Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-10-18
The Romance of a Library Girl

A True Story Told Ne One Thanksgiving by
the Nic.-Herry Austin.
Thanksgiving night beneath an Egyp-
tan moon the sweet red headed lady told
me d curious tale
Twas a magical night, full of vague
Suggestions of strange perfume and faint
zephyr-toEes of mysterious music, and
the full moon did not look like a moon
in any other land.
1t seemed rather as if it might have
been platter of gold, which, flung at
the purple sky by Cleopatra in some
festive freak. had stuck there for Il sym
Dol and a sign to lovers in the aftertime.
Had not been in love with the glori
Gus red hair of the lady [ should have
worshped that Oriental moon; but the
oddness of the Occidental revelation she
made me the lady, that is. not the lumi-
nary-.soon absorbed my attention.
Twas the tale of how they met, her
first and only love and his first and only
love-and he was her first husband!
/ marked him now and then, strolling
placidly at some distance, putting a cigar
Of doubtful virtue in the majestic face
OF nature.
lie didn't mind my dancing attendance
on her. for be knew | was but a scribblcr
oi impassioned verses and was orIy in
love with her rich red hair, and barely
IL, and was merely an American, while
he was her English lord and master. SO
it was all right all around.
''Nou think We never met before this
trip up the Nile she nurmmed, "but
we have. Several times in the last four
years" Glcre she laughed, and her
Laugh ter was as warm and full Of vital
color, though low in key, as her bcauti-
iul. profuse hair.) II have handed books
to You over the counter Of the Boston
public library, and you have thanked in
a dreamy. far-aWay manner that made
me think you must be a most interesting
boy"
| did not particularly like this refer
cnce to nay being Il boy, but | made 10
protest She continued;
"iou look surprised. but since we
have become such chums I'm going To
tell you my romance as a mark of my
personal esteem. / was poor girl from
the Berkshire hills, working in that
great, splendid library, and, strange as
it may sound, | had never seen a man
cared for.
well one day a stranger, very badly,
almost shabby. dressed, cape up and
cot book, not from me, but a girl near
by. As he turned our eyes met, and he
gave me slight stare. and the thought
flashed through me What kind eyes that
rough looking fellow has," Then | for
got all about hir the next minute.
Several days after this one of the
girls said to me, Nell, have you noticed
that man who comes here day after day,
get book, and sits at that table facing
your corner and stares and stares over
the book at me or you, and ] guess you
must be it this timer
II was nettled at this nonsense, but
looked in the direction she had indieat-
ed, and there, sure enough, was the
roughly dressed stranger with the kind,
quiet gray eyes; and they met mine for
Il moment then fell before my frown on
BIG book.
"A queer thrill ran through me- 1t
wasn't love, but it was queer. | turned
to my duties, and took no further notice.
But in a few days the other girls began
to plague ne about this constant visitor.
who, they said always took cut the same
big book. and never turned more than one
leaf from day to day, and watched me
like faithful dog.
Il saw that what they said was true,
and grew very angry; but what could
| do | couldn't complain to the au-
tnoritics of the library, for the man had
done nothing but look, and looking is not
q crime, though it's often an offense to Il
woman.
Then I bcthought myself of Cousin