The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-21
HE D AL Y
SHORT STORY
Two in Bohemia. !
by jEsslE DOUGLAS.
E1nvwf0l,k 1n1h ~, kha hFaTI..

held. Then she spread out over its
TOP row Of rejection slips. ~
She bent over them, one knee on
the chair, and touched each one, the
Gquare blue one, the long white one.
the rectangles Of printed paper. There
we're twelve in all, and they represent.
ed twelve poems-poems that she had
worked on and struggled with and al
most; wept over. But the editors hao
cent each one Of them back, with
thanks
Charita heaved deep sigh and
looked about the room as though she
would derive consolation and new in.
sptration from its air OF Bohemia. A
biackened book shelf over agwee coal
fire, that held two hoary, grease.
dipped candleSticks, a couch under a
tumble Of orange and purple cushions,
poster Of strange, long.armed. blue.
green figures that were called "Crea.
tion, and avery bare and dusty floor,
conpistct her survey.
she leaned over, reached for cigar
cite, and, having succeeded in lighting
It, she made a wry little face as she
drew In the first breath of smoke.
AT least nobody knew. To the "Yil.
lage,p as the coterie OF artists called
the enyirons of Washington square,
she was Charita Ware, poet and weav.
ler OF dreams, who perched herself in
the topmost studio of No. SO until the
blind world would acclaim her. But
how long could she keep it up?
Uncle Williams last check would
come on Monday.
"A double rat-tat.tat at her door.
Eharita knew 1t for the knock of Hal.
lett Dean. She swept the telltale slips
into her drawer, hurriedly, nervously,
and having locked 1t put the key on the
slender chain about her throat before
she dared breathe.
Then she said in drawing voice:
"Enter!n -
Open the door!" mans voice
commanded on the other side.
minute" Charita pleaded.
In that minute she had stolen to the
scrap Of a! mirror, pulled curl over
her ear, Strengthened her orange smoee
and brushed some powder over her
nose and unlocked the door.
Hallett Dean, the imperturbable. the
lofty, looked somehow awkward and
boytsh. Charita saw it in the flick of
q glance. She saw, too, that as he
rolled his cigarette his fingers treni.
bleds She knew then what was com,
Ing, rs well as though he had told her.
Her brown eyes rested on his face a
moment warmly-her pretty lips were
parted, breathlessiy. 6.
Charts, 81 love you. Ever since
you came I've seen none but you,
thought none but you, dreamed no
ONE he pleaded as humbly as an or.
dinafy lover.
Y Yes. she loved him, she admitted. It
would be divine living in this garnet,
here together, when they were mar
rted.s She found an hour later. when
she, looked back, at the stirring min.
utes; that she had promised to 90
home with him, visit his only fefatiye.
his aunt. He had the very boyish de.
sire ITO show her off, she thought.
Charita smiled to herself: But even
over IA week end how could she give
up her; studio, her freedom from con-
yentions-alf this-that meant life to
her?
Charita Ware gave startled glance
about her as she stepped out Of the
form Of the very dingy station.
The snow that was carted away as
fast as It came in the city streets lay
here q thick blanket over every bush
and roof top of the tiny village. Hal
lett helped her into an open sleigh, a
small, strange arrangement that was
driven by fur-capped farmer of few
words.
She wastyery silent when Hallett
helped her from the sleigh to the door
step OF Aunt Martha's house. It was
typical New England = shining win.
dows, white curtains, blinds that blink
ed under their snow eyebrows, O door
whose brass knocker It was not nee.
essary to rap.
For Aunt Martha stood Hospitality
in the open doorway.
my boy" she cried warmly and
smothered Ha1lett 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 warn.
up" Aunt Martha. said. -
Charita stepping across the shining
bare floor, with its oval rag rugs
shifted the fragrant air. There was
blue Jar Of halsam on the old score.
tary.s Some daffodils 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 fall to"
Charita, glancing 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 Nov you
! see that your girl here gets good and
/ warm while hurry up supper"
Aunt Martha, smiling moment in
The doorway, seemed to Charita like
large white pleasant cat, with her
rhina-blue eyes and her white hair
tcombed 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, ali
right" 49,, =
Charita at supper felt somehow un,
ka,fohla L.