Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-06-07


scenery; and Harold, who had an impartial
interest both in near aud I'm distant scenes,
had remedied this disadvantage by impro-
visingA rudlmentary balcony between the
gutter and the windowssill. He had romov-
cd half a dozen tiles on this portion of the
roof, cut out piece from ono OF the laths
upon which the tiles were laid, and placed |
the cushion OF n chair IN the square space |
thus made vacant. BY bracing his feet |
against the gutter he could thus sit comfort |
ably smoking, observing all the world. but |
observed by none.
Ill.
Miss Catharine had well defined conylc- |
tions concerning matrimony. She traced 1t
back to Adams sin, and remarked, signing, |
that IL was incident to our fallen estate. |
The men in the Kolstad family having been |
mostly worthless, she concluded rashly that |
all men were worthless. The time had long |
gone by when any one sought her or her
sisters society, and with the exception OF |
the janitor In the house, the policeman 10 |
whom she was continually presenting grieV-
anccs against the little boys Of the street,
and the tax collector, who came once year
to pocket the pittance she was required to
contribute toward the support of the State,
she had hardly any male acquaintance.
Next TO boys, OF whom she had positive
dread, she had the least favorable opinion
| OF young men, whose mission in the world
was TO run into debt and break their moth
ers' hearts. The young men, who, sup
pose, returned Miss Catharine's disfavor,
accordingly did not importune her with
their visits, and IL it had not been for the
student in their garnet above her bedroom,
poor Olga would have had to rely solely
! upon Walter Scott for her knowledge or
masculine characteristics.
One fine moonlight night In June Harold
Tellefsen was seated on the roof under his
| window. IL was about ten o clock. lie had
been studying hard all the day, attending
lectures during the forenoon, and hammer
| ing away at Roman law ever since dinner.
His head seemed trifle clouded, and, as
was his wont at such times, he had lighted
his long pipe (the bowl OF which projected
beyond the gutter), and seated himself In
q convenient attitude for astronomical OBJ.
servations. While engaged in these celestial
meditations, Harold became suddenly con-
scious that his pipe grew lighter, and In the
same moment he heard q delightfully."- music
al exclamation from below. lie observed
that the bowl Of his pipe had disappeared,
| and leaning quickly out over the caves 10
ascertain its fate, he met two lovely. eyes
gazing upward, with look OF MISCHIEF and
establishment. The student, remembering
his dressing gown, was somewhat embar-
raised, but observing that the young lady
TO whom the eyes belonged was holding the
missing bowl (Which represented the head
Of the Emperor Napolean IIl.) in her hand,
he took courage and porsevered In his
glance.
"Excuse me. madam" he said, blushing,
"but l boicveit is the bowl of my pipe you
hold in your hand"
"Yes; l caught it by accident Just as it
was falling" she replied, smiling. 81 burn
ed my hand too; IL was very hot"
81 am exceedingly sorry, and greatly
obliged TO you for saving it."
"You arc very welcome.'
"But don't see how am TO get ii back
again."
"Nor do l."
perhaps you would allow me to suggest
"With pleasure"
&c! might drop down string, and you
"Yes, might do that. How stupid OF
me not to think OF it'
Olga was marveling at the audacity OF her
speech, and in spite of her outward COM
posture she was in a great fluter. She had
never talked so freely with q young gentle
man before, and it was probably the novel
ty of the experience which gave her such n
delicious sense OF adventure. She had lit
tic time for reflection, however, as present
ly red cord was seen dangling before her
window, and she secured 1t firmly about the
neck of the Emperor Napoleon. who there
upon was hoisted slowly upward, until q
hand caught him at the edge OF the gutter.
'You have put me under load OF obli-
cations to YOU" said voice from above;
and glancing up, Olga saw a handsome
blonde face gazing down upon her in unds-
guised admiration.
"Not-not at all, she managed TO stam-
mer.
81 assure you shall never be able to re-
pay you,' continued the voice, with the
transparent purpsse OF prolonging the con-
yersation.
eyes, you can II you choose" said Olga.
Chow, pray 7"
"By not dropping your pipe again. got
some Of the hot ashes in my hair"
, 81 am immensely sorry"
L occurred mOmQnf that
the young man might think lightly Of her ii
she betrayed so plainly her pleasure In talk
ing with him, and, therefore, with some re-
, luctance, closed her window, and prepared
stimulated by the sound of her Aunt Cath
arine's footsteps in the next room.
w.
During the week that followed this cpl
sode, Olga met Harold Tcllefsen wherever
, she went. II she accompanied her Aunt
! Lima to market, he was sure to have an err
rand in the same neighboi hood; IL she went
, to church, his devotional zeal was immedi-
ately stimulated, il she took q constitu-
: tional on the bouleyards OF the fortress, his
health became delicate, and needed the
, fresh air rs q restorative. He once even
had the hardihood TO raise his hat tentative
: ly, but meeting discouraging glance in
Olga's eyes, he turned toward an old gen.
tleman who was Just passing, and who tore
! Spouse to the unexpected greeting. Harold
!, | chuckled to himself, and found the situation
. highly amusing. He understood perfectly
what Olga's quick side glance at Miss Lima
and the menace In her eyes meant, and he
sagely concluded that old maids, even the
!. best OF them, were not 10 be trusted. lie
! had been disposed TO take kindly view OF
= | Miss Lima, because she was plump. and
: good -natured, and looked as il she might
= have latent sympathy with useful ro-
I | Ia Nh.rlA hAxx hat h..
niece had not trusted her to that extent
!, and he agreed with her In thinking thai
. prudence was the better part Of valor.
q AS for Olga, she had an uneasy feeling Of
= having established q secret understanding
. with Mr.. Tellefsen through that inadyerten
; glance. She wished she could have takcr
!, IL back again; but glances have power fol
i mischief quite out Of proportion TO their in
= substantially, and the present one hat
: sunk so deeply into the young mans hear
Il that il was beyond the possibility OF recall
She might, to be sure, inform Mr.. Tellefsei
when he took his next astronomical siests
on tho roof that she meant nothing by 1t
d but that would imply consciousness oil
IS her part OF having glanced, and 1t was jus
/ this appearance she wished to avoid. 1t i
Il vain, however, TO attempt to analyze any
l. thing so intangible as the moods and glance
J. and involuntary gestures OF an incipien
Il Love affair; suffice 1t to say that the incipi
d cnt stage was in due time superseded b.
N the next, which Is That OF Well-underSt00t
IS and half acknowledged devotion. Hardl,
IL month had passed before Tellefsen haC
i invented q complete set Of signals, consist
!. ing chiefly of tunes whistled and sung, an,
" he furnished her with key, looking yer!
t. much like the cipher keys which bushes
J; men use in telegraphing. Thus when h
10 whistled the tune to "Sons OF Old Norway,
!. it meant, 81 am at my station on the roof =
n and IL she replied with, "The ancient Nor
d ways lion gazes with flaming glance tn
IS valley down. 1t meant, "My Aunt Catha
d rine can see me from the next room,
le wnereupon he took his precautions accord
a ingly. IT,, on the other hand, she sang
~ Eyes, we love our native country, risinI
= from the sea- he knew that the coast wa
l. clear, and that an interview would b.
F. agreeable that is, IL that could be calle'
!. an intcruieip in which he had an upper an,
n she a very imperfect lower view, consisting
5. merely of part Of his face, projecting be
20 yond the edge OF the gutter. She though
ic with delicious horror OF the danger T.
Hail Inns off 10