The Huttig news., 1908-09-12
FELICIA
By Lulu Loretta Baker

l ternately. Corn mush and a French classic are somewhat divergent. but Felicia was a riddle, anyway.
 And she did not heave a sigh as she left the scenes of the book, and sat down to her solitary supper. I'm as hungry as bear" she said, half aloud
 50 am I. Don't be frightened said a voice at the open window. And, be- 1 ing riddle, she didn't scream, though no door about the house was closed, and it was dusk.
 I'm alone Her voice was steady, though her blood was pounding her veins. There isn't even a dog here; so if you wish to come in you will have no trouble" She was even sar- castle
 She filled tumher with milk from a pitcher at her right, while he came around to the door
 You're bfave, he said She did not look up
 I'm very hosptable as well. Don't hesitate moment.
 He sat opposite her, eyeing with | real hunger lHe SledlHluS muSH puSHeu over to him.
 He bent his head, as if 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. Uaconsciously she moved for o,d ,,;a bot untalily the mans intellectual eyes Fastened upon her as if hypnotized
 They stared at each other silently for several seconds, the self-possessed slender girl and the wide-eyed man.
 Do you think such method as this of obtaining data is entirely laudable? Some people are easily frightened. Her eyes still OF his, and coldly.
 He jumped from his chair, over throwing his glass, searching her face Who are you?"
 Felicia Thrawley."
 You are not" rudely. 'Felicia's hair was brown yours is almost white, and it is only six years. You can't be"
 ilutco+E was l1i Ohig lcJOlAuti
 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 he clever. the girl whom he used to imagine loved him at times then as he sought her out, eluded him. seemed to hate him.
 "HCw did you come here?" he managed to say finally.
 T live here. I'm living the simple life" she laughed little, hunting eggs, wading in the creek, cooking when I like, and incidentally filling q small post as critic" She named a we'll known publication.
 He interrupted her with a cry of gladness for her strong, ambitious wonlanhood. And seized by impulse he did not try to fathom, he con fessed his neglect of the universitys expectations of him, him whose chair there was as yet filled only temporarily while he, the master at economies and sociology, was tramping the world for actual knowledge of it's conditions And he had come to love the life so that he had deceived the trustees, his friends and newspaperdom, reveling in the gypsy's love of woods and hills and fower-tangled paths, though they thought him still diligent in the work he set out to do.
 Wasn't it, isn't it glorious ?" Felicia was radiant, the ever-charming Felicia
 What" he said. duly, as a child who expects to be scolded.
 Why, to be half a pagan, forget ting universities, dusty books and problems"
 You don't hate me for stopping"
 "To live awhile?" she finished scornfully. No, I've done as near the same as 1 could, being woman Chloe and Sambo are here with me, delayed in the fields tonight Father is dead, you know she added with her face paling And I couldn't bear to stay in the town any longer"
 You are alone"
 Except Reindeer: he is in the stable" She smiled. though her eyes were downcast, her mouth sad.
 May l stay, then? Felicia love, you know 1 would never have stayed away so long if your caprice had not been so puzzling. l was afraid of you, Felicia" He had come around to her chair and was bending his luxuriant- ly-covered head against the silvered satin of her hair which fell like a halo around her young face.
 She trembled: she who was sarcas- tic, self-possessed, radiant, and said in quick succession:
 This is grand old place; all the hills and trees and tangled woods such gypsies as you and I shall need. And the university, which awaits you. is not far away She pushed back his careless hair and hid her face against his throat After a time they rose
 IL