The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1910-01-27
ENDED BEFORE BEGUN
BY ANNA WOODBRIDGE.

udNe 1du II love dudlf OF WnlcC I
was not conscious till II was an over.
How could this be? Listen and viii
tell you.
went to Paris to study art. / was
then a girl Of nineteen. lived in a
pension occupying one floor of five
story building. There was an elevator.
one of that foreign kind which you
enter, shut the doors. press n button.
and the cage takes you up. stopping at
your floor. lived on the fourth floor.
Sometimes l used the elevator and
sometimes walked up or down the
staircase. One day when ascending on
foot door opened at the third land
ing and a young man came out and
met me on the staircase. de was very
handsome. with great. dreamy eyes.
and faultlesSly dressed. wished to
look at him. but he kept his eyes axed
on me. and felt constrained to tuns
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.
| Quentiy. was so conccited as to
think that he learned the hour when
1 came from the art school and met me
purposely. Possibly he might have
watched at window for me to enter
the building At any rate, we met so
frequently that I felt had reason 20
suspect that it was not all accidental.
After awhile he began TO raise bis
hat TO me when he passed. replied.
to his salute with a nod which tried
to make appear Indifferent There was
nothing presenting ia his notice OF me.
only civility. indeed. his manner was
so deferentiai as well as engaging
that | 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 II y0n give a
Frenchman an inch he will take an ell.
Nevertheless the time came when
there was occasion for me TO speak to
him. l was carrying some sketches up
to my room, and one slid out of my
portfolio and fiuttcred down the stair
case. He ran down after Il. picked II
up aud handed Ii TO me. His lips
wore one OF his sweet smiles. and he
looked things unutterable with his
eyes. OF course I thanked him, but
that was all. passed on up TO my
abiding place and entered without n
look behind me.
One day I became aware that an
other person was interested In me. As
entered the building where ] lived
1 saw face at a window opposite.
1t was the face OF man, and he
stared at me. Indeed. ii was so evil
dent that ! was an object OF marked
importance to him that ! felt trou-
bled. ran into the house. took the
elevator and was lifted to my pension.
After that every day when l went
home the man opposite was at his win
dow. and every time he stared at me.
Finally ] delayed or anticipated my
arrival in order TO escape him.
There was such contrast between
his manner and that OF the young
man on the floor below me that | ratn-
er 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 | met him | encouraged him to
make my acquaintance. Finally l
told him of the man across the street
who stared at me. The truth is i
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 behind
me when | heard a door open on the
floor below and my friend appeared.
He waited for me till came down to
him. | noticed that he was dressed
all in black. Not white speck was
visible. even at his throat. asked II
he had lost any one dear 10 him. and
he said he had not Herregarded me
with n singular expression. which l
could not interpret. but It seemed to
me such an expression as man 70
whom l belonged might wear or that
of one who was making a sacrifice for
me. We walked down TO the street
together. A carriage was standing at
the door. My friend looked at me ear
nestly. lifted his hat. got into the car
rage aud was driven away. went
on to the art school. where became
engrossed in my studies and was oblivi
Gus to all else.
When went home by rapid glance
l satisfied myself that the face dread
ed was not at the window. hoped
would meet my friend on the stairs
I did not. Nor did again meet him.
A week passed. another. a third, and
I did not see him. What did II mean?
Had he left the place without speak
ing of his going to me?' | was aston
ished at myself for expecting him TO
inform me OF his intentions.
tried to forget all about him. bat
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 | bad so often seen him
come out, determined to learn the
truth.