The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-14
IN EoiZs of Jal1 Cupid,
BY Margaret Steward

giving away the cravings OF t,le hoai G.
an inopportuna moment! /, NeivA-4 IL
glefield, late of the Secret service, all oiiI
of those who come under this category.
fell in love when I should have oeen az
tending 10 my duty solely. ana Win .Lie
usual folly of my sex ohnoiS A'
eyes upon the consequences.
was in Venice at the time. friend
whom I happened to know there tilaue
all arrangements prior 10 my arrival anu
secured me a furnished mouse VI, 'he So
lagoon. the waters of which flowed anu
ebbed against marble steps L dared not
arte- f,otel. for | had IN my
,,nSssessior Dispatches OF the great
est Importance. which were "
be delivered into the hands oil toulis
Scheinwitz, the German Minister, upon ms
arrival in Venice, ten days after my own.
In addition, my friends sent me rouhu d
sturdy Italian girl 10 administer TO my
household wants. and what was better
still. lent me a gondola in order thal
might explore the ancient waterways ana
thoroughly enjoy myself
On the morning of my second day in the
civ I was floating slowly down the cana
laZzo gazing in wonder at the antique
buildings pregnant with memories ol ~
cone Venice and the Doges' power sud
denly nv eve was caught by the tar
face of a girl sitting bareheaded IN me
boUs of a gondola i'll front OF me. ana
swinging a large straw hat IN her haho.
d,gftetl slowly, feasting on her beauty
the while, and she, as If to lrrItate me,
kept her eyes fixed on my face.
Suddenly il seemed as If on purpose, she
let the hat fall out of her hand into the
water below The .gondalier made a move
men. as If he would turn his barque anu
rick il I'D. but | was quicker than he, and
drawing alongside in trice. restored the
lost hat to its fair owner.
need not detail what followed. L dis
covered she lived in the next house 10 my
own separated only by marrow Suhs
Of water spanned by trellls bridge so
n friendship was not long in spriusins up.
Love could only prove a fitting sequel,
and two days later had the SatiSLactlsh
of telling myself that she loved me also!
What voiutstuouS days taSts- wefe the'''
and how quickly they passed! IoSeth-t-
she and I've explored the ancient city,
and now only three days remained oeLoie
the Counts arrival when shoaHt NAVE
"a deliver my dispatches and depart. she
lived with her mQther and told me they
had come 10 Venice for the benefit or
their health, though they contemplated a
visit TO Spain shortly. She spoke tnsilsA
with a foreign accent but assured me sh7
was a native of London, and had resided
on the Continent almost since she was i
girl.
whiah | write It was the happ.est my
strange life can boast of. Carefully lock
ing my precious nnissives in an IRON box
I kept in my room for that purpose.
bolted my door and Went out TO Wnere the
sondola was moored Mildred was waiting
for me. and when we had embarked l
pushed off, and we drifted down the canal
towards the great Lagoon. | reInenlDee'
standing, paddle in hand moving the fan
| tastic barque along and looking steadily
| snto her eyes as she BOUNCED between two
cushions facing me. The little breeze gem
| thy Fitted her cur,s up and down as they
| fell in clusters over her forehead. and the
| diving light revealed a face that reminded
me of the Madonnas I had seen in the
galleries. Slowly we passed under the
silent bridges out into the great sea 10
watch the sun sink down to meet The wa
ter and render it rudy as gore
Mildred" 1 SAID at length. Il have to
| leave Venice in three days time VIII
YOU return with ms and-be my Wife,
| so soon2'' She asked, starting up ana!
peering into my face as | rested the pad
! die and took a seat by her side. l must
| tell her all now-IeI her why l was IN
Venice, and my reason for leaving it,
perhaps you do not know why [ am
here" I said, after a brief pause.
No" size replied with unfeigaed eager
| ness.
L
heard that Count Scheinwitz. the German
| Minister. is coming here the day after
! tomorrow
NO
wei, he is. You must know that
Britain is on the verge of a terrible war
with Russian
II have heard So" she said. somewhat
indiferertly.
.And Germany is interested in the case
to a great extent. so she may take either
| side The Count is coming here, il is said
for his health's sake, though, of course.
ne has political reasons for 50 doing
that concern Italy. am the bearer OF
dfspa tches from Britain when must De
handed over to him before he meets any
of the Italian officials, and which Will
influence him and very lkaly decide Ger
many's attitude in the present crisis Why
I came here before him was because
should not be be suspected by the Rus
sian spies
st am not great al politics, Mervin but
I understand that You are in great danger
Suppose you're spied upon, robbed, or any
thing? Gin. do be careful what you are
doing!''
Don't fret on that score. little one: l
am no doubt spied upon, but
..Sped upon? Then you may De way
laid or-lE1 cdr
she looked round as if she feared that
even now an assailant was near, 'hen
buried her face in her hands and oursl
ssMiIdred. be calm, They would not
hurt me. because they'd find nothing upon
met
..But tae dispatches?
"Are safely locked up Il, an iron hex
In nv BEDROOM. I never carry them Z, up-
on my person; It's TOO DANGEROUS
Having told my story there was ROTH.
ing lef. for ne bu. to calm her, which a.
length succeeded IN doing. at the sans
time extracting her promise to return with WIZ
me as soon as my mission was over, SUD
5iect. of course. to her mothers approval