Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-07-01

~ A40Af la AlthAO6O q NOA1o
mand, when Elsie had expected a be-
seeching, modest entreaty in con-
sheraton of the bOldncss OF the re-
quest. And this al%l-pervading rhap-
sody was making her feel uneasy.
Why did he not simply say 81 love
you," or ~ am dying of love?:" That
would have been much simpler and
prettier.
Amidst all these considerations she
buttoned the last button of her fault
less gloves, while her heart beat viO-
lently; then nee mor she drew forth
a small mirror to closely examine her
fringe and the effect of her little hat;
alas! every woman knows very we'll
how important her fringe, the shape
of her hat, and the cut of her dress
are, in the great decisive moments of
her life!
When finally the carriage stopped
at the entrance of the National Gal
lery, her trembling limbs scarcely
brought Elsie to her place of destina-
tion. At first she seemed to see
everything through a haze, and not
daring to look around she seated her.
self, waiting for him to come up and
speak to her.
But no one came. About ten min
utcs later, she took heart and looked
about. Was it possible? He was
not yet there! Elsie waited to grow
angry, but then she said to herself
that life was full of unexpected
events. AT the last moment he
might have received company
wealthy old uncle might have dropped
in whom he could not very we'll ward
otf-or he might have been detained
at the glove store, or his coachman
might have taken him IN the wrong
dircction-indeed, there were many
reasons.
Some tiresome elderly English ladies
stood about, and a few schoolgirls
were trying their best to appear APP
preciative of art. a couple of young
men stared boldly at her, some went
by indifferently, and several earnest
looking elderly gentlemen were deeply
interested in the study of Markart's
great work of art.
Why, OH. why, are there so many
su%perfluous people in this world? If
the ground would only swallow them
up. There in the corner sat a very
old fellow, strange to say. He had
fixed his eyes on the entrance as if he
were expecting some n A glow of
expectancy shonc in his eyes. AS yet
he had not ven glanced at the paint
ing, to which he had turned his back;
and he himself looked like an artist
or something of the sort, thought
Elsie.
Minute after minute passed by, and
one quarter of an hour after another,
but the expected one came not.
The visitors in the art gallery came
and went like the pictures in a
kaleidoscope; only Elsie and the ''odd
fellow" did not move.
Elsie would have gone long before,
but she was full of curiosity to see
whom the stranger awaited. He
looked as if life and death depended
upon this expectation. Elsie, too,
hung her dear little head despairingly.
She was bitterly disappointed. So
she had IN vain felt fcverish all that
forenoon, had not eaten a bit of
luncheon. In vain she had spent two
long hours upon her toilet, and had.
told her sister a falschood about Il
friends sudden illness. And now all
terrible doubts as to his love and sim
certify came back to her. Alas! how
desolate this world, and how lnsipld
was life!
Suddenly she noticed that she and
the stranger remained alonc-all the
other visitors had left. She had Just
drawn the letter from her pocket to
rc-rcad it for the hundrcdth time. 1t
was an odd handwriting, as if written
with a match, and the large, heavy
letters were formed straight up and
down. Really, the writing harmo-
nlZed little with the elegant young
cavalier-if only
"Madam, how did you come by this
letter.:
With this hoarsc, half-srffocated
%utterancc the stranger had suddenly
graspcd her wrist. Pale as death,
with a low cry of terror Elsie arose,
for she thought him insane.
ssDon't be alarmcd--I am quite
sane. Pray tell me the truth; how
did you receive this letter not in
tended for you?:"
sNot intended for me? 1t was adj
dressed to me-"
"Addressed to you? Then you r
Miss Won Lasswitz9"
eyes, that is my name. What
does my letter oncer you?:"
"Ah! there is the mistake!" The
strange ma suddenly looked as en-
lightened as if he had been relieved
of the burden of a great calamity.
ssPardon me, madam, I wrote the
letter. and it was intended for a
different lady. The usher must have
misinformed me. Tell me, were you
in the third box in the first row at
the opera on Monday, Wednesday.
and Frlday?"
"Yes. indeed, with my sister,"
ga slender lady, darby clad?:"
eyes, that is my sister, Mrs. Won
Planeck."
s.Is she marrled?"
ssShe was married, and is now