Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-12-03
THE CUPID IN
THE COCOON.

| greatly 70 the elegance OF lair Paris
Ians.
Scraps Of ribbon lay SCI tered about.
paper fans. bits OF lace and spangled
hnery. It was at home for the III
tie lady who lived there, with her.
laughing eyes and golden hair repeat
ing the sunshine OF her smile.
| Narcotics room was also filled with
ine sturs and delicate materials
which, adjusted by the clever dress
maker, made beautiful dresses for her
numerous customers In the midst of
all her elegant Workmanship the pretty
young girl looked like a fairy. a
charner Of chiffons
And while Marcelle worked and sang
In her bright room, from the other side
OF the street two eyes watched her con
stanuy. two gentle, very sad eyes.
those OF NJ. Alfred
| M. Alfred was desperately In love
with his charming neighbor, and that
was why he looked so often out OF his
own dark window up at her bright
one. he did not know how to tell her
OF his love, and so he only watched her
with humble, duplicating eyes.
But his gaze did not move the merry
Marcelle, who repiiN with mocking
words to Nj. Alfred's serious love. Day
by day, the watching eyes grew sad
der and more hopeless.
December came. bringing with It
gray days filed with ice and snow.
But even December could not alter
the little dressmaker's gaiety, and she
sang and worked. clipping her big
scissors and shaking back the rebel
lious curls out OF her eyes.
Suddenly, looking down. she saw
something lying motionless on the
| floor.
For PHYS sake" she cried merrily,
IF here isn't butterfly Where could
he have come from?"
Then catching sight OF the split CO.
coon lying beside him she realized that
he had just emerged into thecold world,
at season when all other butterflies
had disappeared among the dead
leaves. Poor little fellow" thought
Marcelle, pltyingIy, how miserable he
looks" and she took the tiny butterfly
in her hand.
An. how Geld he was! Holding him
carefully she brought him near the
stove and soon in the gentle heat the
beautiful wings unfolded and began to
wave family.
With a protecting gesture Marcelle
imprisoned him, but the butterfly
seemed in no hurry TO leave the fresh.
charming hand,
Doubtless, after the dark horizons
that until then had filled his tiny heart
with dread he thought he had at length
discovered the warm, perfumed garden
which instinct led him to seek. With
the utmost confidence he unrolled his
minute antennae and looked for some
thing to eat.
| Why, he's hungry" saiu the pretty
dressmaker 'wnat can l give him?"
She looked about her: her room was
like an enchanted garden. The bril-
liant, soft folding materials were scat
tered petals OF bright flowers, emerg-
ing from the knots of ribbon that
formed the delicate calyx.
There were flowers everywhere. on
the silks ard over the muslins, on the
carpet and around the chimney. Alas!
| They were all artificial Everything
about her, which had hitherto so
charmed her, was mere Illusion.
empty of life. Was she, too, like that?
Just then the door bell rang. 1t
was messenger bringing a beautiful
cluster of chrysanthemums, with a
card ON which Marcelle read: From
M. Alfred"
Monsieur Alfred! How had the timid
fellow ever made up his mind to this
extreme boldness? To be sure, chry-
santhemums were not exactly the flow
ers ef owe, but what else did the cold
month OF December have to offer?
5ow rice to have them come Just
wl7a 4eeGed them," said Marcelle,
hsr.Ey.
n once M. Alfred had been success
iri, nor had he, IKE the butterfly, mis-
taken the season. The pretty dress
maker set the little insect upon the
rosy heart Of one of the chrysanthe-
NUNS and the butterfly Immediately
knew that life was good.
He drank long. delicious draughts of
sweetness, intoxicated with the new
strength 1t brought him. His wings
opened widely, showing the wonderful
marking.
AS she watched him, Marcelle fell
to dreaming and host of pictures rose
before her mind. She saw once more
the eyes of NJ. Alfred, humble and en-
treating. He was not very handsome.
surely. but he was good and honest.
And just as the butterfly struggled
aid sought for the strength to live, so
the poor boy suffered from being kept
away from her; in herself lay the hap
piness of his life. Yes, now she under
stood. She had never thought of this
before.
The little insect seemed symbol to
her She did not know that the
Greeks, In former days, had represent