St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-25

the veXatiouS disturbance raised angry
chances.
Sure of success, the robust woman,
with the coarse face and the overladen
finery, straddIed along, while the ele-
CANT, well-bred young man followed
her. somewhat embarrassed.
IL wonder what bond unites the
twow whispered the pretty blonde to
her neighbor: but he seemed entirely
lost in bis score; he had completely
missed the question.
Not so the youthful beauty who was
carefully scrutinizing the belated ar
rivals.
More and more disagreeably was she
affected by the brutal features OF the
woman; and ever anew was she forced
to study the dreamy eyes of the man;
curious to discover any congenlallty be-
tween the Unmatched pair.
The first act of the opera was finished,
The neighbOr of the charming blonde,
who had hitherto wholly devoted HIM
self to his score, again became human
being.
With lively interest be listened to the
merry talk of the young lady.
DO you believe she is his wife,"
asked she, pointing to the strange pair.
'Who else?' he answered, indiifer-
emily.
Explain to me. pray. how can cul-
tured man-and such one ne resent
bles-so far forget himself? Only conf
pare them: he and She"
The young man shrugged his Shout
ders with eQuanimity: perhaps she
has money. and he was on the point OF
starving"
'Fie on money that makes possible
such unions.i she exclaimed, indig-
nantly.
He smiled bitterly: "Such things
happen in life
so contrary to thought and feellng?"
The yoang man looked deep into her
wlstful. inQuiriug eyes, and-strange
thing that had never occurred to her III
her natural association with nina
hot wave of blood rushed into her head.
No" he then said softly. still gaz-
ing on her, Il could not force myself to
anything like that. II 1t must be then
- rather starve."
His usually serene face suddenly as
sumed a serious expression. so that the
fair inquisitor for the first time doubted
whether her neighbours life flowed on
as smoothly as her own. She began to
look at MIN with still livelier interest.
Without intending it the young people
had met each other for the last fourteen
days on the same seats, and had derived
a great deal of pleasure from their con-
Versation The meeting was brought
about in that innocent way possible only
III Germany.
They did not ask each others name or
station. but simply lived for the moment
and that seemed to them charming and
worth living.
When they parted they did not con-
slider when and where they would again
meet. Without confessing it to them
selves they knew very well that each
would try to be there again tomorrow
as early as possible.
During the whole brief period their
intercourse remained natural and I'M
constrained And to-day, all of sud-
den. she felt embarrassed when he
again and again sought her eyes, and,
as if by accident, touched her hand Ill
the animation of-the conversation.
Again the curtain has fallen, and the
young man said, with a comical serious
ness: Guess, fraulein, what IS the
charm about our acquaintance? That
we know nothing whatever about one
another"
She laughed roguishly when he called
her "fraulein' Il am no longer a frau
Iein, but for a long time a married
woman"
She saw him suddenly grow pale and
seek as in fear to read her features, and
that delighted her.
married, then,'' he whispered, and
turned quickly away. "WhO would
have thought that?'
Married, and now a widow
"ImpossibleM he exclaimed, but so
gladly. as if heavy weight had fallen
from his heart.
"Why impossible, 1 am already
twenty-three years old. You see me
still in mourning for my husband"
That he had not at all noticed before.
He could not imagine a prattier frame
for her white, yet rosy, complexion. for
her fair, tlaky hair, than her simple
dress in black.
And again he read in her foft. sunny
features, and spoke as to himself: "lm-
possible" Her childlike countenance
reSembled an unwritten sheet; it re-
minded him of a rosebud just about to
open.
Pensively he turned to her: "But you
have not yet had a romance?'
There you are right; that which one
calls the all conquering love l know
her neighbor looked so singularly in her
face esitatingly and almost inaudibly
she completed-''I know rot.'
The last act began, Not quite SO
calmly as in past days did the young
people sit together. Now and then the
young man looked up from his libretto,
when his hot, passionate gaze would
rest on her who shyly and blushingly
dropped her eyes. They heard little OF
the closing of the opera. At the en-
thn mt r
ing the young lady, who stopped only
TO say good night to her neighbor. Fol
the first time she gave him her hand
and felt, when he pressed a kiss on it,
as if thrilled by magnetic current.
Tomorrow, them" she added. and
while already going-''and your name?'
Hastily he drew out card, which She
took, and, as if in return, she said
"My name is Gina" bowed and disap
peared in the darkness.
"To-morrow'' did not come. Gini
was suddenly called away. A sister o.
her deceased husband, who was Ill
asked for her. The weariSome illness
troubles arising out of the entail Of
property, protracted her stay. Week:
passed, aye months, before she wa;
ready to return to W.
Often during this time had slit
thought Of her neighbor, often read hi!
card: "Hans Karner, DR.. juris, -
street, IL Not little did the nam,
please her. Had he waited for her tina
evening, had he sometimes thought o
her, or had he already forgotten her
She treasured his bold, pleasant face
with the fiery glances, i'll her memory
Gina was happy to see him again
Even now, after the lapse of half ayear
she blushed deeply at the mere though
of that evening and the hot kiss whic
he had pressed on her band.
Notwithstanding she had been mar
ried she felt like young girl. He
much older, wealthy, but always ailini
husband had chosen her to give he
shelter and maker her independent.
And Gina had been conscientious
faithful nurse to him, and shed SINGER
tears over his grave.