Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-10
HIS GREAT SORROW.

Il source of wonderment to him and he
used it with the same enjoyment per-
SonalN that it produced on his auditors.
But the other letter, Andrea said l,
notc.us that he tucked a second missiye
slyly aside
He bIushed like a schoolgirl as he re-
piled: 'Zat Use from my 1v0nne, but
open it not till re line ampulia feenished
and success is mine"
Andre de Beaumont's pottery and
plaster work had been the fashion ever
since our women's club made him fad
by taking up both himself and his work.
An Alsatian, having come to our city
few years before after most roman
tic life of adventure all over the world.
In far-of Alsace he had left peasant
sweetheart one Hy0nne St. Romier,
whom lie was to claim when fortune ia
vorcd him. But the silver threads We're
showing now in Andres dark hair and
the time was not yet come.
My brother Paul conceived great lik-
ing for Andre, from the very first and
| had him often at our house. where we
spent many pleasant hours, entertained
! by Andres playing and singing of the
songs of his people.
At present he was engaged in expert
menting on a marvellous green-tinted
ampulla, which if a success means has
| fortune, and being one of his Oldest
/ friends, | was TO he the first to view the
wonder, now cooling in the pottery Kiln
/ Together we went into the workshop
where the kiln stood, and Andre began
| breaking down the plaster that held the
i brick door. At last it fell. a crumbled
/ mass. under his steady blows, but lie
seemed afraid to look within: success
! might still be as far away as ever.
laid my hand ON his arm. Courage,
/ mon ami. / said
! Reaching down lie drew out the vase,
almost reventiy, gazing spcechlessly at
! its beauty and perfect green colorinG
/ with streaming eyes. Success was An
/ dres portion at last.
With Il bound he was back in the
/ front shop with NvonnC's letter in his
! trembling fingers.
! He had read but a line when his face
! grew deathly white and he crushed the
/ letter into my hand
Mon Dieu! mamselle.' he cried.
! Read! Yyonne, she is dead,.' and he
| fell into the chair before the fire, bury
| ing his face in his hands
Poor Hvonne, her neighbor wrote, worn
out with long waiting, hoping against
hope. had died with Andres name on
her lips, blessing and commencing him
to the Blessed Virgin with her last
breath
Andre arose unsteadily, seemingly
grown feeble old man in the past few
n
workshop.
Pausing before the beautiful ampura
he raised his band and would have
struck it to the floor had l not grasped
his arm.
ANDRE l screamed.
"Ah. mann sel.e," he said gently.
wat is Zere now Eat should live when
| Yvonne she hat gomez"
ANDRE dear friend!' | cried. kneeling
beside him on the dusty floor and grasp
! ing his arm, this great sorrow must not
crush you, when at last after years of
work and self-sacritce success is on your
grasp. Let it be an influence in your life
for good that it's bitterness may leaven
your whole future life work. If Nvome
| could speak to you now ! am sure She
would advise you as | am doing"
! could not see his face, but his great
frame shook with sobs.
Dear Andre" | continued. "you and
| are entering life's afternoon but
! loved and lost once like you. He sailed
..way while l awaited his return, till one
Christmas eve, nearly twenty years ago.
| learned, just as you have done, that
he was killed far away on the other side
Of the world. | have never loved since
or married, for my heart lies buried in
far-otf Japan; but my great loss taught
me life's secret--to live for others hap
/ pinoss, making their lives so complete
that no one can fill your place. when the
/ time comes to leave all earthly things
/ behind"
He pressed my hand but made no re
ply.
We sail for Jamaica next week Paul
/ ana !. Come with us, cheer ami. and
among new scenes and people begin your
1 life anew"
The room was dark now except for
the light of the blazing logs and |
/ lighted the lamp and drew the curtains
across the windows Outside the crisp
voices Of merry shoppers and clank and
din Of the street coming softly to our
/ ears
tome tomorrow. msele." he said
ut last. and you shall hat my answer. -
Seeing he wished to be alone | babe
| BIN good night and went away, leaving
/ him alone with his great sorrow.
ON the next day it was nearly noon
before Paul and | reached Andres shop.
\ light snow had fallen, making every
/ thing look cold and cheerless about the
/ place. The curtains of the front room
werc tightly drawn. the lamp burned
| dinly on the table while only the
/ clarred logs remained in the little fire
! place.
We called Andres name, but the echo
/ at orr voices was the only reply. 80 We
/ hurried into tue work shop in the rear.
Andre was there kueeling before the
empty KILN. against which his arms rest
! Cd supporting his head Clasped in bis
hands We're the letter Of death and the
/ little wooden cruciiX. the gift If
/ Yvonne long ago, while the beautiful ann
/ pula. the crown Of his worldly ambition.
! lay about him crushed into thousand
! fragments
PAUL drew me back gently
w @ Salt alone. Miuua" he sal!
Poor Andre has gone"
II was all too true. Just as success
and happiness were in his grasp. though
Tar from home in foreign land. Andres
| spiriI was wandering with Yvonne in the
1 SuhiH valleys Of the beautiful Rhine.