Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-06-02
CROWN VS.. CUPID.


Oscars eightieth birthday, to which the
American consul had procured invitations
for many of the guests at the hotel. To-
ward 0 o'clock the streets suddenly be-
came animated and gay throng of men
and women, in carriages and on foot,
might be seen vending their way to the
now brilliantly lighted Schioss.
An hour later a tall. dark figure clad
in flowing draperies emerged from the
hotel and glided swiftly and gracefully
down the high street to the beach below.
On the beach the woman threw back
the long dark cloak which had been 50
closely wrapped about her, disclosing a
slender, graceful form. with fair gialish
face above full OF youth and sentiment.
She stood partly in the shadow OF great
rock yet with the mOonbeams falling di-
rectly on her, lending an added charm
to her tender beauty, and as she waited
thus another figure came quickly across
the sands toward her.
She did not Sc the man approach, for
her gaze was fixed on the distant hori-
zon yelled in shimmering mist. He came
quite close to her.
Helen" he whispered softly, and she
turned with a cry of glad surprise. ex-
tending both hands toward him.
Il was beginning to fear that your
duties as aide-de-camp would prevent you
from coming tonight" she said, and as
he did not speak, went on, but perhaps
should not have written to tell you of
our arrival until after this state function.
Are you cross because | didn't wait,
Carl?"
Not at all, my dear girl replied the
young German in English, which he
spoke fuently. Il could not be cross
with you if | would. But tell me,
Liebschen, why are you not at the palace
tonight? | saw several of your people
there with the American consul"
My aunt wanted me to go, and I'm
almost sorry now that | didn't since you
regret having come here to see me-" The
girls answer was full of reproach, and
the man felt how brutality cold he had
been.
at is because you do not understand
ali that you say these things" he said,
throwing rs arm passionately about her
shoulders. You have been constantly in
my thoughts since that day l met you in
Rome. at Signor Rosettis studio. Do
| you remember it, Helen?"
yes, perfectly. | had been watching
| You from the window as you came along
on the terrace below, and then | saw you
stop to speak to the ragged little flower
| girl with the basket of violets. She was
beautiful, too, and as you talked to her
so interestedly, mentally compared you
! to King Cophetua and the beggar maid.
| Then you came in, and the old professor
! introduced MS. He said we were his rival
pupils in Italian, and after that we grew
to be great friends, didn't we?"
| Yes, great friends" he answered,
withdrawing his arm from her shoulders,
but why did you compare me to King
| Cophetua ?"
The girl shivered slightly as though
suddenly struck by cold breeze.
To be strictly truthful, did not stop
| to consider the adaptability of the smile.
at the time. | was only a romantic
schoolgirl out for my first holiday and
naturally my mind was alert to any.
thing unusual which might happen
around me- Seeing a we'll dressed and
apparently well-bred young man CON
versing with ragged yet beautiful girl
reminded me of the legend of King Co
phetua and his beggar maid. Hence you
see, the comparison was but the fanciful
creation of a romantic brain"
well DONE" laughed Carl Won
! Schreiner. You have proved it like a
proposition in Euclid" But despite his
popularity there was a mirthlessness in
his tones which grated on Helen Went
worth's ear.
lie turned from her and looked out
over the broad eXpanse of the sea. no
longer tranquil, for the incoming tide
was advancing and in a few moments
would be at their feet The pale light
OF the moon fell on his handsome figure
wearing the uniform OF the Isehnwohld
army and showed to perfection the clean
cut outline OF his profile His usually
firm mouth had relaxed into gentle
curves and his whole expression was al
most Womany in its tenderness. She
thought of that April day in Rome on
the hotel piazza overlooking the Tiber
when he had come to say good bye. So
TINS was their meeting. but he was no
longer a boy and the old feeling OF good
eomradeship had given place to an al.
most painfully constrained cordiaHty
1t Is growing late and | must co
back She said ut length Her voice was
soft and subdued, but he did not look at
her.
What pretty rose You are wearing
Carl! May | not have it as a memento
OF tonighty''
lie unfastened the rose from his Goa
and flung it into the sea. hut Instant,
the girl stopped and rescued it.
IN hero arc yp1Iv mod ,Yay,,o,, t~--1s,
She asked hooking reproach in her
tone. Your temper is sadly out of re.
pair and YOU are tiresome tonight. Go
home and take long rest and perhaps
next time-well-sweet dreams. mon ami
good night"
The next morning Helen Wentworth
came down late to breakfast. Miss Egan.
her aunt, looked up
Il am glad to see you are quite well
again this morning She said. Her niece
/ A1g1 In h.a-