The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7828, 22 May 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE WIKIVBJPiOF BOHEMIA. Brooke's flat consisted of threo : -rooms. You entered what he termed Va "tfudy" through the hall door, and this room led to another by an * Ittch. Running off from this second ♦ocm-—he called it his loafing place—/was his bedroom. He always kept i. the" bedroom door locked—principally Ijecause people dropped in on him at •11 hours, and ho.felt that it didn't ■. look exactly nice to have ene's parlour next door to one's bedroom, even if one did live in a flat. v r ' Brooke lived in Bohemia—and this Bohemia was in the very heart of ■ Bllnrosbiiry. It wasn.t the Bohemia ! i of the half-starved and the unshaven' i —Um Bohemia of the long hair and I LO nasty speech. It was merely the 80-1 faentia of congenelality and unconven- i i tlality—e, gathering together of clevV er folk of both sexes, who did and' t said pretty much what they pleased, i! i « f,*nto> borrowed ..from and loaned to i , • -each other various small sums of', [•«_ t n»ncy, and never bothered about ■' r " making a. memorandum of it—the Bo- , i, hernia where one's secret belonged to -" tie crowd and west no further. As a*< -clever Jean Travers. once summed it ."*: *ppi 'lYoucango to Brooke's rooms, '. * • taeet a jolly lot of people, have, all f, you yant to cat and drink, laugh a feood deal, and never hear anything ][. but of the way.'' f _ It was ten minutes to eight onya 'I f " "*»ltry June night when into Brooke's kooms sauntered Monteith.I v "Hullo. Ben, have the things come C yet?" ..' " What things ? " asked Brooke. ? "The eatables—ordered them sent % ' round at 7.30. The crowd will be ? . here to-night—Fales, Alec Drummond ff - v Bates, Kate Hhbtes, Etta, Fanny i f Locke, and maybe Jean Travers, :/'£ Sho'B going- to "turn up at one of •j tfte. halls—l forget which one—and ■■-' She'saW she won't bo able to get * ' <h>w» until 10.30*. You owe me a ; : ' sovereign as your share of the : 'BtnS." v . Brooke dived Into his pockets ana" gave Monteith the -money. t " Monty. oW man," h© said serit ously, "I'm getting tired. of'Bohem- -., . ia. Tonight will.he my, last night at it." fc- , "Getting religious; V* queried Moim I £ taith. lighting, a cigarette. 4 " No ; getting sensible," answered 1 i, r - -Brooke. ; "Get lo'js 0 f it, Ben—it'll do yoju .good., there goes the bell— I- . K o * B * WB the fodder." g ' *l''u> the room trooped Fales.JFan^, K <■ V, Locke, and Kate Rhodes, their g* v " "arms full of packages. " Found them t ■**■ ! .down on the hat-rack, Ben," saM 'i' r . -■ Kate Rhodes, "so we constituted y . ourselves a catering committee of * J ' t three. Put -'em on the table, Faii- *•> ,'ay/' ■'. ; :■'■■■: <i " Helter-skelter on the table went tine ! V . 'packages— boned chicken, rolls, olives ■ ' ' caviare, de brie, crackers, ground oofn fee, butter _and canned tongue. f'• Etta Andrews came panting uptthe i stairs just then, and she greeted the ■■' crowd with a wave of her hand and, s ,"Phcw! isn't to-night a broiler.?" Then she fell into a chair and, nod- '' /ding over to Fales, said, "Jack, pour "'me out l a cold' glass of beer and you ; may have a kiss." i' -. "I don't have to take it, 3o I; at '(Btta? '"'asked Fates, with a mock ';'• ' resigned look'.- "» . "No, dear; I*U give it to you—- , -' ' and pay in ; advaoce," and shejump- " ed from the chair, and, running over '_ ~'to Mm ■Oirew her arms around his fleck and planted a resounding smack ' on his lips. '; Meanwhile, Fanny Locke'had gone '" ' to the refrigerator, and, assisted by - '. ~ Monteith and Kate, was makingf high-* ' balls; she insisted, however, on - squirting the seltzer because the liked % 'the sound of the syphon. ■ : ".Punch accepted two of.my draw-| , ' Inga last week, Monty." she said, \ and I finished a man to-day that js perfectly grand." i ' " Here's to the man you finished, '•' said Monteith, holding up Ms glasSj " Your health, ; you. ' itrongi and ' snighty amazon." .' ''"What havo you been doing lateV k ly, Kate ? " asked Brooke. f r - '' Oh, gd'ng to the Park and paint- %. log daisies that looked scared haW <to deatlt" she answered. "'I sold * • « Uttle study of roses last week, but somehow or other I "can't mako a daisy look' like a respectable member of society. I got a bhj bunch ©f them; lied them up on my easel and then attempted to transfer them. , Ip- canvas. When I'd finished—well, ■the painting looked fike a study of Hip van Winkle's beard after Rip had ' beert eating hard-boiled eggs and was not particular where the yolks went." Brooke ' laughed heartily-. v ; Here's your health, Kate, and may all your. daisies hereafter look like buttercups In a field of milk." Alec Drummond and Bates came in «ct this tfuncture, and Drummond shied his hat over to Etta Andrews, who promptly kicked it under the tebl«. Bates bad a parcel in bis hand, a bulky package wrbpped in 'ujijtit looked to be a newspaper.. * What's that, Bates?" asked Brooke. " The War Cry, my son.- I bought it from a cadaverous-looking man who looEcd as if he needed money." •• The .War Cry may _be the wrap- • "per," said Etta Andrews, " but what is in it ? " " Useful information, my dear Etta., as to lidw to avoid the Evil -/ that's what in it ; ; and a very 4 ■ ' Jgood' paper it- is." ' Y " Bates, you're positively brilliant 'to-night," rejoined Etta. •■'Will you Jtindly inform roe as to the nature >df the beast you have wrapped up in that War Cry ? « * Certainly, -Etta Wear, since you beseech so plaintively," answered' 'Bates. " The monster imprisoned! here happens' to be.several. Behold." |and he deftly ■caught one end of the {paper and allowed the contents to ] will on the floor. f Loomes !l " shrieked Et,tja, in aj Igurgle of delight, and she scram Wed ;. , iisa the floor and collected the diffcr- , ent links. " Fourteen of them," she saioV " Ptftcfeu," said Bates. Etta counted again.- **• Fourteen . - links, my boy.-' ■%-'-" -" I brought In fifteen," «aM Bales. - and Bates lropped on anpt jtresently found the Drummond's hat. 'tiryfgbt dut' thtf rhafingfty&ir ahrf the Vest of the crowd busIB';' ""Mfed, themselves with opening cans, out plates, kniy-es, forks,. flSiVy''spoons', etc. Brooke wanted coffee, gߧj3»?#> Kate started -the kettle p» the o'clock tea stand. SKgjtw "Who's waiter?" asked Drumplaintively. ' to the Czar of alt the said Fanny Locke, scorn"Alec, dear, if you want a E||&Mlrtn£ wait pu yourself." ""frty'&W a,e t» tte refris«ra-

•tor, Ben ? "• asked Drummmna. I " 1 think there are a couple ol Alec. Go hunt and take I them away from the intoxicating crowd against whom they are nestjling. I'm busy boiling eggs."

" I never tasted better boiled eggs tHan Ben cooks," said Bates. "You are a past master at hard-boiled, eggs, Ben. I never saw your equal. What's your recipe ? "

v Oh," answered Brooke, with a twinkle in his eyes. " I pat them in boiling. water' and let them stay there until you malce a. brilliant remark. They're in there so long they are bound to be bard."

And so the good-humoured chaH went round until, about hall-past ten, a low, peculiar wtaisotle was heard Irom the street. "That's our whistle," said Fales. " Who is it I'-'

Brooko looked from the window ahdi answered the wMstle, ''• It's Oean Travers," he said, and He went gown to' the door to iet her in. " I think Brooke likes Jean rather jwell," said Alec Drummond.- ■" And wHy, shouldn't he ? '-' asked Kate* " I'm sureil don't know," answered Prummond, musingly. 'f Shouldn't ho like her just because you do, Alec ? " asked Etta, Doiotedly. '■ I take that as a compliment, Etta.; The fact that I should like that which Ben Brooke does shows me to 'bo a man of taste and judgment."

And just then Jean: Travers entered. "I came on my bicycle, people because that was the quickest, way of getting through the park Is my costume too abbreviated ? "

'•' I hope your visit* dear, will be I longer than your skirt,." said Benny, Brooke bowing.

Jean Travers turned towards him, a flush on her facc fj her eyes sparkling. "You have such a pretty way, ißen, of saying nasty things that 1 think of the prettincss and forget .the sastiness,"'

'■' Which shows what a' born philosopher you are, Jean," said MonI eith.

|. " Not born so, Monty—l've acojuiiv ed it on the stage„ and it's been a imighty expensive acqluisitlon. I'm I hungry as a . bear ;) what have you got to eat V " | " Devour me, mj- dear," said Fales falling on his knees' in front of her. " I'm a true aposi le of sweetness and light, and I know that you have a sweet tooth. Eat me up in little pieces, bui begin by tlasting my .lips..' "Get up, .Jack," siaid Jean; "you would prove too indi3gestible a morsel for my delicate palate. For, if report do no.t belie you, you're rather tough.'' .'" Wd bj(j tender ■ enough if you'd give him a chance,* laughed Drummond. '|l WoufMn't lie, Etta 1" "■ After I get finished roasting him he wilV" she said, significantly-: '#-" * # #

I All of a sudden FViles looked out Of Ove window. "It is the morn hersf'K." he said. "By Jovei folks, it'a ten minutes to> four." •"• Shades of our ancestors, girls, Jet's get the dishes washed ! " said Jef*n Travers. And in a jiffy plates were emptied and dishes trotted over to) the bathroom and washed. They thien went 'downstairs. Brooke told Jean TraverS he'd stake her home just as sopn as he (got into his knickerbockers. They waited for Brooke at the front door/ There fhe party split, and Brooke and Jean Travers pedalled along. , " instead of going home, Jean," ■ said Brooke, " what do you say to an early morning spin in the park, ? : The sun will be up in half an hourt" .''Agreed,"- said Jean. Within twenty minutes they were within Hyde Park, speeding along like twoheralds of the dawn. When hey'd reached the Serpentine Brooke said, '■' Suppose we dismount, Jean, want to- talk to you."They found a bench and sat down, ; just as tho„sun showed his face in a shamed way, as if he had been caught napping anil Was getting up Ute.: "Well, Ben?,- she queried l . ■** WeP, Jean, I'm going to give up Bohemia. I didn't, say anything to i the crowd tonight, because I thought it might act as a wet blanket. But I'm going to gave it up," ' Why, my boy ? " " .Well, for a time it fascinated me, Jean* I like clever people, like to hear them talk, like to rub my hrains against theirs, and have my wits stirred a bit. But what docs it all amount to ? " '•'What does anything amount to ?" asked the girl wearily. " Lots of things, Jean, have some-

■hing substantial to back thetti.. llohernia has absolutely nothing). , We sit and drink and eat until daylight comes,, and then we're totally unfit for any sort of work that day. And then it isn't right for you—for gjirls I mean— to come down to my rooms,"

Jean Travers caught her breath hard. " Why, Ben, dear, there's never been the slightest disrespect shown to any of us there. If I'd thought for one minute that you'd think any the less of me for having comedown there— "• She stopped suddenly and covered her face with her hands. " There, there, • Jean ! " said Ben gently, '•' I didn't mean to hurt, your feelings. I know you're a good wot man, but the other evening at my sister's, I described ono of our Bohemia evenings, and my sister said ome things that set me thin King. And I couldn't hear to have her or anyone think lightly of you." The girl raised her head* jquickly. '•' You didn't mention my name to her, Ben 1 You didn't tell her I was at your rooms, ? " " There ! " cried Brook© in an instant i "by that speech ol yours you see the truth of what I am telling you—you've no right to come there." The girl was silent, thinking. Then she nodded her head slowly in the affirmative. "Ben dear," she began, " I've seep the seamy side of life. I dance and sdng in a music hall, so I can make money and keep adding to my little bank account. Yet), inthat music-hall there is no taint for I'm myself; and,, after a'll, it's for ourselves we must answer. Bohemia is a life in itself. It's a jolly comradeship ; it's sexless ; it's honest* Compare our little evening we have just lived through with an evening company among your social equals. One woman vies with anoth>cr in her gowning; they say -nasty catty things of and to each other. The men are cliquey. Now, lake our Bohemia; it's honcst-not a mean word escapes, not a sentence that might hurt. Do you wonder that it appeals to us girls ? That it touches us, becmiso it is the one place wo can unbend and be free, and not have our actions misconstrued ? "■ It was Benny Brooke's turn to be silent. After a little while he said lucres another reason for my giving up Bohemia, Jean—l'm goinc away." " "Where?" she asked, quickly, putting her hand on his arm. " Oh, I -don't know exactly," he answered uneasily ; " but I'm going somewhere where I can make more money." V I've a hundred pounds, Ben, that I haven't a particle of use for ; take it, won't you, ana—and—stay in the city ! Give up Bohemia-v'cs, we'll I both give it up; but sta-v in the city won't you ? " He looked down at her flushed and eager face, and. his ami stole around her waist, and he drew her to him gently and kissed her. "Jean, dear I I must go' away,'-' he said. Her head was buried in his chest, but she lifted' it ever so little, and peeped up at him through tearful eyes. '-'Why must you go away ? " she whispered. '■'■ Well, I've lost my position on the paper. I've no prospects ahead, and T want some money before I ask a certain girt a certain question. So I'm going away', dear, to find the money." There was a ring of pathos in his voice, and the girl noted it. "Couldn't you," she whispered—- [ "couldn't you ask the girl the question before you went away ? Could|n't you ask her now ? " -"jt l wouldn't be fair to licr,'i h a

b*i(l quickly, "she might have to wait years." "If r loved a man," she said,"l'd wait a lifetime for him." " Will you wait for uie, dear '.'• " he Kaid, «'vi(ly, bonding' closer to her. He could feel her tremble from head to loot. "Oh, lien/Kim ! " »ho sobbed—and that was her answer. I