Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-03-11
THE CUPID IN THE COCOON.

whose skillful fingers added greatly to
the elegance of fair Parisians.
Scraps of ribbon lay scattered about,
paper fans. bits of lace and spangled
fiDery 1t was a fit home for the little
lady who lived there, with her laughing
eyes and golden har repeating the sun
shine of her smile.
Narcotics room was also filled with
fine stuffs and delicate materials which,
adjusted by the clever dressmaker, made
beautiful dresses for her numerous Gus
toners. In the midst of ali her elegant
workmanship the pretty young girl looked
like little fairy, a charmer of chiffons
And while Marcelle worked and sang
in her bright room, from the other side
of the street two eyes watched her con-
stantly, two gentle, 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 so
he only watched her with humble, sup
plicating eyes.
But his gaze did not move the merry
Marcelle, who replied with mocking words
to NJ. Alfred's serious love. Day by day,
the watching eyes grew sadder and more
hopeless.
December came, bringing with it gray
days filled with ice and snow. But even
December could not alter the little dress
makers gaieIy, and she sang and
worked, clipping her big scissors and
shaking back the rebellious curls out of
her eyes.
Suddenly, looking down, she saw some
thing 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 cocoon
lying beside him she realized that he had
just emerged into the cold world. at a
season when all other butterflies had dis
appeared among the dead leaves "Poor
little fellow" thought Marcelle, plying
ly, "how miserable he looks" and she
took the tiny butterfly in her hand.
All, how cold 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 protecting gesture Marcelle i'm
prisoned 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 discov-
cred the warm, perfumed garden which
instinct led him to seek With the ut
most confidence he unrolled his minute
n -
eat
"Why, he is hungry" said the pretty
dressmaker. What can | give him?"
She looked about her; her room was
like an enchanted garden. The brilliant,
soft folding materials were the scattered
petals of bright flowers, emerging from
the knots of ribbon that formed the
delicate calyx.
There were flowers everywhere, on the
silks and over the muslins, on the carpet
and around the chimney Alas! They
were all artificiall Everything about her,
which had hitherto so charmed her, was
a mere illusion, empty of life. Was she,
too, like that?
just then the door bell rang. 1t was
a messenger bringing a beautiful clus-
ter of chrysanthemums with a card on
which Marcelle read: From NJ. Alfred"
Monsieur Alfred! How had tine timid
fellow ever made up his mind to this ex-
IRENE holiness? To be sure, chrysanthe-
NUNS 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 l needed them" said Marcelle, hap
PLY.
For once NJ Alfred had been success
full nor had he, like the butterfly, mis-
taken the season. The pretty dress
maker set the little insect upon the rosy
heart of one of the chrysanthemums and
the butterfly Immediately knew that life
was good.
He drank long. delicious draughts of
sweetness, intoxicated with the new
strength it brought him. His wings
opened widely, showing the wonderful
As she watched him Marcelle fell to
dreaming and a host of pictures rose be-
fore her mind. She saw once more the
eyes of NJ. Alfred, humble and entreat-
ing. He was not very handsome, surely,
but he was good ana 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 a symbol to
her she did not know that the Greeks.
in former days, had represented the soul
as a butterfly.
And now, as she understood. her heart
Id - 4
Joy into the life of NJ. Alfred as he had
brought life to the weak little insect
And would she not receive in return Is
much as she gave. since from him had
come the single spark of life that the
had found among the artificial
flowers of her rocni2
H.. - ah-n,,.b 49, IL 4l-.-n