The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-04-16
THE SEACOAST
OF BOHEMIA

The only clear idea in Jack Hoyts
tumble of thoughts. emotions and hazy
impressions was that she was exactly
Tbe Kind of gin he had often tried to
paint. ,.,
.l;nnad from his fingers. She was a beau
tifuI Young creature-and what master
niece he could paint with her as model!
YES, But don't ask any questions
please don't! I'll explain all later. You
,oust marry me-and you must promise
never to try to see me again aI.er we
are married. There is a justice of peace
down in the village, and here-take this.
She flung him a purse. 1t was taut
and heavy; it probably contained more
gold than all his piceures had brought
Absent-mindedly he thrust il into a
rocket. He noticed only that the girls
Inns were red and that a mist dimmed
her wonderful eyes. Precisely the KIND
|, of q girl, he reflected, whose love OF
adventure would lead her into just such
a iudicrous proposal as this.
"Come-hurry!" she begged, Juggling at
his sleeve. IF you don't come at once
they might catch us, and that would
spoil it ALL
The little wooded nook in which Jack
Hoyt had sought to get fresh grip on
life was several miles removed from Bo-
hernia with its artists, models and outer
love affairs. He had never imagined any
thing like this could happen in this
drowsv and eminently respectable little
village. And he had never imagined that
Jack Hoyt, penniless painter of unstable
things. could for a moment consider
nroposal to marry a girl he did not know.
Nevertheless the idyllic necromancy Of
the landscape he had sought to transfer
to canvas faded from his eyes. He saw
only the girl; and he was young. and
an abundance of red blood throbbed in
his veins He clumsily upset the easel
as he rose. He did not care-it was
dull. stupid thing in comparison with the
girl.
s'You will? Thank you so much" she
cried as they ran down the zigzagging
path toward the village. I'D like TO see
their long faces when they find out
wouldn't you?" She laughed gayly, blan''-
" ignoring the circumstance that Jack
could not know what she was talking
about
IT seemed like a dream. and suddenly
he came to the realization that the trem-
ulous Young creature beside him was rap
jdIy becoming his wife. He found a won
derfuIly expressive little hand within his
own.
Thank you she murmured. And
goodbye" He caught only a mischiev-
GUS glinting of her eyes as he ran after
her. Such an abrupt end to this matri-
moniaI career was not exactly 10 his
liking. He caught up with her as she
tripped down the steps. and at the same
moment a touring car drew up and
young man dashed from the tonneau.
The girl laughed saucily. You are just
three minutes too late. my dear Percy.
she cried. Let me introduce my nus
band
The next moment she had vanished in
an automobile that had been thrObbing
impatiently at the curD. The young per
son denominated as Percy twirled a vapid
nustache and glowered at Jack Hoyt.
"What-what's happened" he SIAM
nered.
BLESSED if / know" replied Jack, sur
veying the dandyish Percy perpleXedly.
she seems toto have mislaid you,
doesn't she?".
Percy's squeaky voice achieved curse,
and Jack walked back to his easel in
daze. Such things never happened in
crazy old Bohemia, but TINS. evidently,
was the seacoast of that interesting COM
munity With brush poised he stared
into the landscape that half an hour ago
had offered infinite possibilities. Now the
meaning trees the laughing sky, the
tender grass dissolved into a hazy mist
from which emerged the shadowy outline
Of the girl he had seen in his dreams.
She was gene now. irrevocably gone, and
his heeting impression was not clear
enough to enable him to paint her. He
did not even know, he unused, whether
her eyes were brown or gray or blue
their simmer had contained all the far
ing, melting colors OF a sunset over the
yea.