Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-12-11

|
fashioned house and landed directly
| against the breast of Bruno Paxton.
de clutched it as it was headed for
the ground, glanced up and met the
flashing eyes and smiling face of a
| lady half concealed by the S-ruh-
berry. Then the latter darted away,
pursued by little girl who, her apron
fun of flowers, pelted her out of view
with the fragrant flowers
Somehow the mind of Bruno was set
in "A turmoil Had the lady in the
floral battle aimed at her ch.ld OPP
ponent. or at himself? AT all events,
the episode set his mind in whirl.
He had reached thirty the same inn
pressihle idealist that he had been ut
twenty He treasured the rose and
dreamed dreams He passed the same
place slowly the next day. Half OBJ
Scured by some lilacS was feminine
form. Bruno slightly raised his hat
Enthusiastically In response there was
the flutter Of handkerchief He was
noticed. II must be the lady OF the
rose battle A vast ferment of senti-
ment and romanticism took place in
his soul. The next morning il was
raining, but from an upper window in
the house, white hand moved as If in
notice or greeting.
Passing down the street the next
day with his close friend, Dale Arm
strong, Bruno clutched his arm fever
ishly and indicating Il lady crossing
from the house now his center Of at
traction to an automobile. and whose
face was that Of the lady of the
roses, he uttered unanimously;
Armstrong, you know everybody in
town Who is that girl?"
"Glrl" repeated Dale She is IA
married woman--Mrs. Walter Martin.
Husband and child. What's your in
terest?'
Nothing he faltered in sort of a
collapsing groan. Love blasted my
ideal vanished Only n flirt' he told
himself in suppressed undertone. 1t
was the rude blighting Of a possible
romance in its budding that SO crushed
Bruno. He had woven n fairy fabric
of ideality and il was humllating, de-
pressing, disappointing TO have it thus
sent asunder Armstrong, coming in
TO his Office the next day, found him
seated, morose ans hollow-eyed at the
window, staring out blankly at nothing
ness.
whats the trouble, Bruno?" he hail
ed in his CHEEKY off-hand way.
"Oh, tired of life and its false prom
ises." returned the other dismally, |
don't sd.m TO reach any goal in my
experiences. Tell you, I'm almost sui
cidal in my present mood"
"That SOP" rallied Armstrong bland
ly. "Well, over in my Office I've got
real gittering stiletto, true and
honest, deadly revolver and bottle
of sure thing cyanide. Want TO make
a ehoiceY
THANK you. no" answered Bruno
sourly, nettled at the badnage good
natured as It was III ever step off
abruptly the water route is the surest
and cheapest"
There seemed TO be a satisfaction in
nursing his dark ideas Bruno did not
cheat himself by trying TO believe. that
he had been incurably captiyated by
the Lady of the roses The verge OF
romance land had attracted him, but
ne had only glimpsed It's confines when
fate had abruptly transformed 1t into
dreary desert
ooh for one true sympathetic soul +"
he pondered as dejectedly he made his
way homeward.
1t was warm and he took Off his coat.
He was restless and irritated and
began pacing up and down. He got
di city up TO the edge Of the EN-
bankment overlooking the stream.
"Ah, placid waters, not so cruel as
harsh, disappointing world" he ut
tered mechanically
"No-no-surely you are not think
ing of--of-"
Bruno started A slender, wlnsome
woman had seized his arm. He did
not know that It was she who had
thrown the lilac spray In his path and
had followed him. She was fair NJ
face and graceful Of form, although
as far Up in the twenties as himself,
but there was gentle sympathy in
her eyes that somehow won rpon him.
"If you mean / was goi 70 jump
in" he said, mo; I'd ought to
| though"
"Thlnk Of your frlendsw
~ have none Nobody cares for
ne"
and you never noticed the lilac
spravi" reuroachfully censured this
sentimental splnster-"after bowling
to me In the garden and responding
with a smile to my waving from the
Window
"Oh It wae von'" exclaimed Bruno,
y haven't condded In my sister,
Mrs. Martin" continued Miss Bella
! Weston. 'but It has been very pleas
ant to think I was making a manly
sympathetic acquaintance"
She hung her head now. Bruno took
another look at her, understanding bis
error as to the roses. He pitled her
embarrassment He appreciated her
interest in himself
aXVe seem to be two lonely ones,