Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-04-29
His FIRST LOVE



land as the great liner cut it's
way through the stormy waves of the
Atlantic. He seemed lost in thought
rs he stood leaning against the rail
ing gazing at the waves which broke
themselves into seething foam against
the side Of the vessel.
Suddenly IA young girls sweet voice
aroused him from his dreams.
so here you are, doctor! If Miss
Hess knew that You prefer listening
to the waves instead of to her sing
ing it would be all over between you"
She laughed a delightful silyery
laugh and her pretty little face looked
teasingly at the doctor, who evidently
tried not to meet her eyes. 1t was a
moment before he answered:
You asked me to-day, Miss Lingen,
if 1t was only longing for my old home
which takes me back to Germany after
six years in America. At that time |
eyaded your questions. Now l feel
like telling you what drives me back,
IL you do not think it will be too tire
some to listen to story, which is
probably Of no interest to you"
mo, | am sure your story will inter
est me, doctor" she replied softly.
1T was seven years ago. had just
been graduated from college, and was
doing hospital service at Berlin. AS l
thought myself the son of wealthy
fat T F. IN, f,,l
never thinking of where the money
was to come from which | so reck-
lessly spent One evening | accepted
the invitation of friend to be his
guest at supper in company with
some chorus girls from the Thalia
Theater.
"One Of these, a sweet quiet girl of
Is, attracted my attention because of
her digniiied behavior, which was in
marked contrast to that of the others,
who were anything but conventional in
their manners. She seemed to me the
embodiment of all womanly beauty
and virtues. | soon found out that
she had gone on the stage only to sup
port her mother, who was an invalid,
and that she was anything but happy
ut the life behind the footlights.
To make long story short, fell
deeply in love with her with all the
fervor of my n years. Then my ia
Their died suddenly. and instead of a
fortune left nothing but debts This
upset all my plans. l saw that from
now on | must rely only upon myself
and to marry poor girl under these
circumstances appeared to be wholly
out of the question.
Il would not give up my Paula,
however. but told her that we would
have to postpone our wedding, and she
promised to wait for me. She had left
the stage when we became engaged,
and now took a position in an office
Mt miserable salary, while l went to
America to seek my fortune
In the beginning, we correspondent
every three days. and every steamer
| brought me long letters from her, but
in the foreign country my love seemed
! to wane. and soon | wrote less regu-
larly and at last stopped entirely.
though her letters to me told me Of
her despair at losing me.
And at last her letters also ceased
She had become convinced of nv
faithlessness, the tie was broken and
| must admit that felt it as a great
relief.
Then, one evening. about Is months
ago. | was called to the deathhed Of =
poor young girl who had taken poison
because her lover had proved faith.
less. Never shall forget the terrible
sufrerings Of that poor creature. When
she had died and | went home ! folt
like a murderer In my own eves-T
who had behaved in the same out.
ra geous manner to a sweet girl who
loved me with all her heart The NOM
ory of Paula followed me everywhere
1t almost drove me insane. and now 7
am on my way back to try to find
her"
He had finished his story ana the
young girl, who had not INTERRUPTED
him once, remained silent After a
few moments silence he said softly:
Have l lost your good opinion.
Miss lingcn: VIII you now think Of
me rs Il heartess scoundrel. who has
ruined the life of an innocent girl?"
She looked into his eyes for mo-
ment, aud said, evidently deeply touch.
ed mt what she had Just heard.
No, doctor As l see how much
/ you suffer now l cannot condemn You.
You have made grave mistake. but I
nope that you will not find it too late