; he is In tn
stable" Shs emiled, though her e.~'
were downcast. her mouth sad.
May | stay. then? Felicia, 1--we
you know ! would never have s.ayeC
away so long If your caprice Lad no
been so puzzling was afraie OF you
Fencia!" He had come around 20 hel
chair and was bending his lnxuriant
Uncovered head against the silvereC
satin OF her hair which foil like 4
halo around her young face.
She trembled; she who was sarcas
tic, self-possessed radiant, and sale
In quick succession;
This Is grand old place; all the
hills and trees and tangled woods sucl
gypsies as you and shall need. AnC
the university, which awaits you. Il
not far away" She pushed back hil
careless hair and hid her face agains
I a q ~.