The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-09
earnestly.

us of his latest mathematical successes
and filled us full of his new theorem of
ouadratic equations, and the doctor had
invited our attention to his recent dis
covery of new species of microbe,
when the engineer diverted them from
their favorite topics by propounding
the question: what is the most valu-
eble invention Of the age?"
The professor promptly declared that
the locomotive could pot be dispensed
with, and began an elaborate calcula-
ton of the nun Der of horses it would
take to move the freight that is annual
" handled by the New York Central,
whereat the doctor put in his oar for
the medical application of electricity
and opened fire on us with lecture on
lectro-therapeutics which he had re-
Gently delivered before the students in
the hospital.
The engineer interrupted him and
e1patiated on the use of electricity in
mechanics until precipitated a deris-
I've laugh by declaring the camera to be
really the most important invention of
the age. The professor, the doctor and
the engineer looked at ne as if con-
templating my removal to the insane
ward of the city hospital, but I chung
to my opinion and reasserted it.
Twill you buy if we consent to listen
to your argument?' asked the professor.
expressed willingness to foot the
bill for additional punch and cigars.
'All right" responded the engineer,
touching the electric call for the waiter.
We lighted our fresh Gracias and
began my tale.
when | went to Paris to study art
took with me folding camera, which
takes 5x7 picture. l intended to use
1t on my sketching expeditions, and
preserve with it as well a few souvenirs
from the points of interest that l might
visit in Europe. Arrived in Paris,
took a room in large compartment
house, the price of which was in har-
nony with my rather limited means. l
cooked my own breakfasts and lunches
on a gas stove, and took one hearty
meal day at some one of the excellent
cafes to be found along the route be-
tween my room and the academy where
! was pursuing my art studies.
"a few weeks after l took these
lodgings the suite of rooms on tho op-
posite side of the little court into which
my window looked was taken by NJ.
Paul Dauchy, the famous artist. and his
daughter, Annette. The court was
scarcely twenty-five feet in width, and
every morning / saw Annette at the
window xrn+a-i-,c hn Anxua.-e
In the little balcony reading, sometimes
to herself and sometimes aloud to her
father. The face haunted me. found
myself painting her likeness into every
picture that / attempted at the acad~
envy. l was constantly tryingNto re,
produce her features on canvas, but no
red was rich enough to paint those
smiling lips, no white could equal her
rows of matchless teeth. 'Twould, in
deed, have taken the hand of an old
master TO catch the grace of her darbly
arching eyebrows or the glory of her
sunlit hair.
Her check was like the Catherine pear
The side that's next the sun
Eyes. | was mad with love. I was
deliciously miserable. There seemed
no hope, yet remem bered that he has
hope who has nothing else. But how
could it be possible for her father,
the famous academician. to look with
favor On the penniless student cooking
his own meals over gas stove?
Every morning l watched for her
appearance at the window. Sometimes
] met her on the street. Once in a
iostling crowd her skirts brushed
against me. How my pulses leaped. l
was walking on air. Then came the
reaction. How absurd. | could never
possess her. l began to dread the day
when could no longer see her at the
window. How dreary this cruel world
would be without daily glimpse at
her fair face and queenly form. | was
in the depths of despair All. NV
camera! / would photograph her every
day at the open window without her
knowing it. l would have her picture
rs she appeared at home caring for her
aged father.
The very next morning | caught
snap shot of my Annette, and as the
weeks passed on every bright dav
added one or more pictures to nv col
lection. l grew interested in the father
rs we'll and often photographed him as
he sat at the open window or on the
little balcony with his friends, gayly
chatting of early triumphs and defeats.
After time noticed that there seemed
TO be trouble across the court There
were conferences and papers, and one
day angry words seemed 10 be passing
between NJ. Dauchy and shrewd-
lool1ing old banker whom ! had fire.
Quently seen in the rooms. | often
took shots at these visitors with NV
camera Tor there were large windows
on two sides of the room, and N. Dauchy
seemed to be fond Of raising the eur
tains to their full height and allowing
the rays of the morning sun 10 pour in
full upon him.
O"While enjoying ride on top of an
omnibus and reading my Figaro one
morning, few days after | had wit
messed the angry scene between An
nctte'S father and the banker, my eve
was caught by the name of n. Dauchy
IN the headline over the court items.
Reading farther I learned that n was
concerned IN a recent bank failure. He
had gone into some wild speculation
with the president of the bank just
few days before its collapse and had
become involved, ianocentiy felt sure,
In some very shady transactions. The
case was to be called that morning.
Il at once decided to attend hoping
20 get glimpse at the face of my fair