The Washington critic., 1885-06-17

lore.
~ am afraid cannot leave my wor,i in
the morning, mein Herr, but after dinner
] shall be at liberty" and Johnny was
obliged to be content with that
Everybody was very kind TO him;
everybody camc and waited on him; but
he was impatient for the afternoon--for
the netting lesson. What an exquisite
voice the girl had Yet she could only be
q servant. Perhaps her voice was her
Dame Nature for coarse and vulgar looks.
The idea was shock, all the same;
Johnny thought good deal over it. He
had plenty of time for thinking.
The netting lesson was success, and
soon il came TO be understood that Lolita
was his favorite attendant. When lie
grew impatient because his big fingers
were so awkward with the mesh, Lolita
would take IL, and set everything right.
When he grew depressed, Lolita would
cheer him up When the hours seemed
lnterminable, Lolita found something
fresh to interest him.
She was q mystery to the young man.
He questioned her about her family, but
when he reflected afterwards upon her an
swers he found himself very little wiser.
He felt rather ashamed to ask others for
information which she seemed inclined to
withhold, but he even stopped to that to
crafty his curiosity. He gained nothing.
Nobody seemed inclined to tell him much
more than Lolita herself.
One day she was busting his room-put-
ting his books, brushes, papers, etc, in
order. When she came upon his unfn-
ished picture she exclaimed, in SURPRISE
"Carlotta Won Werdenfclsv
"Do You know it?" he asked, eagerly
Yes, indeed very we'll"
"How is that? it is small--it is not cclc-
brated; besides, You told me yourself you
had never been to lnnspruck."
81 have seen copy elsewhere
Johnny threw himself back in the chair
with sigh of WEAKNESS.
II shall never finish herl That daub
gives no idea of her beauty, her grace her
exquisite charm"
"On the contrary" said Lolita, de-
cidedly,, you have made n very pretty
And poor Johnny was gratiied with her
words, though he said to himself "What
can dienstmaedchen know about art ?n
Nov, Lotta" he said, "where is my
work ] shall finish the cabbagc-net for
Frau Werner before / CO. Why did you
start? Did hurt you?"
Yes, a little. My finger is sore it is
"Ah, poor child What is the matter
with lt?h
Johnny's tones were full of sympathy.
~ cut it peeling potatoes"
He felt as if he had received a cold
douche. For some minutes he nctted in
silence.
"Shall | read TO YOU" said his willing
handmade, seeing he did not seem disposed
to talk; and she took upa volume of
Heine and read his scomful contempt of
fine ladies and gentlemen, and his honest
admiration for the worth of the peasant;
and Johnny sat and listened, and Won
dered whether this kind, patient serving
maid wasn't, after all, worth all the fash
ionablc girls he had ever known.
The doctor came that evening and gave
very favorable report of Siis patient.
"Therc would always be q scar, but the
eye was uninjured and If Herr LuptOn
was prudent he might be able to travel in
Il week"
In spite of this encouragement Johnny
was out of sorts. Nothing pleased him.
Lolita was in despair. At last she said
tmidly:
would you like me to sing to YOU?
Can you singH' cried Johnny, starting
up in astonishmcnt. But there is no
piano. If had my violin, nowl But
perhaps you don't care for an accompani-
mcnt?"
"Thcrc is either in the house. can
play little if you like, that is
OF course Johnny liked and he sat lost
in wondermcnt while Lolita sang volk'
slieder; very simple things they were, but
! her voice lent them an additional charm
Johnny reused himself NJ last and in
tcruptcd her with Il very irrelevant re-
| mark.
"Lotta, ] wish you could speak English.
She hesitated.
Il know littlc--a few words; OH it /,
nothing. So many English come oycl
| here. have learnt some from YOU
"Impossble We have always talked
German. Lolita, believe you are a witch. "
Yes" said Lolita, gleclully, 81 am q
| witch, and il was my broomstick you fell
| over; and when you get well shall mount
! it and ride away in the air."
"The doctor says maysake my bandagC
of tomorrow for an hour" said Johnny
| after Il pause.
II am so glad, +" said Lolita, heartily.
81 am glad, too; ! want to see my kline
| little nurse
But though johnny sat nearly two
hours without his bandage, no Lolita APP
| pearcd.
ut was so unfortunate, the landlady
said; Lolita has been sent on an GRAND
She had been delayed, etc, etc.
| But Johnny was very angry, and would
not be paciiied. He scolded Lolita in tn,
| evening. She began to excuse herself
| when suddenly her voice ialtcTcd and h,
knew she was crying, and before he cOulC
say word she was gone
Johnny did not sleep that night, The
situation was becoming desperate, The
| Lolita of his blindness had grown dcareI
than the Carotta of his dreams, VIVA
ought he to do?
one thing he Observation-Disclosures th,
consequences might be he would see her
The next time She appeared he would tea
OIL his bandage,
The morning passed rcstlessly away
| one thought engrosscd his mind-wha
would she be like?
Three o'clock came--hcr usual time
| The door opened. Johnny started up
tore oil his bandage and bchcld-Eral
| Werner!
The good landlady scolded him gcntl,
as she again tied up his eyes at was
mercy She did not know his name sh,
would certainly have called him Johnny.
As it was she said he was naughty, i'm
patient boy.
but | want To see Lolita before sh,
goes,
II have come to fetch you TO say good
by to her. DO YOU think you could wall
into the garden"
Johnny wondered, but he. took Frat
| Wcrncr's arm without word. 1t was
| him Ms his timid footsteps went forward t,
meet the dcnsmacdchen. He scented
| mystcry-a surprise,
lie was not disappointed. When hi
eyes were uncovered he saw standing be
Countess of Werdenfels in person.
But this Carlotta moved and spoke; an,
though the sky was blue, il was not tn
sky OF Italy, and instead of the orange
blossoms She held Il rose in her hand
- l.. 4 IL L