Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-19

long time he did not study one word
"a denain-au reDoirr' kept echoing
in his ear.
Upon reaching home he hunted up a
French grammar and a French-and-
German phrase-book hidden away in
the depths of the family library. To-
morrow he would return the handker-
chief with thanks, and assure the
thrower of the ball that his eye no
longer panied him. But he felt that it
would be easier to commit Latin ex-
ercise than these French phrases.
His swollen eye did not escape his
mothers notice, but the limb of tree
was made answerable for the little
French girls awkwardness. He locked
the two handkerchiefs in his desk to
take them out late at night and unfold
them. In one corner of the pocket
handkerchief he discovered the initial
II. with a coronet above it. Could
this other dainty thing, with its deli
cate perfume, be any protection
against wind and weather? What use
less trifies these spoiled girls must have
to wear, and this was a Partisan
through and through! German women
we're so different. What, indeed,
sould a manly man do with doll who
carried such handkerchiefs, wound such
| lpiders' webs about her neck and wore
gloves in the garden? What would his
mother, who only on Sundays allowed
herself the luxury of white under
sleeves, and was by no means lavish in
collars and handkerchiefs for
her husband and son-what would
she say about the always fresh
white gowns of this young French
womanP Terrible memories of the
Revolution and of Napoleon's wars
had taught her to hate the French. and
she was displeased to learn that her
son even knew these foreigners.
This night Arnim dreamed of gigan-
tic balls flying through the air. They
all hit him. Handkerchief after
handkerchief was wound around
his head, and two soft little hands
were laid upon his heart, while a
sweet voice asked: "Have I really hurt
your"
| The next day Arnim had many les
sons to recite at the gymnasium, but
his memory was not as usual at COM
mand. At the appointed time he
found himself on the familiar path. As
he passed the latticed gate his heart
beat violently. From beneath the low
drawn vision of his cap he gazed
stealthily into the garden. Suddenly
he discerned white simmer. The
gloveless hand of Hortense waved him
greeting through the lattice-work of
the gate.
go, sir, you came at last" she said,
in French. "How is it with youP"
AS polite young man, he was obliged
to step forward, to take off his cap,
show the eye which meantime had as
sumed all possible colors, and say as
suringly the words he had thousand
times rehearsed: ''Je me 7oGrte dSSez
bie1s, naGdenaoiselle. Then taking the
handkerchief with the coronet from its
paper wrappings, with "thank you
very much," he handed it to it's owner.
Where was the otherP Hortense did
not ask, but still chatting and laugh
ing merrily, she opened the gate and
came to him. Arnim listened in silence
as the ripping rivulet of her speech
flowed gayly on, while the rosebud
mouth was wreathed in smiles and the
eyes glowed like sunbeams.
go, how Hove the forestr' she cried,
) in ecstasy. The trees murmured softly
above those two young heads, and with
happy hearts they paced slowly up and
down the path.
Young violets in charming profusion
nestled amid the grass. Arnim would
gladly have plucked bunch of them
for his lovely companion, but he could
recall only their Latin name, Viola
odorGtG, and he forebore. He told her
as well as he was able that he spoke
but very little French, and she replied,
laughing, that sha knew no German.
Then she asked him to give her Ger
man lessons, assuring him that hel
father would not object. She next in.
quired as to his name, his home, wheth'
or he had parents and brothers and sis
tiers. When he had answered she said
sadly: 81 have no mother, no brothers
or sisters" Then she begged him no
to be afraid of Mile. Fifne
her governess, assuring him that sh'
was not so cross as she looked.
"Is it she who always makes yoI
:, wear glovesP' he asked.
= She laughed and nodded.
:. "But l do love to take them off,
- she said, suiting the action to tn
: word. "Here they are. Please keel
= them awhile for me.''
~ He put the gloves in his breas
- pocket.
- '.And yet would not like to hav
" brown or red hands like so many c
= your German girls" she added. "Tha
. is so ugly-uglier even than gloves.
" So they walked up and down or stoo
4 side by side at the gate, until Mile
- ~ Fifne's call separated them.