The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-22
Eucning Story
Two in Bohemia.
BY Jessie DOUGLAS.

! the one 1OnS drawer IL nelu linen sue
spread out over it's top a row of re-
| lection slips.
She bent over them, one knee on the
chair. and touched each one, the
| square blue one, the long white one,
the rectangles OF printed paper. There
were twelve in all, and they repre-
scented twelve poems-poems that she
had worked on and struggled with and
almost wept over. But the editors had
sent each one of them back, with
thanks"
Charita heaved a deep sigh and
looked about the room as tho she
would derive consolation and new
| inspiration from its air of Bohemia.
A blackened book shelf over a wee
coal fire, that held two hoary, grease
dipped candlesticks, a couch under a
tumble of orange and purple cush-
ions, a poster of strange, long-armed,
blue-green figures that were called
Creation" and very bare and dusty
floor completed her survey.
She leaned over, reached for a
cigaret, and, having succeeded in light
ing it, she made a wry little face as
she drew in the first breath of smoke.
At least nobody knew. To the vii
lage," as the coterie of artists called
the environs of Washington square,
she was Charita Ware, poet and
weaver of dreams, who perched her
self in the topmost studio of No. 80
until the blind world would acclaim
her. But how land could she keep
it up?
Uncle williams last check would
come on Monday.
A double rat-tat-tat at her door.
Charita knew it for the knock of Hal
lett Dean. She swept the telltale slips
into her drawer, hurriedly, nervously,
and having locked it put the key on
the slender chain about her throat
before she dared breathe.
Then she said in a drawing voice:
Enter"
"Open tho door," a mans voice
commanded on the other side.
"A minute" Charita pleaded.
In that minute she had stolen to the
scrap of a mirror. pulled a curl over
her ear, Strengthened her orange
smock and brushed some powder over
her nose-and unlocked the door.
Hallett Dean, the imperturbable, the
lofty, looked somehow awkward and
boyish. Charita saw it in the flick of
a glance. She saw. too, that as he
rolled his cigaret hisfingers trembled.
She knew then what was coming, as
well as tho he had told her. Her
brown eyes rested on his face a mo-
ment warmly-her pretty lips were
parted breathlessly.
"Charita, II love you. Ever since
you came I've seen none but you,
thought of none but you. dreamed no
one" he pleaded as humbly as an
ordinary lover.
Yes, she loved him, she admitted.
1t would be divine living in this gar
ret hero together, when they were
married. She found an hour later,
when she looked back at the stirring
minutes. that she had promised to go
home with him, visit his only relative,
q 10 SI
sire to show her off, she thought.
Charita smiled to herself. But even
over weekend how could she give
up her studio, her freedom from con-
ventions-an this-that meant life to
her? .
Charita Ware gave startled glance
about her as she stepped out of the
red-velvet-seated train to the icy plat
form of che very dingy station.
The snow that was carted away as
fast as it came in the city street lay
here a thick blanket over every bush
lett helped her into an open sleigh, a
small, strange arrangement that was
driven by fur-capped farmer of few
words.
She was very silent when Hallett
helped her from the sleigh to the
doorstep of Aunt Martha's house. 1t
was typical New England-shining
windows, white curtains, blinds that
blinkedl under their snow eyebrows, a
door whose brass knocker it was not
necessary to rap.
For Aunt Martha stood Hospitality
in the open doorway.
my boyi" she cried warmly and
smothered Hallett in big hug.
And this is your girl ?" Charita
found herself kissed before she had
time to draw back her cold fingers of
greeting. Come right in and warm
up" Aunt Martha said.
Charita stepping across the shining
bare floor, with It's even rag rugs
shifted the fragrant air. There was a
blue jar OF balsam on the old secre-
tary. Some dsffodils lifted yellow
heads from the bulb vase on the round
table that held the family Bible.
There, that's right" Aunt Martha
smiled as she hustled into the room
with a plate OF hot gingerbread and a
pitcher of milk you just fan TO-
Charita, CHANGING across at her lover.
saw that in some way he had lost his
bohemian look. With his feet COM
fortably resting on the Franklin stove
he seemed just nice boy.
Aunt Martha, laying an affectionate
hand on his shoulder said. "Now you
see that your girl here gets good and
warm while hurry up supper"
Aunt Martha, smiling a moment in
the doorway, seemed to Charita' like a
china-blue eyes and her white hair
combed smoothly back from her
round, smiling face.
TITS a shame you had to lose your
| pretty hair" she said to Charita, look
| ing sadly at the bobbed curly locks.
but guess it'll grow long again, all
light"
| Charita at supper felt somehow un-
comfortable in her salmon-colored
! smock. She was "out of drawing" she
told herself. But Aunt Martha, help
! ing her guests plentifully to brown
bread and fat brown beans, went on
merrily in her talk.
Henry" Charita started at the
name. Henry. I've been wondering
/ IL you haven't had enough OF that city
life. II you wouldn't just like to come
out here and run the farm for me
I'm getting on"
Henry gave no direct answer.
He seemed suddenly embarrassed. like
a boy in school who must speak his