The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
THE CUPID IN
| THE COCOON.
Fro the French,

y
the room of a clever, dainty worker, whose
sbilful fingers added greatly to the ele-
eance Of fair Parisans.
Scraps of ribbon lay scattered ABOUT.
paper fans bits of lace and spangled finery.
II was a fit home for the little lady who
uye there, with her laughing eyes and
GOLDEN hair repeating the sunshine OF her
smile.
Mnrrelle s room was also filed with fne
s.llTs and delicate materials which, ad-
justcI by the clever dresstnaker, made
beautiful dresses for her numerous GUS
toners In the midst Of all her elegant
Workmanship the pretty young girl looked
Hike little fairy, a charmer OF Gibbons.
And while Marcelle worked and sang
In Ter bright room, from the other SIDE OF
the street two eyes watched her constantly,
two geutle, very sad eyes. those OF Nj.
Alfred.
NJ 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 30 he
only watched her with humble, supplicating
eyes.
But his gaze did not move the merry
Mar ellie, who replied with hooking words
b NJ Al'red's serious love. Day by day.
tie watching eyes grew sadder and more
hopeless.
December came. bringing with it gray
DAYS file with ice ard snow. But even
De emher could net alter the little dress
ma er S gayety. and she sang and worked,
rlinving her big scissors and shaking back
tie re- ellious curis out of her eyes.
suddenly, looking down, she saw some
thing lying motioness on the floor.
For PHYS sake she cried merrily,
IF here Isn't a butterfly! Where could he
haya come from"
Then catching sight of the split cocoon
just emerged into the cold world, at sea-
son when all other butterflies had disap-
peared among the dead leaves: Poor
ht,e fellow" thought Marcelle, pityingly,
show miserable he looks, and she took the
tiny butterfly in her hand.
All how cold he was! Holding him care
fully 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 i'm
no hurry to leave the fresh, charming hand.
Doubtless, after the dark horizons that
until then had filed his tiny heart with
dread he thought he had at length discov-
eTeO tne warm, peri uIntu Rdiueii WHICH
instinct he'd him to seek With the utmost
confidence he unrolled his minute antennB
and looked for something to eat.
Why, he is hungry said the pretty
dressmaker. What can l give him2"
ike he an n saTden 1 The br
liant, soft folding materials were the scat
tered petals of bright flowers, emerging
from the knots of ribbon that formed the
delicate CalyS.
silks and 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
q messenger bringing beautiful clus-
ter of chrysanthemums with card on
which Marcelle read: From NJ. Alfred"
Monsieur Alfred! How had the timid
treme boldness7 To be sure, ohrysanthe-
mums were not exactly the flowers Of
love, but what else did the cold month
of December have to offer?
How nice to have them come just when
needed Them said Marcelle. happily
For once NJ. Alfred had been successful
nor had he, like the butterfly, mistaken
the season. The pretty dressmaker set
the little insect upon the rosy heart of one
Immediately knew that life was good
He drank long, delicious dreughts OF
sweetness, intoA icated with the new
strength it brought him. His wings opened
widely, showing the wonderful marking.
As she watched him Marcelle fell to
dreaming and host of pictures rose be-
fore her mind. She saw once more the
Eyes of NJ. Alfred. humble and entreating
BE vas not very handsome, surely, but he
was good and honest.
And Just as the butterfly struggled and
sought for the strength to live, so the poor
boy suffered from being kept away from
her; In herself lay the happiness of his life.
Yes, now she understood. She had never
thought of this before.
The little insect seemed symbol to her.
she did not know that the Greeks. in former
lays, had represented the soul as a butter
BY.
And now, as she understood, her heart
grew troubled G''"it she not to bring
10y into the life OF VI Alfred as he had
brought life to the weak little insect? And
would she not receive in return as much as
he gave, since from him had come the
Jingle spark of ife that the butterfly had
ound among the artificial flowers OF her
Oom?
Then. not through pity, but through her
understanding Of life, the flower OF love
ploorned in the young girls heart. Going
10 the window. Marcelle looked across to
he window on the other side with eyes that
aid plainly:
you may come and see me, Monsieur
Alfred"