Bisbee daily review., 1908-05-23
FELICIA
By Lulu Loretta Baker

Felicia was in the kitchen, reading and looking after some mush al ternately. Corn mush and French classic are somewhat divergent, but Felicia was a riddle, anyway.
 And she did not heave sigh as she left the scenes of the book, and sat down to her solitary supper.
 Pm as hungry as bear" she said. half aloud.
 "So am I. Don't be frightened" said voice at the open window. And, be Ing riddle. she didn't scream, though 10 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 a tumbler with milk from 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. eyeing with real hunger the steaming mush pushed 1 over to him.
 r. 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 .R oI,ffr haA at her. Unconsciously she moved for ward, her gaze so piercing that inyol- untarily the mans intellectual eyes fastened upon her as if hypnotzed.
 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" I Her eyes still on 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 1t is only six years. You cant : be-"
 r 'Indeed!" was her only rejoinder. ' The mans fingers trembled. He tried to say something, but could not : and shame overwhelmed him al thought of the great work he had neg
 lected, becoming in the last two years next to vagrant in reality, instead o : posing as one to study the conditions ; of his country. And Feliciai Felicia : the clever, the girl whom he used tt : imagine loved him at times; then al he sought her out, eluded him, seemed to hate him.
 How did you come here?" h' managed to say finally.
 q live here. I'm living the simple |, life," she laughed a little, hunting eggs, wading in the creek, cookinl 0 when I like, and incidentally filling { small post as critic" She named well well known publication. He interrupted her with a cry 0 gladness for her strong, ambition . womanhood. And seized by impuls n he did not try to fathom, he cor
 
 h expectations of him, him whose chai + lhere was as yet filled only temporaril
 while he, the master at economics an
 sociology, was tramping the world fo . actual knowledge of it's condition: 2 And he had come to love the life s v that he had deceived the trustees, hi ! friends and newspaperdom, revelin e In the gypsy's love of woods and hill d and fower-tangIed paths, though the !, thought him still diligent in the wor 1, he set out to do.
 T Wasn't it, isn't it glorious? ' Felicia was radiant, the ever-charmin S Felicia. . "what?" he said, duly, as a chil ot who expects to be scolded. IeI "Why, to be half pagan, forge n ing universities, dusty books an c problems"
 'l You don't hate me for stopping
 "To live awhile?" she finishe II scornfully. No, I've done as near tn V same as I could, being a woman s Chloe and Sambo are here with m'
 delayed in the fields tonight. Fathe
 is dead, you know" she added wit ,f her face paling. And I couldn't bes of to stay in the town any longer" le You are alone"
 Except Reindeer; he is in th "a stable" She smiled, though her eye
 were downcast, her mouth sad.
 May I stay, then? Felicia, low n you know I would never have staye ol away so long If your caprice had n 'd been so puzzling. was afraid of 70 ~ Felicia!" He had come around to ht p chair and was bending his luxurian <; ly-covered head against the silvere m satin of her hair which fell like O, halo around her young face.
 She trembled; she who was sarca Te tic, self-possessed, radiant, and sal ne in quick succession: iu "This Is a grand old place; all u =. hills and trees and tangled woods suS .. gypsies as you and Isshall need AT CT the university, which awaits you, iy not far away" She pushed back b y, careless hair and hid her face again he his throat After a time they roi d- and went down the road, in the moo III light, to meet their darldes.