The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-08-01

lrOn pOb bbhnulpE OD ltS IOur hll1n peues-
tails, evidently puzzled as to the purpose
for which this extraordinary piece of fur
niture could be intended. hurried quick
ly down, but before could get to the bot
tom of the staircase Irene had fed and had
disappeared behind the door of their cot.
tage, so tnat the explanation / would fain
have impaired to the niece l was forced to
give to the less bashful aunt. She looked
at me in blank astonishment as l explain
ed to her that this outlandish article was a
thing used In Europe for heating rooms,
and that 1t was to serve no other purpose
than TO warm my sitting room after the
fashion of my country In the coming win
ter. She shook her head with an incred
ulous smile, murmured couple of "Theel
| Theer' (Lordl Lord y and looked after us
| dubiously as with our united forces the
smith and pushed the stove up the stair.
case to my room
The same evening the flames were crao-
| king merrily in the "iron pot" A pleas
ant warmth diffused itself through my
| territory and the Attic Boreas who en-
tered freely through the wide cracks Of
the windows and had hitherto made my
rooms uncomfortably airy, now found
himself fairly vanquished by my native
auxiliary. was overjoyed In its posses
sion, for few cold days in this southern
land are much more unbearable than
whole weeks of frost and snow at the foot
Of the Bavarian highlands. My pleasure
was enjoyed by my servant Jorgi, who at
| first sight had condemned the stove, but
was now an ardent admirer and seemed
anxious to make up for the contempt with
which he had first treated the newcomer
by saying all the most flattering things he
could think Of
1t seemed only fair to invite Kyria Maria
| to participate in this household event, so
begged her to come and see me soon in
| my warm room, an invitation which she
seemed not at all unwilling to accept
had presentiment that she would not
come alone, and looked forward hopeful.
| ly TO the visit.
The evening came-a cold and stormy
one. Kyria Maria appeared at my door
with somewhat hesitating steps, but a
friendly smile. She was not alone She
had brought the lovely Irene with her. /
received the two Athenian ladies with all
the courtesy and grace could command,
but found it difficult to muster words
enough to express the pleasure / felt at
their visit. We sat down, and when the
usual interminable inquiries after our
mutual health were ended Kyria Maria
began to let her eyes roam inquiringly
over my room. At last they rested on the
stove.
"Truly," said she, "you Franks have
everything you require to make life de-
| lightful. You will no longer fear the ice
and snow Of winter Kyr Ludovike, for,
though l should never have believed 1t,
that thing makes your room so warm that
no frost will be able to enter. AS for us,
we often sit whole days at our hearth
down below rubbing our numbed hands
and freezing till our teeth chatter. The
Franks are certainly happy nation"
II am very glad, Kyria Maria, - ans
swered, THAT you like my room, and /
hope that you will often come up in cold
weather and warm yourself. And your
niece will come too, will she not?" add
ed, looking toward Irene
II dare say we shall often come to see
you, now that we have got to know you, +"
Irene said simply, looking at me with her
large gazellelike eyes,
Indeed, Irene" interrupted her aunt
1--WE cannot often. What would men say
If when they came to pay visits to Kyr
Ludovike they found us women herep No.
that will not do. But" turning to me-
''do us the honor to come and talk with
us at our own hearth as often as you can,
for you must be able to tell us about
many things. If 1 understood the Ian
guage of the Franks, I would talk to them
all day long. Look, Irene" she added
chow beautiful this furniture and these
books and things arel They are not made
In our country any more than the 'ofeni,
which has been sent here from over the
seas. The Franks must be wise people,"
M Il Nria 7
"but you meet them of all sorts"
"What both wise and foolishp And /
dare say some are bad and some are good
People hereabout say they are all bad,
but feel sure there would be here and
there one should like
"Did I not say SO, auntp l always
thought
"Be silent, Irene, said her aunt, inter.
rupting her.
pray let me hear what she was going
to say'
"No, mol" said Kyria Maria decisively.
"She talks 80 much nonsense it's not
worth listening to. But / may assure
you, Kyr Ludovike, that so far as you
yourself are concerned we have from the
beginning had the greatest respect for you
And you, too, Irene?" asked
To be sure, " she replied, smiling.
"Why, then, did you always hide your
self when passed through the courtyardP"
II was too timid Kyr Ludovike did
to dare to look at YOU"
"And now you are not afraid to look at
meP"
"Not when my aunt is by me.'
Her aunt looked at her severely, she
blushed, and began at once to talk in
dustriously of other things
Our conversation lasted long time and
ended with the heartiest assurances on
both sides of esteem and friendship. ac-
companied the ladies to the head of the
stairs, where, as we parted fresh renew
al of civilities took place. The aunt said,
~ lay myself at your feet" an expression
you hear perpetually The niece chose a
different form, which, though quite as
usual, sounded far sweeter to my ears.
She murmured hardly above her breath,
INA mas agapas" "Keep us in your
hearth to '"hich gladly and emphatic
ally responded: Yes, yes. That will"
/ now began to call in sometimes at the
cottage. found it very cozy in the little
house, especially in the evening, when
Kyr Spiros had returned from his days
work at the bazaar and was seated with his