United labor bulletin., 1913-08-16
1T WAS so PUzzLING
BY JOHN NEWTON.

Dobozy and Angyal were sitting on
the divan in the smoking room talk
ing of fair-haired lady. The still
ness of the night, the red light of the
lamp on the armors, swords and
shields on the wall, the strong Turk
ish tobacco wrapped everything in the
room in a blue fog and led their imag-
nations into the empire Of mystery.
They talked of many things in the abb
stract, though the principal subject of
their conversation was a golden-haired
lady who was very real indeed.
"You know that I am madly in love
with her." said Dobozy. the magnate.
When see her have to use all my
self-control not to throw myself at her
feet. But listen-last week we were
on our way towards the Turkish ruin
and it was getting dark as we return
ed. She and / had walked little
ahead of the others. We stopped on
bridge to wait for them. Below US
the Danube was rushing and above
our heads the moon was shining.
Suddenly / felt her hand gripping my
arm and she said: Il can look into
your very soul as IL it were made from
glass. / can read every word writ
ten there. Surely you can also read
mine. No. please do not say any
thing" Strange words. you must
admit. / did not answer. The others
caught up with US. She was unusual
ly quiet all the rest of the evening
Occasionally she looked at me and
smiled sadly.
And what happened then?" asked
Angyal, the poet, very much interest
ed.
I'VE arranged a new excursion to
Bookstal, and then we drove home.
The next day we started out in six
carriages. She sat opposite and until
We reached Jause she was bubbling
over with good humor. There some
gypsies began singing their ugly mel
ancholy songs. Her face had turned
quite pale and she bit her lips nervous
ly. At last / did not dare say any
thing more to her. for felt her soul
was filled with bitterness. Suddenly
she arose and went away from the
rest OF US to sit down alone on
bench in the wood / followed her
and noticed that her eyes were full
of tears and her face was convulsed
with pain"
"Irma. do tell me what is the matter
with your" / asked.
she stamped her foot angrily and
said: Please leave me alone An
hour later she drove home alone with
out saying goodby to anybody. But
now comes the strangest part OF all.
Cd har
villa. She stood on the balcony with
her sister waving her hand at US. and
when my carriage passed she threw
a red rose to me and cried Goodnight,
Dobozy.' What do you think of this.
my friend? How am to explain the
sudden change in her treatment of
meg She must have a secret But
what can it be-"
"A very interesting woman" said
Angyal. 1T would be something to a
poet to look into her soul Perhaps
he might be able to solve the riddle"
Now. here is the real explanation.
On the day OF the excursion to Rock
stal Irma had just received a pair of
new shoes. which. of course. she must
put on right away. Until they reached
Jause. as long as they were sitting
in the carriage. everything was well.
but when she put her foot on the
ground she might have screamed with
pain. She felt as Y she were sitting
on crater of glowing lava patning
her feet in II. The others who no
ticed her distorted face began to
question her and to put an end to
this she walked to the bench in the
wood and when Dobozy did not leave
her alone even there she had an at
tack of nervous crying. At last the
pain became so uncomfortable that she
drove home. AS soon as she got rid
of the two instruments of torture she
felt ms happy as ever before and her
happiness eliminated when she saw
Dobozy driving by and she threw him
the rose.
The next day the golden-haired girl.
beautiful and charming as ever, prom
enaded in the park.
In front of the bandstand she met
Dobozy, who at first felt rather EN-.
barrassed. but Irma's bewitching smile
soon gave him back his courage.
An hour later Dobozy called on his
friend, the poet Angyal In a button.
hole was rose 1rma had worn in
the morning. As soon as he saw An.
gyal he burst out:
Congratulate me. old boy, Irma has
promised to be my wife"
But neither of the two ever sue
ceeded in solving the riddle Of Mrs
Irma Dobozy's life.