Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-04-22
THE MOTH AND
THE STAR
The Story of an Automobile
Accident That Was Not
Wholly Disastrous.
By MARVIN DANA
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

Zone never sees you alone. COM
planned. Always" / persisted, you
are in haste, occupied with thousand
things, with everything except me. To
me you are unattainable as a star.
Though am near you often, really you
reach you than can moth the star to-
ward which it futters.'
Yes she said musingly, Il am a
star. And. to tell you the truth, l like
it, There is something about the CEN
ter of the STAGE
But interrupted rudely.
"You must understand that require
an opportunity"
IAN opportunity?'
I'm all this time / have had no op-
portunity. Your life is one wild whirl."
Elsa sat up straight and stared at
me with all the ravishing beauty Of
the loveliest eyes in the world.
mo opportunity" she repeated in
credulously. Now. what can you
mean? Here you are alone with me i'll
my drawing room while we are wait
ing for aunty to get her hat on. Here
we are alone, / say. And you declare
you have no opportunity! Opportunity
for what"
why, to declare my love-" L an
swered Indignantly. "Aunty, indeed!
That's it-we're always waiting for
her. She's pervasively present. l
know she has planned deliberately to
make me propose in her presence"
"What shall l do them she ques-
toned meekly as I paused.
"Just waive it all and be engaged"
I suggested triumphantly. will your?
Eyes, 1 think will" Elsa said softly.
At that | had her in my arms and my
lips met hers. My heart leaped with a
Joy new, dominant, complete. Beneath
the mask of light words | had offered
her my very soul.
Aunty entered the room. l went to
her, gathered her up in my arms and
kissed her with might.
We had been engaged three months
when the inevitable serpent obtruded
himself into our Eden.
| was in the orchestra the first night
Elsa appeared in the role Of Juliet |
was carried away by the simplicity
and passion of her Interpretation, its
girlish purity, it's womanly abandon
ment to loves dominion. Then, quite
without warning, a pang of anguish
pierced my heart.
The Romeo was an actor new to me.
handsome, young, an ideal lover to the
sight, and as Elsa looked alteration
into his eyes the evil of jealousy enter
ed my heart and remained.
That night after the play, at the gay
supper party where l was with her, ]
remained sad and distraught. l forced
myself to utter congratulations on the
success she had achieved, but there
was little heartiness in my words. She
rallied me on my dull spirits, laughing
ly at first. then with kindly serious
ness. But l could not shake off the
gloom of my mood, which | explained
by alleging an indisposition. Neither
then nor after could bring myself to
confess my trouble.
A new play was put on. but it
brought me no relief. On the contrary.
my torture was increased. In the eli
max of the play the hero, he who had
played Romeo, saved the heroine, Elsa.
from great peril. She in an ecstasy Of
gratitude threw herself on his breast
in complete abandonment of love. AS
she lay yielding in his arms, her head
thrown back. her eyes burned into his
with such fires of love l groaned aloud.
The sight maddened me. l left my
seat and the theater and did not see
Elsa again that night.
l could not decide on my course, but
in the morning was calmer, and set
out with a fair amount Of composure 70
fulfill an engagement with my fiancee
l had promised Elsa to take her in
the auto out to Bronx park. l found
her ready when l reached her house.
and very soon we were rolling swiftly
up Fifth avenue.
It was perfect morning. The air
was crisp with the chill of dawning
winter. but not too cold. 1t set the
blood coursing with new vigors and
drove out sorrow from the heart
There. in the glory of the morning. in
the pleasure of our smooth movement.
with Elsa nestled close to my side. |
forgot despair and feveled for the mo-
ment in the delight Of it all.
81 love automobillng," Elsa said ir-
relevantly. ct is the lightest. dain-
test movement. So oh, subtle and. yes.
aerial / feel like a bird"
AS we came to the open beauty of
the Plaza / turned from the avenue
into the park, and we went rolling
along the gently undulating and wind
ing driveway, charmed by the land
Scape on either hand.
AS ran the machine out of the park
into Seventh avenue carriage was
passing. and attempted to check our
speed To my dismay l found that
there was no response to my effort. 1t
was only by skillful guiding of the au-
tomobile that escaped collision.
Once free of that danger, set myself