Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1915-04-22
ROMANCE OF A VEIL
BY JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ.


per Syndicats.)
John Gray's office window over
locked Fifth avenue, and on this par
ocular October day the window was
wide open to the crisp autumn breeze.
Life is dull enough, goodness
knows complained John, leaning
back In his chair and elevating his
heels to his desk.
And at this critical moment ro-
nance entered his Office in the most
unexpected manner.
There floated through the window.
borne on the fresh breeze, something
soft and filmy and white like bit Of
pure cloud drifting down from the sky.
He did not see 1t, his eyes were
closed In dreamy retrospection, and 1t
was not Gntil the wisp OF white drifted
across his lips and chung there that he
sat up with a start
"Jove! What is that?' he de-
manded, plueking the thing from his
face.
as some dainty accessory to lady's
toilet A delicious fragrance assailed
his senses-a mingled odor of fresh
violets and roses.
"Oh, bother!" he snapped as he
clumsily tried to remove the delicate
tissue. Then he saw initials embroid~
cred on the delicate hem.
e V. E."
John Gray laughed aloud as he
folded UP the veil and tucked it away
in the breast pocket of his coat
II wonder who e. w. e. can be?"
he chuckled. Eve - by all that's
wonderful How shall ever find this
unknown Eve?"
He was still bordering this ques-
tion while he waited for an uptown
bus; 1t was a tempting evening to ride
home on the roof of a motor bus.
One came along Just then and he
found a vacant seat beside a distract
ingly pretty girl
John Gray caught one fleeting
glimpse OF her profile, for her face
was upturned to the windows of the
building where his Office was located.
The girl faced about and John could
not look at her without positive rude
ness, SO he stared straight ahead All
at once ne became conscious that the
air was fragrant with that odor of
mingled roses and violets Could 1t
be from that veil In his pocket?
He furtively thrust gloye6 hand
in the pocket and, finding the veil in
10 xrr4fh nd 70 nm
consciously the veil came with It.
"Ohl" cried a voice at his elbow
John looked down at her in rolite
inquiry
my veili" she explained hastily,
pointing to it.
Yours" repeated John incredulous-
ly and his fingers frightened their grasp
on the chiffor Impossible"
But 1t isl she insisted gently.
See, there are my initials. An hour
or two ago l was riding down the ave
nue. on the top of bus when a gust
Of wind took the veil from my hat and
swirled 1t up. It disappeared through
an Office window am sure It rs
mine"
81 am afraid 1t is," said John Gray
reluctantly giving 1t TO her. 81 thought
1t was a cloud from heaven itself when
it drifted into my office; ! am not so
sure that it isn't" he added to him
self, for the look in the girls eyes was
most disconcerting
To John Gray's satisfaction the mys-
FERROUS "E v f." did not leave the
bus until 1t stopped at his signal Then
with a little nod, enhanced by a rose
tinged smile the girl tripped past him
and down the steps to the street
When he reached the apartment
house where he had suite of rooms
in his sisters home, he was amazed
to find that the girl had preceded him.
she flushed with annoyance and
when he made for apartment p she
stopped short and glanced haughtily at
him
"This is too much, slri" she said
John paused with his latchkey IN
hand.
"But-you see, ] live here" he said
helplessly
at Is too ABSURD 20 be true!' she
protested, looking as If she would cry.
| Really" John was beginning when
tho door of the apartment opened and
his sister, dressed for the street, APP
peared.
John, John. you home so soon?T
cried Mrs Remer; and catching sight
of the girl "John, let me present You
to my old classmate, Edith Emmons.
Have you ever met before| she
asked, struck by their embarrassment.
'Why-er-yes, said John hastily.
and Miss Emmons blushed deeper and
a dimple came into her cheek
1--WE are going to Throctons to tea.
john will you Gomez" asked his sis
ter
John looked at f. V. f. and her
eyes said, do comet" 80 he went, and
before they returned home he learned
that her initials stood for Edith
Valerie Emmons, but he said that he
thought Eve was much the prettier
name. And he considered It perfect
when later on he persuaded her 10
add Gray 10 II.