Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1910-01-06
ENDED BEFORE BEGUN
BY ANNA WOODBRIDGE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press Asso-
carton

cation
have had a love affair OF which |
was not conscious tin It was ali over
How could this be: Listen and | will
tel! yon.
went to Paris To study arr was
then a girl OF nineteen lived III q
pension occupying one t'"u ut five
story building. There was an elevator,
me OF that foreign klnu which you
enter. slut the duors. press Il button,
and the cage takes ynu up, stopping at
your floot lived on the fourth floor
Sometimes | used the elevator and
sometimes walked UP or down the
staircase tne day when ascending On
foot door opened al the third And.
ing and young man came OUT and
met me TN the staircase He was very
handsome. with great. dreamy eyes.
and faultleSSly dressed | wished 70
look al him. bat he kept his eyes fixed
on me. and | felt constrained t. turn
mine away.
There was that about him which
made me DESTROYS to see hin again,
but we did not happen to NEE, for
several days Then we met quite fire.
Quently was so c0nceited as 70
think that he learned the hour when
came from the ART school and met ma
purpuSely Possibly he might nave
watched AT a window for me to enter
the building. At any rate. we me, 40
frequently thnt felt | had reason to
suspect that it was not ali accidental
After awhile he began TO raise ris
hat to me when hr passed ! replied
to his salute with II nod which | tried
to make appear Indifferent There was
nothing presuming In his notice of the.
only civility. Indeed. his manner was
so deferential as well az engaging
that i was quite won by II In time
he gave me scarcely berceptible
smile IN passing. did not return it.
] was brought up In America with the
understanding that II you give
Frenchman an inch he will lake 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 futtered down the stair
case. He ran down after 1t. picked 1t
up and handed 1t to me- His lips
wore one Of his sweet smiles. and he
looked things unutterable with his
eyes. or 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
l entered the building where lived
| saw a face at 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 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 | rath-
er warmed to the latter The next
time | met him | spoke few trivial
words to him. He replied In kind.
treating my action as matter OF mere
politeness. and passed on. After that
when | met him encouraged him to-
make my acquaintance. Finally
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 60
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 to him. aud
he said he had not. He regarded me
with a singular expression. which l
could not interpret. but 1t seemed 10
me such an expression as man TO
whom | belonged might wear or that
of one who was making a sacrifice Tor
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 and 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 a rapid glance
l satisfied myself that the face dread
ed was not ut the window. hoped l
would meet my friend on the stairs.
| did not. Nor did | again meet him.
A week passed. another. third. aud
. I did not see him. What did II meanf
Had he left the place without speak.
ing Of his going to me! ! was aston
ished at myself for expecting him to
hform me Of his intentions.
tried to forget all about him. but
failed signaily. | 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 him
come out, determined to learn the
truth
was received by lady. who gave
me pressure of the hand and mel
ancholy. sympathetic smile.
"TIe roomed In my apartments" she
said lie gave me his confidence He
loved you and lost his life as your pro-
tector, The morning you last met hEn
he was killed In a duel with the man
Of whom You complained to him"
stood staring AT the woman In mute
establishment. man had loved ue.