The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-06-10


~ years ago She tall and fair. had
big blue eyes and a shrill voice and, when
one of the men -about-town present put an orange
the back of his hand, she kicked 1t to the
ceiling with her golden slipper. never failing to
hit it,
Imagine a frail slender little girl from
of the great dressmakers' workrooms in the
Rue de la suddenly spreading her wings
and hurrying along the glittering asphalt where
the timers wink at her with their monocles
squeezed tight in the other eye.
of the little working girls who
a two minutes past twelve came rushing out
like lightning with Fernando. Clementine. Mar
guerite and the whole gay crowd, flirting, smiling
and chatting, throwing themselves down on one
of the lawns of the Tuileres Garden to eat their
thick slices of bread and ham. which was all
they had for luncheon.
was just twenty years old then. awk
ward and bashful so dared not tell Rose how
much l admired her. Then I quite Unexpectedly
inherited a little money from old aunt and
this suddenly gave the needed courage. 1t
matter. for Rose at first turned a
ear my entreaties. and 1t took more than
three weeks and win her.
One evening my little friend with blushins
cheeks and sparkling eyes stood as fascinated in
front of one of the round poster columns which
covered with glowing advertisements de-
scribng the charms of the towns along the
Riviera, where artistocracy spends few months
squanders money recklessy.
and looked at them in silence for
several moments. but at last 1t came from her
lips: Yes that is the place where l should like
to live" and her dark eyes shot fire
would you like to go to Italy, darling? Moth
ing is easier. We will take trip down there"
oh nonsense"
she that was in earnest and
I shall never forget the wonderful trip. How she
cried with JOY the sight of the mountains and
blue sky. which greeted the other side
of the Simplon pass the fragrance of the flowers
and the sight the of beautiful little
cottages along the swiftly rushing rivers.
Then followed a series of wonderful days. dur
ing which thought OF neither past nor future.
simply gloried in youth and happiness.
l had figured that, were living, my money
would last for about three weeks but what did
l care? Three weeks seemed long time
then when looking ahead, and what was to come
afterwards did worry in the least.
Opposite the dinner table every evening
sat an old English major. who evidently
ormously rich. He was ugly sin, and the wait
said quite right in his mind.
soon noticed that he began trying firt with
Rose. She noticed ii, too. changed
seats only be followed to the other table by
the major. l only twenty. hotheaded and i'm
pulsive, and the next time l caught him making
eyes Rose. l struck him squarely in the face.
\ challenge followed and the next day met
In an orchard outside the city. l fred the first
shot and calmly waited for the majors He hit
we'll / felt a stinsing blow in the chest, every
thing turned black in front OF my eyes and
tainted
My awakening life l never forget. IN
he there smell OF ether and car
oolic acid, and Rose, suddenly transformed into
a silent nurse, WAS bending over me.
She kissed tenderly and whispered: Now
you safe. darling. The bullet has been ex-
All you need is rest
] felt terribly weak, could stand the least
ray OF daylight. ana my head hot and dizzy
with fever.
l slowly recovered my strength. and Rose
te.t my bedside. Her presence was life itself