The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-01-14
ENDED BEFORE BEGUN
BY ANNA WOODBRIDGE.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press Assoc
ciatton,l


| have had love affair of which !
was not conscious till 1t was all over
How could this be? Listen and | will
tell you.
went to Paris to study art, was
then a girl of nineteen. ! lived In
pension occupying one floor of a five
story building. There was an elevator.
one of that foreign kind which you
enter, shut the doors. press button,
and the cage takes you up, stopping at
your floor. | lived OH the fourth noor
Sometimes | used the elevator and
sometimes walked up or down the
staircase. One day when ascending Oh
foot door opened at the third laid
ing and a young man came out and
met me on the staircase He was very
handsome, With great, dreamy eyes,
and faultlessly dressed. wished to
look at him, but he kept his eyes fixed
on me. and felt constrained to turn
mine away.
There was that about him which
made me DESTROYS to see him again,
but we did not happen to meet for
several days. Then we met quite fire.
quently. was so conceited as to
think that he learned the hour when
| came from the art school and met me
purposely. Possibly he might have
watched at a window for me to enter
the building. At any rate, we met so
frequently that | felt had reason TO
suspect that it was not all accidental.
After awhile he began to raise his
hat to me when he passed. | replied
to his salute with a nod which | tried
to make appear Indifferent. There was
nothing presuming in his notice OF me,
only ciyility. indeed, his manner was
so deferential as well as engaging
that l was quite won by it. In time
he gave me scarcely perceptible
smile in passing. did not return it.
was brought up In America with the
understanding that If you give a
Frenchman an inch be will take an ell,
Nevertheless the time came when
there was occasion for me to speak to
him. was carrying some sketches up
to my room. and one slid out of my
portfolio and fluttered down the stair
case He ran down after 1t, picked II
up and handed it to me. His lips
wore one of his sweet smiles, and be
looked things unutterable with his
eyes. Of course | thanked him, but
that was ALL | passed on up to my
abiding place and entered without a
look behind me.
One day | became aware that an
other person was interested in me. AS
| entered the building where l lived
saw q face at a window opposite
1t was the face Of man, and he
stared at me. Indeed. it was so evil
dent that / was an object of marked
importance to him that | felt trou,
bled. l ran into the house, took the
elevator and was lifted to my pension,
After that every day when went
home the man opposite was at his win
dow, and every time he stared at me.
Finally l delayed or anticipated my
arrival in order to escape him.
There was such a contrast between
his manner and that Of the young
man on the floor below me that rath-
err warmed to the latter. The next
time | met him | spoke a few trivial
words to him. He replied in kind.
treating my action as a matter OF mere
politeness, and passed ON. After that
when I met him l encouraged him 10
make my acquaintance. Finally l
told him of the man across the street
who stared at me. The truth Is
craved protection. My friend was
sympathetic, but nothing more.
The next day ! had occasion TO go
out to do an errand in the early morn
ing. | had just closed the door behlnd
me when ! heard door open on the
floor below and my friend appeared
He waited for me till came down to
him. noticed that be was dressed
all in black. Not white speck was
visible, even at his throat. | asked II
he had lost any one dear to him, and
he said he had not. He regarded me
with a singular expression, which |
could not interpret. but 1t seemed 10
me such ali expression as man to
whom | belonged might wear or that
Of one who was making sacrince Tor
me. We walked down to the street
together. A carriage was standing al
the door. My friend looked at me ear
nestly, lifted his hat, got Into the car
rage and was driven away. | went
on to the art school, where | became
engrossed in my studies and was oblivl'
Gus to all else
When | went home by rapid glance
| satisfied myself that the face dread
ed was not at the window. ! hoped
would meet my friend on the stairs
| did not. Nor did again meet him
A week passed. another. third, ana
| did not see him. What did it mean
Had he left the place without speak
ing of his going to me: was aston
ished at myself for expecting him tc
inform me Of his intentions.
| tried to forget all about him. bu'
failed signally, | lost interest in my
studies. lay awake nights, At last
when could endure to remain unin
formed no longer. knocked at the door
from which | had so often seen hin
come out, determined to learn th'
| truth.
was received by lady, who gay'
me a pressure Of the hand and mel
ancholy, sympathetic smile.
HE roomed in my apartments" sht
said. HE gave me his confidence. III
loved you and lost his life as your pro
tector. The morning you last met Ski
he was killed in a duel with the mai
of whom you complained to him"
stood staring at the woman in NUT
| oatnpfs hunnnt man had lOVai me